Incidence Of Anxiety Symptoms Research Articles

Application of Sandplay Therapy in the Mental Health Education of Vocational College Students.

Objective To analyze the application and effect of sandplay therapy in higher vocational students' mental health. Method 350 sophomores of 2019 in a higher vocational college were randomly selected, and 72 subjects of depressed students (SAS ≥ 50) were selected from 350 sophomores and randomly divided into the intervention group and the control group, each group 9, preparing one set of chamber equipment, adopting the same group before and after test experiment design. The intervention group was, respectively, given 8 individual box court game tutoring, once a week for each person. The control group did not intervene. By comparing the intervention group with the control group, the intervention effect of sandplay therapy on anxiety of experimental group members was investigated. Results Among 350 respondents, 72 had SAS scores ≥ 50, and the incidence of anxiety symptoms was 20.57%. Since there was only 1 case with SAS score ≥ 70, it was incorporated into the group with SAS score ranging from 60 to 59. After treatment, SAS scores of students with mild to moderate anxiety in the intervention group decreased, and the difference was statistically significant. The difference before and after control group was not statistically significant. After sandplay therapy, the differences in SAS scores between the intervention group and the control group were found to be statistically significant for both mild and moderate anxiety. Conclusion Sandplay therapy in the higher vocational college students' mental health education could promote the mental health of students, and it effectively improves students' psychological quality.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Elevated Anxiety Symptoms of Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients in China: A One-Year Follow-Up Study.

Recent studies have shown that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) aggravates anxiety in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), but it is still unclear how long this adverse effect will last. This study aims to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the elevated anxiety symptoms of MHD patients 1 year after the outbreak. Assessment of elevated anxiety symptoms was performed on patients with MHD during early COVID-19 (February 17-February 29, 2020) and 1-year follow-up (March 1-March 13, 2021), and a total of 100 patients had completed face-to-face questionnaires at the first and 1-year follow-up. At the beginning of the outbreak, 40% of the patients with MHD had anxiety symptoms [self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score ≥ 50], and 11% (SAS score: 60–69) and 2% (SAS score ≥ 70) of the patients had moderate and severe anxiety symptoms, respectively. Multivariate analysis shows that possibility of unaccompanied transfer, possibility of family members or themselves being infected in a hospital, added body temperature monitoring during dialysis, and increased medical procedures are the risk factors in elevated anxiety symptoms during early COVID-19. At the 1-year follow-up, the incidence of anxiety symptoms in the same group of patients declined to 28%, and all the patients had mild anxiety symptoms (SAS score: 50–59), which is significantly lower than that of the early COVID-19 pandemic with statistically significant difference (p = 0.003). Increased protective measures taken by the medical staves were the only risk factor in elevated anxiety symptoms during the 1-year follow-up. This study shows that COVID-19 has a direct impact on the deterioration of anxiety symptoms in patients with MHD. With the changes of the requirements for COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as the enhancement of propaganda and education of the pandemic and psychological care, the severity and risk factors of anxiety symptoms in the patients with MHD are changing. Thus, targeted interventions are suggested to improve the psychological endurance of the patients with MHD.

Concern about COVID-19 among the Spanish population: Validation of a scale and associated symptoms

BackgroundThe health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a considerable increase in the psychopathology of COVID-19 patients and among the general population. This study aims to conduct the psychometric analysis of the scale of concern about COVID-19 in the Spanish population and to estimate the level of concern and dysfunctional anxiety present one year after the lockdown measures in Spain aimed at resisting the spread of the viral disease among the population. MethodsThe factorial structure of the instrument, its reliability for the general population and for COVID patients, and its construct validity have been analyzed, and measurements of dysfunctional concern have been obtained from a sample of 502 adults. ResultsThe scale of concern about COVID-19 showed optimal results of reliability and validity for the Spanish population, confirming that it is an ideal instrument for estimating the concern regarding coronavirus contagion. LimitationsThis study used a cross-sectional design and thus, could not compare the changes in the incidence of anxiety symptoms before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, the use of mental health services prior to the COVID-19 restrictions was not assessed in this study, and therefore, no comparisons between the two time points could be made. ConclusionsAfter a year of the confinement measures that was instilled to avoid further spread of the disease, the Spanish population presented levels of concern and anxiety that may require clinical attention, with a significant percentage of participants meeting the requirements to be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorders.

Higher Risk of Anxiety and Depression in Women with Adenomyosis as Compared with Those with Uterine Leiomyoma.

The main symptoms of adenomyosis may adversely affect physical and mental health and quality of life (QOL). However, studies are few on this topic. This study evaluated the effect of adenomyosis on anxiety, depression, and QOL. Participants with adenomyosis (n = 90) or leiomyoma (n = 59) completed questionnaires, including the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Short Form (SF)-36. HADS anxiety and depression positive rates, physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores, and eight subscale scores of SF-36 were compared between the two groups. Among patients with adenomyosis, the incidence of anxiety symptoms was 28.9% (control group, 10.2%; OR = 3.589, 95% CI: 1.375–9.367), with 10% of patients showing moderate-to-severe symptoms. The incidence of depressive symptoms was 14.4% (control group, 3.4%; OR = 4.812, 95% CI: 1.044–22.168). The case group had significantly lower PCS and MCS scores than the control group. In patients with adenomyosis, being employed (OR = 6.393, 95% CI: 1.153–35.440) and perianal pain (OR = 25.419, 95% CI: 2.504–258.024) were risk factors for anxiety, and perianal pain (OR = 15.208, 95% CI: 3.050–75.836) was a risk factor for depression. Compared with leiomyoma, adenomyosis is associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression, with a poorer QOL.

Postmarketing safety surveillance data reveals protective effects of botulinum toxin injections against incident anxiety

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown an antidepressant effect of glabellar botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections. In the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database, BoNT injection is associated with reduced incidence rates of depression across various non-psychiatric indications, which confirms the previous findings independently of specific expectations to an antidepressant effect of BoNT. The rationale of using BoNT to treat depression is to interrupt proprioceptive body feedback that may reinforce negative emotions. Negative emotions also occur in other mental disorders, suggesting a transdiagnostic therapeutic potential of BoNT in psychiatry. Here we report an analysis of the FAERS database, in which we found that, compared to alternative treatments, BoNT injections were associated with lower incidence of anxiety symptoms and related disorders. Among seven indications/injection sites, we found this protective effect of BoNT in cosmetic use/facial muscles, migraine/facial and head muscles, spasms and spasticity/upper and lower limbs, torticollis and neck pain/neck muscles, and sialorrhea/parotid and submandibular glands (reporting odds ratios 0.79–0.27). These findings are encouraging for possible future RCTs on the use of BoNT as a treatment for anxiety and related disorders.

The incidence of anxiety symptoms in boys with 47,XXY (Klinefelter syndrome) and the possible impact of timing of diagnosis and hormonal replacement therapy.

47,XXY (Klinefelter syndrome) is the most common X and Y chromosomal variation (1:660 males). The incidence of anxiety disorders and the impact of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) is not well understood. Child Behavior Checklist and Screen for Childhood Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders were completed by parents of 80 boys with 47,XXY. Forty received HRT prior to 10 years of age while 40 did not. HRT (22.5%) received early hormonal treatment prior to 18 months. About 32.5% received hormone booster treatment between 5 and 10 years. The remaining 42.5% received both. There were fewer reported social (p = .015), thought (p = .012), and affective problems (p = .048) in treated boys when compared to untreated. Boys with both treatments demonstrated fewer symptoms on anxious/depressed scale (p = .001) compared to those with early treatment only. Within the treated group, prenatally diagnosed showed fewer indications of anxiety problems (p = .02) than their postnatal counterparts. This comparative, cross-sectional study expands previous findings on the possible positive effect of HRT in boys with 47,XXY. Anxiety disorders appear to be a penetrant aspect of the 47,XXY phenotype. Further investigation is warranted to explore the relationship between biological treatment and individual responses to HRT to develop more personalized and precise medicine.

The link between interoceptive processing and anxiety in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: Extending adult findings into a developmental sample

Anxiety is a major associated feature of autism spectrum disorders. The incidence of anxiety symptoms in this population has been associated with altered interoceptive processing. Here, we investigated whether recent findings of impaired interoceptive accuracy (quantified using heartbeat detection tasks) and exaggerated interoceptive sensibility (subjective sensitivity to internal sensations on self-report questionnaires) in autistic adults, can be extended into a school-age sample of children and adolescents (n = 75). Half the sample had a verified diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and half were IQ- and age-matched children and adolescents without ASD. The discrepancy between an individual’s score on these two facets of interoception (interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive sensibility), conceptualized as an interoceptive trait prediction error, was previously found to predict anxiety symptoms in autistic adults. We replicated the finding of reduced interoceptive accuracy in autistic participants, but did not find exaggerated interoceptive sensibility relative to non-autistic participants. Nonetheless, the positive association between anxiety and interoceptive trait prediction error was replicated. However, in this sample, the best predictor of anxiety symptoms was interoceptive sensibility. Finally, we observed lower metacognitive accuracy for interoception in autistic children and adolescents, relative to their non-autistic counterparts. Despite their reduced interoceptive accuracy on the heartbeat tracking task and comparable accuracy on the heartbeat discrimination task, the autistic group reported higher confidence than the typical group in the discrimination task. Findings are consistent with theories of ASD as a disorder of interoceptive processing, but highlight the importance of validating cognitive models of developmental conditions within developmental populations.

Analysis of anxiety factors and nursing intervention in patients before liver puncture

Objective To investigate the related factors of anxiety in patients undergoing liver puncture, so as to provide better clinical care and psychological intervention for patients to ensure the successful completion of liver puncture. Methods From January 2008 to January 2014, 310 cases of patients from the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen with liver puncture were selected as the research object. The patients' general condition and self rating Anxiety Scale were investigated. Results The SAS score of the patients who would undergo liver puncture was (47.25±0.44) points, and the incidence of anxiety symptoms was 91.3%. The results of univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the effect of patients with anxiety before liver biopsy can explain the variation of the size of the corresponding factors: whether accompanied by family members, payment methods, awareness of the disease, ear of liver failure, the education level, and gender (β' =0.617, 0.352, 0.114, 0.102, 0.082、0.043; P<0.05) . Conclusions Before the liver puncture, the patients show a state of anxiety. The main factors affecting the anxiety status are whether to have family members, to pay for the disease, to understand the disease, to worry about the failure of liver failure, the degree of education and gender medical staff should provide targeted nursing intervention for patients to alleviate anxiety and promote rehabilitation on the basis of the above factors and the relevant circumstances. Key words: Anxiety; Nursing care; Related factors; Liver biopsy; Liver puncture

Complex Roles of Estrogen in Emotion: Sex Matters

h T e i U t ( a d W omen are more than twice as likely to suffer from fear and anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and posttraumatic stress disorder. One reason for this difference may be that fluctuating ovarian hormone levels in women during their reproductive life span alters emotional processing. For example, the incidence of anxiety symptoms is higher when ovarian hormone levels are low, including during premenstrual, postpartum, and perimenopausal periods. These women can benefit from estrogen treatment, suggesting an anxiolytic effect. Despite these striking sex differences and decades of research investigating the processes involved in controlling emotion, we know surprisingly little regarding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this disproportionate incidence of fear and anxiety disorders. In the current issue, Zeidan et al. (1) add to the accumulating evidence that estradiol has powerful effects on emotional processing of fearful experiences. The authors found that estradiol facilitates the fear extinction process in both female rats and women, thereby providing a protective function against fear. This finding is in agreement with previous reports showing that estradiol enhances extinction of passive avoidance conditioning in male mice (2) and conditioned taste aversion in both male and female rats (3). The literature on fear learning in general, however, is more controversial. Animal studies have revealed a complex role of estradiol on various aspects of anxiety and fear. For instance, estradiol increased fear in a two-way avoidance task (4), whereas it decreased fear in a contextual fear conditioning paradigm (5). Because fear is often studied in animal models using classical fear-conditioning paradigms, these models involve a learning component that interacts with fear. Estradiol has a well-established procognitive role on the learning aspects of fear; thus, it may, on the one hand, enhance fear by increasing the acquisition or expression of fear conditioning but also reduce fear by accelerating extinction learning. Underscoring this intricate relationship, we have also previously shown differential effects of estradiol: chronic estradiol administration to ovariectomized rats was anxioytic in the open field test yet increased fear potentiated startle (6). A closer examination of within-session extinction during the testing phase of fear potentiated startle revealed that there was increased startle during the initial third of the testing session. However, fear potentiated startle in the estradiol-treated group diminished quickly as testing proceeded. By the end of the session, this group was comparable with the vehicle group, lending support to the idea that estradiol may increase fear initially by enhancing associative learning during fear conditioning yet reduce it later by facilitating fear extinction. In the present issue, Zeidan et al. (1) demonstrate that estrogen acilitates extinction recall when it is administered before or immeiately after extinction learning but not when given after a 4-hour elay, corroborating the notion that estrogen may act by enhanc-

Evoluzione neuropsichiatrica a lungo termine in soggetti con encefalopatia ipossico-ischemica neonatale

We studied the neuropsychiatric evolution at school age in a population of children born at term with perinatal asphyxia, focusing on the assessment of cognitive disorders and psychopathological problems such as anxiety, depression and behavioural disorders. The cohort comprised 33 children aged between seven and 12 years, born at term and presenting hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy at birth. History-taking and neurological examination were done (according to Towen) and the following tests administered: WISC-R, test CBCL, childhood anxiety scale (Busnelli), CDI (Kovacs). A control group consisted of children aged between eight and 12 years without perinatal suffering. Results disclosed a number of evolutive disorders even though patients with severe neuromotor deficit were excluded from the study. Disorders included minor neurological syndromes, specific language and learning disorders, positivity on the scale for anxiety and depression: in particular 50% of the sample with minor neurological syndrome had symptoms of anxiety and depression. We divided the neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy into three degrees on the basis of brain scan and neurological examination. Relating the degree of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy to some neuropsychological and psychiatric variables (cognitive level, anxiety, depression), only the correlation with anxiety was significant: the incidence of anxiety symptoms at school age was greater in the intermediate degree of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Our findings further support the postulated link between neurological injury/dysfunction (perinatal asphyxia) and the subsequent onset of psychiatric and/or neuropsychological disorders.