Increase In Thoughts Research Articles

Pre-disaster PTSD as a moderator of the relationship between natural disaster and suicidal ideation over time

BackgroundNatural disasters are associated with a variety of negative health consequences, including enhanced suicide risk. Factors that moderate the relationship between disaster exposure and enhanced suicide risk are unknown. The aim of the current study was to determine whether pre-disaster PTSD moderates the association between change over time in thoughts of death, suicidal ideation (SI), suicide plans, and suicide attempts (SA) from pre- to post-disaster. MethodsParticipants (n = 2832) were recruited from Chile as part of the larger PREDICT study and completed a measure of lifetime PTSD and panic disorder at baseline and a lifetime death/suicide measure at baseline in 2003 and again 6, 12, and 24 months later (i.e. “pre-disaster”). One year following a major earthquake and tsunami in 2010 (i.e., “post-disaster”), participants completed another death/suicide measure. ResultsBoth those with and without pre-disaster PTSD experienced significant increases in SI from pre- to post-disaster. However, pre-disaster PTSD was associated with significantly accelerated increases in thoughts of death and SI from pre-to post-disaster. At nearly all time-points, pre-disaster PTSD was associated with higher thoughts of death and SI, suicide planning, and SA. In contrast, panic disorder did not moderate the association between time and changes in SI. LimitationsThere was a long time-gap between pre-disaster and post-disaster, with limited data about what occurred during this time. ConclusionPre-disaster PTSD is an important predictor of increased SI following a natural disaster, and groups with pre-disaster PTSD should be prioritized for receipt of mental health resources following a natural disaster.

Body-heart-brain Interaction On Exercise

Recent work suggests that inhibitory control influences affective regulation and is an important neurobiological mechanism that contributes to physical activity behavior. However, the effects of exercise intensity in this complex interaction body-heart-brain remain unclear. PURPOSE: Investigate the effects of exercise intensity on inhibitory control, affect, autonomic function and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation. METHODS: 37 sedentary young adults were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions (control or exercise). For the exercise condition, a maximum incremental test was performed on a cycle ergometer with continuous measurements of PFC oxygenation, heart rate variability (HRV), inhibitory control (Stroop test), associative and dissociative thoughts (ADT) and affect scale every 2 minutes at each of 8 intensity increments. For the control condition, the same assessments were carried out, but participants sat on a cycle ergometer without active pedaling. We evaluated the effects with a two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustments to compare the effects and interactions of condition and intensity. Then, Pearson’s correlations to evaluate the relationship between affect and inhibitory control, ADT, HRV and PFC oxygenation. RESULTS: Intensities above the ventilatory threshold (VT) induced poorer inhibitory control (F=33.64; p<0.001), more ratings of unpleasantness (F=200.60; p<0.001), increased HRV activity (F=29.96; p<0.001) and increased oxygenation of the PFC (F=55.97; p<0.001). Pleasure perception was correlated with ADT at almost all intensities from 2-VT to VT+2 (rs>-0.33, ps<0.05). We also found pleasure correlation with HRV lower frequencies analysis (r=-0.34; p<0.05) and ratio between low and high frequency (r=-0.33; p<0.05), in the last stage of intensity, and to PFC deoxy was found at VT+2 intensity (r=-0.37; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exercise at high intensities reduces inhibitory control and affect (ratings of pleasantness). Displeasure correlates to increases in thoughts associated to exercise, and at high intensities, displeasure is correlated with PFC deoxygenation and sympathetic activity. These findings strengthen the existence of an integrative body-heart-brain system and suggests a role of the exercise intensity in this interaction.

The impact of Parkinson disease on patients' sexuality and relationship.

This study aimed at examining the impact of Parkinson disease (PD) on patients' sexuality and relationship and to evaluate gender-specific differences. Using a standardized questionnaire on sexual functioning in chronic diseases (SFCE), the impact of PD diagnosis on 38 domains of sexuality before and since PD diagnosis was evaluated retrospectively in 53 consecutive patients in a relationship. Changes in self-assessed ratings on a four-point Likert scale were determined for all patients. In addition, gender-specific differences and the influence of age, depression (BDI-II), medication, disease severity and disease duration on domains of the SFCE were calculated. The importance of non-sexual relational aspects, such as talking about feelings or tenderness increased for both genders after PD diagnosis, especially in women. Sexual function, such as frequency of intercourse, sexual arousal, subjective abnormal sexual fantasies or sexual satisfaction deteriorated in both genders, especially in men. Some sexual aspects improved in women but worsened in men after PD diagnosis. This includes frequency of orgasm dysfunction, fear not to fulfill sexual expectations of the partner, avoidance of sexual acts, withdrawal from relationship, increase of thoughts about divorce, or increase of dissatisfaction with sexuality and relationship. With age, thoughts about divorce declined. With disease duration, frequency of tenderness with the partner increased. Depression unexpectedly correlated with higher frequency of intercourse. Dopaminergic dosage influenced stability of the relationship negatively. PD influences patients' sexuality negatively, independently of age, disease duration or disease severity and men show greater sexual dysfunction and impairment of their sexual relationship than women.

Impact of breast cancer and BRCA mutations on thoughts and feelings of future pregnancies.

38 Background: Many women diagnosed with premenopausal breast cancer are concerned with treatment-related infertility. Identifying a BRCA mutation associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer may affect attitudes regarding future childbearing. We evaluated attitudes regarding the impact of cancer or potentially being a BRCA mutation carrier on future childbearing. Methods: Women with childbearing potential were invited to participate in an IRB-approved questionnaire study administered prior to genetic counseling and after results disclosure, if applicable. Women were provided a series of 15 statements and asked to rate how often they thought about the impact of cancer or of having a BRCA mutation on the ability to conceive or carry a pregnancy on a 4-point scale ranging from not at all to often. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: We received 148 pre-questionnaires and 114 post-questionnaires. Thirteen women tested positive for a BRCA 1 mutation and 5 with a BRCA 2 mutation. The mean age was 35 (range 20-45) with 71% having breast cancer. The majority (62%) had at least 1 biological child prior to diagnosis and 45% desired a future child. Across 15 statements, 57% of women did not have any thoughts or feelings about the impact of cancer or a BRCA mutation on a future pregnancy at initial visit. Across the same 15 statements, 52% of women who tested positive for a BRCA mutation changed their answer from the pre-questionnaire to post-questionnaire. Of these women, 70% thought about the impact more often than they reported initially. When compared to women who tested negative for a BRCA mutation (n=78), only 40% of women changed their answer choice, with 54% thinking about the impact less often. Conclusions: Women testing positive for a BRCA mutation were more likely to have an increase in thoughts and feelings regarding the impact of cancer or of being a BRCA mutation carrier on the ability to have a future pregnancy, while women who tested negative showed a decrease. Therefore, women with a BRCA mutation may be influenced in their decisions regarding future childbearing.

The Frequency, Nature, and Effects of Naturally Occurring Appearance-Focused Social Comparisons

This research examined the effects of naturally occurring appearance-focused social comparisons on women’s affect, body satisfaction, and weight-related cognitions. During their daily activities, women reporting body dissatisfaction ( n = 53) and women reporting body satisfaction ( n = 34) recorded their reactions to comparison information. Body-dissatisfied women engaged in more comparisons and a greater proportion of upward comparisons than body-satisfied women. Upward comparisons were associated with an increase in negative affect, body dissatisfaction, and thoughts of exercising for both groups; however, body-dissatisfied women experienced a greater increase in thoughts of dieting following upward comparisons. The daily effects of comparison information on body-dissatisfied women were examined; upward comparisons were associated with increases in daily negative affect, body dissatisfaction, and weight-related cognitions.

The relationship between thought suppression and smoking cessation.

Intrusive thoughts (e.g., anxiety, depression, substance use) are among the most salient symptoms of clinical problems. Therefore, methods of thought suppression have received considerable attention. However, some studies have found that attempts to suppress thoughts precipitate an increase in thoughts. In the case of substance abuse, such thoughts could serve as cues for further use. This study examined the association between thought suppression and quitting smoking in a sample of current and ex-smokers. Using the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), scores were obtained for participants' level of thought suppression. Based on the idea that a greater tendency to suppress thoughts would make quitting smoking more difficult, it was hypothesized that unsuccessful quitters would have higher WBSI scores than smokers who had successfully quit. It was found that mean scores on the WBSI were significantly higher (P<.05) for smokers than ex-smokers. These findings suggest that a tendency toward thought suppression may increase the likelihood that attempts to quit smoking will be unsuccessful.