Improvement In Anxiety Symptoms Research Articles

Longitudinal experiences of Canadians receiving compassionate access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy

Recent clinical trials have found that the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin effectively alleviates anxiodepressive symptoms in patients with life-threatening illnesses when given in a supportive environment. These outcomes prompted Canada to establish legal pathways for therapeutic access to psilocybin, coupled with psychological support. Despite over one-hundred Canadians receiving compassionate access since 2020, there has been little examination of these ‘real-world’ patients. We conducted a prospective longitudinal survey which focused on Canadians who were granted Section 56 exemptions for legal psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Surveys assessing various symptom dimensions were conducted at baseline, two weeks following the session (endpoint), and optionally one day post-session. Participant characteristics were examined using descriptive statistics, and paired sample t-tests were used to quantify changes from baseline to the two-week post-treatment endpoint. Eight participants with Section 56 exemptions (four females, Mage = 52.3 years), all with cancer diagnoses, fully completed baseline and endpoint surveys. Significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, pain, fear of COVID-19, quality of life, and spiritual well-being were observed. Attitudes towards death, medical assistance in dying, and desire for hastened death remained unchanged. While most participants found the psilocybin sessions highly meaningful, if challenging, one reported a substantial decrease in well-being due to the experience. These preliminary data are amongst the first to suggest that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy can produce psychiatric benefits in real-world patients akin to those observed in clinical trials. Limited enrollment and individual reports of negative experiences indicate the need for formal real-world evaluation programs to surveil the ongoing expansion of legal access to psychedelics.

Reversible Increased Anxiety Following Left-Sided Stellate Ganglion Block to Treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report.

Describe a 2-patient case report of a rare occurrence of significantly increased anxiety after a left-sided stellate ganglion block (SGB) and the subsequent improvement of that anxiety through a right-sided SGB. Right-sided SGB to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has over 23 supporting publications in the peer-reviewed medical literature, including level 1 evidence. A published case series of 285 patients showed that two-level SGB may improve anxiety-related symptoms in patients. However, a recently published study indicates that some patients only respond to a left-sided SGB. The patients had an ultrasound-guided right-sided SGB for the treatment of PTSD and experienced a reduction in anxiety symptoms based on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) scores. Later, a left-sided SGB was performed. Clinically, the addition of a left-sided SGB is typically associated with further anxiety reduction, but in these 2 cases, the patients had a significant reversal of the improvements experienced after a right-sided SGB. Following this unusual response to a left-sided SGB, these patients were offered another right-sided SGB, after which, they experienced a significant and durable improvement in anxiety symptoms beyond the original baseline PCL-score. In rare cases and for unknown reasons, a left-sided SGB may result in acute worsening of anxiety symptoms, which can be addressed and significantly improved with the application of a subsequent right-sided SGB.

Effect of virtual reality self-counseling with the intimate other avatar

Virtual reality self-counseling (VR-SC) is considered an effective approach for addressing mental health problems. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of VR-SC using Sigmund Freud’s avatar as the counselor. However, considering that virtual reality (VR) enables embodied perspective-taking of another person, VR-SC using the avatar of a person who cares about the participant (an intimate person), such as a family member or friend, is considered effective because it could create warm attitudes toward the participants themselves. In this study, 60 undergraduate and graduate students were split into three conditions: VR-SC with intimate persons, VR-SC with Freud, and a control group. The intervention effects were then compared. The results showed that VR-SC with an intimate person was the most effective in improving anxiety symptoms. These results may be attributed to accepting and affirming oneself from the perspective of the intimate person’s avatar and counseling oneself. This study is significant in that it is the first to conduct VR-SC with the avatar of an intimate person and compare the effects with Freud’s avatar. More importantly, it showed that the same VR-SC method could have different effects depending on the avatar of the counseling partner.

A systematic review of manual therapy modalities and anxiety.

Anxiety disorders have a far-reaching impact on society, with profound implications on both mental and physical health. In response, there is growing interest in manual therapy modalities, with emerging research suggesting their potential to alleviate related symptoms. To establish a consensus regarding manual therapy modalities for addressing anxiety symptoms, a systematic review of current literature was conducted. A literature search was conducted between May and August 2023, utilizing a systematic search on both PubMed and Google Scholar, adhering to the defined inclusion criteria. In addition, information was gathered utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Both authors (KLW and TH) conducted the literature review. The inclusion criteria include articles written in English, peer-reviewed, anxiety conditions documented, and manual therapy delivered by a respectfully qualified professional. Manual therapy modalities include massage therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), foot reflexology, acupressure, manual therapy, healing touch, therapeutic touch, and gentle touch. After initial data collection, both researchers independently screened articles utilizing two metrics: a level of evidence (LOE) table and a screening criterion incorporating unique elements from the search process. The quality of the included articles was assessed utilizing Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT). When reviewer discrepancies arose, authors reread full-text studies and discussed the inclusion and exclusion criteria to achieve consensus. The data searches identified 8,979 articles, with 239 articles remaining after duplicates and nonapplicable articles were removed. A total of 42 articles met the inclusion criteria, with only 40 articles able to be obtained for full-article review. After full review and the exclusion of articles with invalid author conclusions, meta-analysis, or systematic reviews, 34 articles were included in the review. All articles received an LOE rating of 2 or better and aligned with our specific screening criteria. Based on SORT, each modality was assigned a "B" rating. Among the included articles, n=27 demonstrated statistical significance in favor of manual therapy modalities as an anxiety treatment. The positive results for the aforementioned manual therapies on anxiety symptom improvement are shown: 15/18 (83 %) massage therapy, 2/6 (33 %) OMT, 5/5 (100 %) foot reflexology, 1/1 (100 %) acupressure, 1/1 (100 %) manual therapy, 0/2 (0 %) healing touch, 1/1 (100 %) therapeutic touch, and 1/1 (100 %) gentle touch. A pattern emerged, wherein individuals receiving manual therapy interventions displayed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety intensity. Considering the positive results, manual therapy should be considered an effective strategy for anxiety management.

Evaluation of the First Approach Skills Training (FAST) Integrated Pediatric Primary Care Program: Implementation and Clinical Effectiveness

ABSTRACT The current study evaluated the clinical effectiveness and implementation of a brief integrated pediatric primary care program, First Approach Skills Training (FAST). We analyzed clinical retrospective data during the first year of implementation of FAST. Patients and parents completed symptom measures as part of standard clinical care. Integrated behavioral health providers completed measures regarding the FAST program's usability, feasibility, effectiveness, and cultural responsiveness. Patients and parents reported significant improvement in anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and disruptive behaviors. Clinicians rated FAST as highly usable, feasible, effective, and culturally responsive. The FAST program demonstrates preliminary clinical effectiveness for common youth mental health problems in pediatric primary care.

Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Single-Session Growth-Mindset Intervention for Internalizing Symptoms in Autistic Youth.

Autistic youth experience elevated rates of co-occurring internalizing symptoms. Interventions to treat internalizing symptoms in autistic youth are almost uniformly costly and time-intensive, blunting dissemination of intervention and highlighting the need for scalable solutions. One promising option is a relatively new class of evidence-based treatments, single-session interventions (SSIs), however, no study has examined SSIs for depression symptoms in autistic youth. Participants included 40 autistic adolescents ranging in age from 11 to 16 (Mage = 14.22, Nmale = 32). Eligible youth who agreed to participate were randomized to either the active intervention (Project Personality), or an active control designed to mimic supportive therapy. Participants and their caregiver completed questionnaires immediately before, after, and three months post intervention. All participants completed the intervention independently and largely reported enjoying it. The intervention was delivered with 100% fidelity. Findings demonstrated improvements in perceived primary control, malleability of personality, and social competence relative to the active control group immediately post-intervention. Further, results revealed improvements in self-reported depression symptoms and parent reported emotional regulation at 3-month follow up. This study was the first to assess a GM-SSI designed to treat depression symptoms in autistic adolescents. Results indicated improvements in perceived control immediately post-intervention and downstream improvements in depression. Nonetheless, we did not find improvements in symptoms of anxiety, suggesting that autistic adolescents may require modifications to the intervention to maximize benefit. Findings demonstrate the utility of GM-SSI for internalizing symptoms for autistic youth and hold considerable promise as a low-intensity and scalable intervention.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improves anxiety symptoms and cortical activity during verbal fluency task in Parkinson's disease with anxiety

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of 20/4Hz transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on anxiety symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and the potential neural mechanism. MethodsIn the current randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 30 PD patients with anxiety (PD-A), 30 PD patients without anxiety (PD-nA), and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. PD-A patients were randomly (1:1) allotted to real taVNS stimulation group (RS) or sham stimulation group (SS) to explore the efficacy of a two-week treatment of taVNS to promote anxiety recovery. Simultaneously, all participants were measured activation in the bilateral prefrontal cortex during verbal fluency task (VFT) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. ResultsPD-A patients showed significantly decreased oxyhemoglobin in the left triangle part of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) during VFT, which was negatively related to the severity of anxiety symptoms. After two-week treatment of taVNS, the interaction of group and time had significant effect on HAMA scores (F = 18.476, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.398). In RS group, compared with baseline, HAMA scores decreased significantly in the post-treatment and follow-up condition (both p < 0.001). Meanwhile, in RS group, HAMA scores were lower than those in SS group in the post-treatment and follow-up condition (p = 0.006, <0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the 20/4Hz taVNS remarkably ameliorated anxiety symptoms in PD patients, directly correlated with the increased activation of the left triangle part of the IFG during VFT in RS group. ConclusionOur results depicted that taVNS could ameliorate the anxiety symptoms of PD-A patients and regulated the function of the left triangle part of the IFG.

Utility of a virtual small group cognitive behaviour program for autistic children during the pandemic: evidence from a community-based implementation study

BackgroundAutistic children often experience socioemotional difficulties relating to emotion regulation and mental health problems. Supports for autistic children involve the use of adapted interventions that target emotion regulation and social skills, alongside mental health symptoms. The Secret Agent Society Small Group (SAS: SG), an adapted cognitive behavioural program, has demonstrated efficacy through lab-delivered randomized control trials. However, research is still needed on its effectiveness when delivered by publicly funded, community-based autism providers under real-world ecologically valid conditions, especially within the context of a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to community-based supports and services for autistic children, and programs have adapted their services to online platforms. However, questions remain about the feasibility and clinical utility of evidence-based interventions and services delivered virtually in community-based settings.MethodsThe 9-week SAS: SG program was delivered virtually by seven community-based autism service providers during 2020–2021. The program included the use of computer-based games, role-playing tasks, and home missions. Caregivers completed surveys at three timepoints: pre-, post-intervention, and after a 3-month follow-up session. Surveys assessed caregivers’ perception of the program’s acceptability and level of satisfaction, as well as their child’s social and emotional regulation skills and related mental health challenges.ResultsA total of 77 caregivers (94% gender identity females; Mean = 42.1 years, SD = 6.5 years) and their children (79% gender identity males; Mean = 9.9 years, SD = 1.3 years) completed the SAS: SG program. Caregivers agreed that the program was acceptable (95%) and were highly satisfied (90%). Caregivers reported significant reduction in their child’s emotion reactivity from pre- to post-intervention (-1.78 (95% CI, -3.20 to -0.29), p = 0.01, d = 0.36), that continued to decrease after the 3-month booster session (-1.75 (95% CI, -3.34 to -0.16), p = 0.02, d = 0.33). Similarly, improvements in anxiety symptoms were observed (3.05 (95% CI, 0.72 to 5.36), p = 0.006, d = 0.39).ConclusionsAs online delivery of interventions for autistic children remains popular past the pandemic, our findings shed light on future considerations for community-based services, including therapists and agency leaders, on how best to tailor and optimally deliver virtually based programming.Trial registrationThis study has been registered with ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN98068608) on 15/09/2023. The study was retroactively registered.

Influence of mHealth-Based Lifestyle Interventions on Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression of Women With Gestational Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis.

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Mobile health (mHealth)-based lifestyle interventions have been shown to be effective in improving glycemic control of these women. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of mHealth-based lifestyle interventions on symptoms of anxiety and depression in women with GDM. A systematic review and meta-analysis or randomized controlled trials. Clinical or community-based settings. Nine studies involving 1,168 pregnant women with GDM were included. mHealth-based lifestyle interventions. Symptoms of anxiety and depression quantitatively analyzed in clinical scales. A systematic literature search was performed in electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure to obtain relevant randomized controlled studies. A random-effects model was used to pool the results by incorporating the impact of the potential heterogeneity. Findings revealed that when compared to usual care, women who received mHealth-based lifestyle interventions had significant improvements in symptoms of anxiety (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.55, 95% CI [-0.77, -0.33], p < .001; I2 = 67%) and depression (SMD: -0.51, [-0.72, -0.29], p < .001; I2 = 65%). Sensitivity analyses by excluding one study at a time showed consistent results. Subgroup analyses showed similar results in mHealth achieved by phone, websites, and applications, in mHealth targeting diet and exercise with and without psychological support, in mHealth lead by nurse with and without other clinical specialists, and in studies with different evaluating tools for anxiety and depression. mHealth-based lifestyle interventions could significantly improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression in women with GDM.

Study of a PST-trained voice-enabled artificial intelligence counselor for adults with emotional distress (SPEAC-2): Design and methods

BackgroundNovel and scalable psychotherapies are urgently needed to address the depression and anxiety epidemic. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), a voice-based virtual coach named Lumen was developed to deliver problem solving treatment (PST). The first pilot trial showed promising changes in cognitive control measured by functional neuroimaging and improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms. MethodsTo further validate Lumen in a 3-arm randomized clinical trial, 200 participants with mild-to-moderate depression and/or anxiety will be randomly assigned in a 2:1:1 ratio to receive Lumen-coached PST, human-coached PST as active treatment comparison, or a waitlist control condition where participants can receive Lumen after the trial period. Participants will be assessed at baseline and 18 weeks. The primary aim is to confirm neural target engagement by testing whether compared with waitlist controls, Lumen participants will show significantly greater improvements from baseline to 18 weeks in the a priori neural target for cognitive control, right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex engaged by the go/nogo task (primary superiority hypothesis). A secondary hypothesis will test whether compared with human-coached PST participants, Lumen participants will show equivalent improvements (i.e., noninferiority) in the same neural target from baseline to 18 weeks. The second aim is to examine (1) treatment effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life outcomes, and (2) relationships of neural target engagement to these patient-reported outcomes. ConclusionsThis study offers potential to improve the reach and impact of psychotherapy, mitigating access, cost, and stigma barriers for people with depression and/or anxiety.Clinicaltrials.gov #: NCT05603923

N-3 PUFA supplementation alleviates anxiety symptoms by manipulating erythrocyte fatty acid levels in depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is frequently accompanied by the symptoms of clinical anxiety. Since our previous research has found that n-3 PUFA supplementation alleviates anxiety in MDD, this study was aimed to further explore whether n-3 PUFA supplementation improves anxiety symptoms in depression by directly manipulating fatty acid levels. A secondary analysis of biomarker data (erythrocyte fatty acid composition) collected as part of the randomized clinical trial which investigated the adjunctive effect of n-3 PUFAs was conducted on 72 venlafaxine-treated outpatients with first-diagnosed, drug-naïve depression. All participants with longitudinal biomarker data were included in the association analysis to determine how n-3 PUFA supplementation influences fatty acid composition and alleviates anxiety symptoms in depression. Decreases of the C20:3n6 were found in all participants at both follow-up time points (χ2 = 96.36, p = 0.000). The n-3 index (χ2 = 10.59, p = 0.001), EPA (χ2 = 24.31, p = 0.000), and C22:5n3/C20:5n3 ratio (χ2 = 10.71, p = 0.001) were increased, while C22:4n6 (χ2 = 7.703, p = 0.006) was decreased in n-3 PUFA group compared to the placebo group. The improvement in anxiety symptoms positively correlates with the extent of reduction of C16:0, C18:0, and total fatty acid levels as well as D5 desaturase activity (p < 0.05). These data suggest that the anxiolytic effect exerted by n-3 PUFAs in first-diagnosed, drug-naïve depression is manipulated by erythrocyte fatty acid levels. Saturated fatty acid levels have an important role in predicting the severity of anxiety symptoms.

Client predictors of dropouts and outcomes in psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder: an exploratory study

ABSTRACT This study is a secondary analysis exploring client predictors of dropouts and outcomes in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Data was taken from a feasibility randomized control trial (RCT) exploring the relative efficacy of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) compared with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Relationships between client characteristics and dropouts were explored using logistic regression analysis. Relationships between client characteristics and psychotherapy outcomes were explored using hierarchical linear regression analyses. For the full dataset (n = 58), a comorbid personality disorder predicted a higher number of dropouts. Eleven participants dropped out of therapy. Having a disability predicted less improvement in symptoms of depression and general distress. Being male-identified predicted a greater reduction in symptoms of anxiety and general distress, and comorbid agoraphobia predicted a greater reduction in symptoms of depression for the CBT condition (n = 21 completers). For the EFT condition (n = 26 completers), being older predicted greater improvements in symptoms of anxiety and comorbid panic disorder predicted a lower reduction in symptoms of depression. Caution should be taken in interpreting these findings given the small number of participants. However, they provide useful insights for the generation of hypotheses in relation to predictors of dropouts and outcomes for future studies.

The trajectory of anxiety in therapy: The role of ACEs.

The connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and anxiety disorders is well-documented. Additionally, therapy has been shown to be effective at reducing anxiety symptoms. Yet more needs to be known about how ACEs may shape the process of therapy and the trajectory of anxiety symptoms. This study was designed to compare the trajectory of improvement in anxiety symptoms over the course of 12 sessions of therapy in adults (N = 472), who reported more (greater than four) and fewer (fewer than four) ACEs using a multigroup latent growth curve analysis. Data were drawn from the Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Networkdatabase. Results suggested that the rate of improvement in those with more and fewer ACEs was not significantly different; however, those with more ACEs had a significantly higher average starting point of anxiety symptoms.

Comparing psychological versus pharmacological treatment in emotional disorders: A network analysis.

Transdiagnostic group cognitive behavioural therapy (TD-GCBT) is more effective in improving symptoms and severity of emotional disorders (EDs) than treatment as usual (TAU; usually pharmacological treatment). However, there is little research that has examined the effects of these treatments on specific symptoms. This study used Network Intervention Analysis (NIA) to investigate the direct and differential effects of TD-GCBT + TAU and TAU on specific symptoms of anxiety and depression. Data are from a multicentre randomised clinical trial (N = 1061) comparing TD-GCBT + TAU versus TAU alone for EDs. The networks included items from the PHQ-9 (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety) questionnaire and mixed graphical models were estimated at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results revealed that TD-GCBT + TAU was associated with direct effects, mainly on several anxiety symptoms and depressed mood after treatment. New direct effects on other depressive symptoms emerged during the follow-up period promoted by TD-GCBT compared to TAU. Our results suggest that the improvement of anxiety symptoms after treatment might precipitate a wave of changes that favour a decrease in depressive symptomatology. NIA is a methodology that can provide fine-grained insight into the likely pathways through which treatments exert their effects.

Efficacy of probiotic supplements in improving the symptoms of psychosis, anxiety, insomnia, and anorexia due to amphetamine and methamphetamine use: a randomized clinical trial.

Changes in the density and diversity of gut microbiota in chronic use of methamphetamine have been mentioned as contributors to psychotic and anxiety symptoms, sleep problems, and loss of appetite. In this placebo-controlled clinical trial, we investigated the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus Acidophilus in improving psychiatric symptoms among hospitalized patients with chronic methamphetamine use along with psychotic symptoms. 60 inpatients with a history of more than 3 years of methamphetamine use, were randomly assigned to one of two groups receiving either a probiotic capsule or placebo along with risperidone for 8 weeks based on a simple randomization method. In weeks 0, 4, and 8, patients were evaluated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Simple Appetite Nutritional Questionnaire (SANQ), and Body Mass Index (BMI). Compared to the control group, patients receiving probiotics had better sleep quality, greater appetite, and higher body mass index (there were significant interaction effects of group and time at Week 8 in these variables (t = -3.32, B = -1.83, p = .001, d = 0.89), (t = 10.50, B = 2.65, p <.001, d = 1.25) and (t = 3.40, B = 0.76, p <.001, d = 0.30), respectively. In terms of the improvement of psychotic and anxiety symptoms, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The use of probiotics was associated with improved sleep quality, increased appetite, and increased body mass index in patients with chronic methamphetamine use. Conducting more definitive clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-up of cases is recommended.

Assessment of optimal combinations of therapeutic probiotics for depression, anxiety, and stress.

Accumulating data show that probiotics may be beneficial for reducing depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms. However, the best combinations and species of probiotics have not been identified. The objective of our study was to assess the most effective combinations and components of different probiotics through network meta-analysis. A systematic search of four databases, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase, was conducted from inception to 11 January 2024. The GRADE framework was used to assess the quality of evidence contributing to each network estimate. We deemed 45 trials eligible, these included 4053 participants and 10 types of interventions. The quality of evidence was rated as high or moderate. The NMA revealed that Bifidobacterium exhibited a greater probability of being the optimal probiotic species for improving anxiety symptoms (SMD = -0.80; 95% CI -1.49 to -0.11), followed by Lactobacillus (SMD = -0.49; 95% CI -0.85 to -0.12). In addition, for multiple strains, compared with the other interventions, Lactobacillus + Bifidobacterium (SMD = -0.41; 95% CI -0.73 to -0.10) had a positive effect on depression. The NMA revealed that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium had prominent efficacy in the treatment of individuals with anxiety, depression, and combination of Lactobacillus + Bifidobacterium had a similar effect. With few direct comparisons available between probiotic species, this NMA may be instrumental in shaping the guidelines for probiotic treatment of psychological disorders.

The protective effect of vitamin D supplementation as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants on brain structural and functional connectivity of patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

Growing evidence points to the pivotal role of vitamin D in the pathophysiology and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, there is a paucity of longitudinal research investigating the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the brain of MDD patients. We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial in 46 MDD patients, who were randomly allocated into either VD (antidepressant medication + vitamin D supplementation) or NVD (antidepressant medication + placebos) groups. Data from diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional MRI, serum vitamin D concentration, and clinical symptoms were obtained at baseline and after an average of 7 months of intervention. Both VD and NVD groups showed significant improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms but with no significant differences between the two groups. However, a greater increase in serum vitamin D concentration was found to be associated with greater improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms in VD group. More importantly, neuroimaging data demonstrated disrupted white matter integrity of right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus along with decreased functional connectivity between right frontoparietal and medial visual networks after intervention in NVD group, but no changes in VD group. These findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants may not only contribute to improvement in clinical symptoms but also help preserve brain structural and functional connectivity in MDD patients.

The effects of sandplay therapy on the limbic system and prefrontal cortex in women with generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a common disorder characterized by psychological and neurophysiological impairments. Previous studies show that Jungian Sandplay Therapy (SPT) effectively improves anxiety symptoms in individuals with GAD. This study explores whether clinical symptom improvement from using SPT also involves changes in brain functioning. The study focused on the brain regions implicated in GAD, including the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to target these brain regions to measure metabolite changes, specifically in the N-Acetylaspartate to creatine (NAA/Cr) ratio—a measure of neuronal viability. A within-subject pre-post design was utilized with adult females from Indonesia diagnosed with GAD (n = 6, ages 21 to 40). Thirty sessions of SPT were provided weekly. Results from both clinical measures of anxiety (HAM-A and GAD-7) indicated mean pretest scores in the clinical range, with average posttest scores below the clinical range for GAD. Likewise, the NAA/Cr ratio mean scores for the hippocampus, amygdala, and PFC were outside the healthy range before and trended toward or into the healthy range after treatment. The NAA/Cr ratio mean scores in the thalamus were in the healthy range before treatment and remained in the healthy range after treatment. This study concludes that SPT effectively improves clinical anxiety symptoms in individuals with GAD and may also improve metabolic brain functioning in the limbic system and PFC. Limitations, implications, and further research are discussed.

Prediction of the efficacy of group cognitive behavioral therapy using heart rate variability based smart wearable devices: a randomized controlled study

BackgroundDepression and anxiety are common and disabling mental health problems in children and young adults. Group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT) is considered that an efficient and effective treatment for these significant public health concerns, but not all participants respond equally well. The aim of this study was to examine the predictive ability of heart rate variability (HRV), based on sensor data from consumer-grade wearable devices to detect GCBT effectiveness in early intervention.MethodsIn a study of 33 college students with depression and anxiety, participants were randomly assigned to either GCBT group or a wait-list control (WLC) group. They wore smart wearable devices to measure their physiological activities and signals in daily life. The HRV parameters were calculated and compared between the groups. The study also assessed correlations between participants’ symptoms, HRV, and GCBT outcomes.ResultsThe study showed that participants in GCBT had significant improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms after four weeks. Higher HRV was associated with greater improvement in depressive and anxious symptoms following GCBT. Additionally, HRV played a noteworthy role in determining how effective GCBT was in improve anxiety(P = 0.002) and depression(P = 0.020), and its predictive power remained significant even when considering other factors.ConclusionHRV may be a useful predictor of GCBT treatment efficacy. Identifying predictors of treatment response can help personalize treatment and improve outcomes for individuals with depression and anxiety.Trial registrationThe trial has been retrospectively registered on [22/06/2023] with the registration number [NCT05913349] in the ClinicalTrials.gov.Condensed abstractVariations in heart rate variability (HRV) have been associated with depression and anxiety, but the relationship of baseline HRV to treatment outcome in depression and anxiety is unclear. This study predicted GCBT effectiveness using HRV measured by wearable devices. 33 students with depression and anxiety participated in a trial comparing GCBT and wait-list control. HRV parameters from wearables correlated with symptoms (PHQ, PSS) and GCBT effectiveness. Baseline HRV levels are strongly associated with GCBT treatment outcomes. HRV may serve as a useful predictor of efficacy of GCBT treatment,facilitating personalized treatment approaches for individuals with depression and anxiety.

Propranolol improved anxiety symptoms in youths with autism

Propranolol improved anxiety symptoms in youths with autism