Persistent Worry Research Articles

Exploring the relationship between energy poverty and mental wellbeing: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Rising rates of energy poverty in Europe, affecting 11% of households, are a serious public health concern. The inability to meet energy needs impacts mental wellbeing, preventing people from productively engaging in society. Our objective was to explore this relationship within the context of three European cities, each characterized by distinct climatic conditions, cultural and societal characteristics and governance arrangements. This work is part of the European funded research project WELLBASED, grant no. 945097. Methods Semi-structured interviews (n = 34) were conducted with people experiencing energy poverty in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Spain. Purposive sampling ensured the representation of a diverse range of family and household types, gender and experiences with energy poverty. Thematic analysis was conducted using MaxQDA software. Preliminary results The analysis resulted in six themes: (1) worries and fear (2) stress (3) value of the home and neighborhood, (4) caring for others, (5) engaging with daily life and (6) autonomy in managing the situation and seeking for and receiving support. Participants were worried and stressed about the rising energy bills, the thermal discomfort, and health impacts of their poor housing conditions. In relation to caring responsibilities, participants were especially concerned about the impact on their children and prioritized children’s needs. Participants also expressed a strong will for independence and having control over their lives, but at the same time valued being seen and supported. Conclusions The persistent worries, fear and stress highlight implications of failure to meet energy needs for mental wellbeing. Caring responsibilities, engaging with daily life and autonomy proved important for mental wellbeing among people living in energy poverty. Our findings call for addressing energy poverty challenges in public health programs to improve mental wellbeing of vulnerable citizens. Key messages • People experiencing energy poverty in the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands recognize the impact of their energy poverty situation on their mental wellbeing. • The public health community needs to be informed and engaged about the impact of energy poverty on mental wellbeing in order to take action.

Advancements in Green Nanoparticle Technology: Focusing on the Treatment of Clinical Phytopathogens.

Opportunistic pathogenic microbial infections pose a significant danger to human health, which forces people to use riskier, more expensive, and less effective drugs compared to traditional treatments. These may be attributed to several factors, such as overusing antibiotics in medicine and lack of sanitization in hospital settings. In this context, researchers are looking for new options to combat this worrying condition and find a solution. Nanoparticles are currently being utilized in the pharmaceutical sector; however, there is a persistent worry regarding their potential danger to human health due to the usage of toxic chemicals, which makes the utilization of nanoparticles highly hazardous to eukaryotic cells. Multiple nanoparticle-based techniques are now being developed, offering essential understanding regarding the synthesis of components that play a crucial role in producing anti-microbial nanotherapeutic pharmaceuticals. In this regard, green nanoparticles are considered less hazardous than other forms, providing potential options for avoiding the extensive harm to the human microbiome that is prevalent with existing procedures. This review article aims to comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge on green nanoparticles related to antibiotic activity as well as their potential to assist antibiotics in treating opportunistic clinical phytopathogenic illnesses.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical sensing for simultaneous rapid detection of zearalenone and ochratoxin A in feedstuffs and foodstuffs

Mycotoxins are causing persistent worries regarding food safety worldwide due to their ability to elicit a wide range of harmful effects in both animals and humans. Approaches that can identify a single mycotoxin are not sufficient for addressing the needs of quality control of agricultural products since they are often co-contaminated by multiple mycotoxins. This paper presents the development of an electrochemical sensor that is free of biomolecules and is capable of simultaneously detecting zearalenone (ZEN) and ochratoxin A (OTA) through the incorporation of nickel oxide (NiO) with carboxylated carbon nanotubes (MWCNT(–COOH)).This is the first time that NiO–MWCNT(–COOH) based electrochemical sensor has achieved the simultaneous potential-resolved selective detection of ZEN and OTA. Under optimized conditions, good linear responses were observed in the range of 0.01–10.24 μg mL−1 for ZEN and 0.04–10.24 μg mL−1 for OTA with low detection limit of 6 and 15 ng mL−1, respectively. The proposed electrochemical sensor demonstrated good selectivity, reusability, reproducibility, and shelf-life for the sensitive detection of both mycotoxins. Moreover, the sensor was made utilizing screen-printing technology to demonstrate its potential for commercialization and practical application. Our biomolecule-free electrochemical sensor was successful in evaluating these mycotoxins in actual samples of corn flour and wheat flour, proving its promising application in monitoring ZEN and OTA co-contamination in agricultural products.

Eco-anxiety, how can the awareness on fighting global warming is becoming a mental health problem

IntroductionAlthough the issue of climate change usually brings thoughts of environmental impact and physical health concerns to our consciousness, climate change also affects people’s mental health. Nowadays there is an emerging condition about climate change anxiety (CCA), defined as negative responses associated with global warming, with apprehension and stress related to the anticipation of threats to the ecosystem and our species. It may include cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses, for example, persistent worries, psychological distress, or sleep difficulties related to long-term consequences of climate change, and can result in functional impairment.ObjectivesA literature review to analyse the evidence, to be aware of individuals overconcerned about global warming, bring awereness and promote an appropriate seek of professional help when neededMethodsUsing the Medline database through the Pubmed search engine was used, with the keywords: “climate change anxiety”, “eco-anxiety”.ResultsDespite the lack of studies, CCA affects a substantial proportion, especially the younger population, aged from 16 to 25 years old worldwide. As a result of ecoanxiety, people are becoming anxious about their future and the future of the planet as we currently know it, the terrifying and at some extent uncertainty of it. It is documented the importance of green and blue spaces (water places) specially in urban areas for mental wellbeing – as our environment is quickly changing with the global warming, the reduction/disappearing of these areas are ongoing; besides this direct consequence, the disruption of these places results in feelings of loss due to changes to personally significant places a phenomenon known as ‘ecological grief’. Additionally, the occurrence of natural disasters like heatwaves, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, and drought, raising concern and the socially-mediated impacts of forced migration and conflict caused by it. Self-reported presentations may include panic attacks, insomnia, obsessive thinking, and/or appetite changes caused by environmental concerns. If prolonged symptoms, depressive, anxious disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, among others can develop.ConclusionsTo reduce eco-anxiety individuals can take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, engage in activism and advocacy, bringing more awareness to the subjects and thus taking measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the environment. It’s equal important to consider and address the mental health impacts of climate change, this additionally includes providing adequate emotional and psychological support to those affected.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Food-Related Quality of Life and Its Predictors in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with dietary restrictions and food- and drink-driven daily life limitations. Food-related quality of life (FR-QoL) is still an under-addressed issue in IBD. We aimed to study determinants of FR-QoL in an IBD cohort, namely objective measures of disease activity. A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted in a Tertiary Hospital, including adult patients with IBD (cases) and blood donors or subjects referred for colorectal polypectomies (controls). Participants answered an anonymous multimodal questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical data, the validated FR-QoL-29, and the SIBDQ tools. Patients' disease activity was previously assessed by a physician using symptom-based scores and biomarkers (Harvey-Bradshaw index, partial Mayo score, fecal calprotectin). A total of 239 patients with IBD and 126 controls were included. Patients with active disease had poorer FR-QoL than patients in remission (80.0 [56.0-99.0] vs. 103.5 [81.0-129.9], p < 0.001). Still, patients with IBD had significantly lower FR-QoL compared with controls (99.0 [76.0-126.0] vs. 126.0 [102.8-143.0], p < 0.001), irrespective of disease activity. FR-QoL correlated with health-related quality of life, measured by SIBDQ (r = 0.490, p < 0.001), and was significantly impaired by patients' depressive humor (84.0 [61.0-112.0] vs. 108.0 [88.0-130.5], p < 0.001). Globally, FR-QoL compromise was mostly related to persistent worries about food, concerns about food-related symptoms, and life disruption due to eating and drinking. Patients with IBD showed significant FR-QoL impairment, irrespective of disease type and activity. Related psychosocial factors, such as the patient's affective status and fear around eating, warrant a need for a multidisciplinary approach to IBD, including tailored nutritional counseling.

Bio-Medical Waste And Environmental Protection Laws And Policies In India: Management And Solutions To Tackle Its Effects In India

With the economic development is the world and in India waste management is a matter of growing concern. Even the developed countries like US, UK, Japan and Canada face the similar issues. Taking into account the growing population of India, biomedical waste management and mismanagement becomes a matter of great concern. Biomedical wastes are “those types of trash that healthcare facilities make while treating patients, these pollutants pose major risks to both environmental hygiene and human health because they are extremely poisonous and hazardous, therefore it is crucial that these wastes be handled and managed effectively”, which calls for the establishment of an appropriate institutional and regulatory framework. Several legal regulations have occasionally been recognized on a national and international level based on this need. However, there are persistent worries about improper handling of these wastes, making a legal framework analysis crucial. In order to identify inconsistencies in those legal frameworks and the negative effects of widespread inadequate management of healthcare waste on people and the natural environment, this paper aims to evaluate the current laws in India that govern the management of biomedical wastes. It will also analyze the international legal framework on the same topic.

The efficacy of integrated transdiagnostic treatment in reducing worry, anxiety, depressive and emotional regulation in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition, characterized by an individual’s excessive and persistent worry about various social situations. It is a common problem which can induce numerous physical and mental alterations in the person affected. Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated transdiagnostic treatment approach in alleviating symptoms of worry, anxiety, and depression and improving emotional regulation in patients diagnosed with GAD. Method: In this semi-experimental study, a pretest-posttest, control group design with a follow-up was employed. The research population consisted of all clients aged 18-51 years with GAD in Sanandaj, Iran, during 2018. The research sample comprised 20 patients diagnosed with GAD based on the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These diagnoses were confirmed through structured interviews conducted by a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist. The samples were selected via convenience sampling and randomly allocated into experimental and control groups. The research utilized several assessment tools, including the Beck Depression Inventory (1961), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (1988), the Pennsylvania Anxiety Inventory (1990), and the Emotional Regulation Inventory (2008). The collected data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance test in SPSS Version 24 software. Results: According to the results, the integrated transdiagnostic treatment had an impact on reducing anxiety and depression. However, it was not effective in alleviating anxiety and improving emotional regulation in patients with GAD (P≤0.001). Conclusion: The integrated transdiagnostic treatment method utilized in this study proved to be effective in alleviating worry and depression in patients diagnosed with GAD. Consequently, it is recommended for use in the therapeutic management of worry and depression symptoms in individuals suffering from GAD.

Impact of repetitive negative thinking on subjective cognitive decline: insights into cognition and brain structure.

Individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) express concern about self-perceived cognitive decline despite no objective impairment and are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Despite documented links between SCD and repetitive negative thinking (RNT), the specific impact of RNT on brain integrity and cognition in exacerbating the SCD condition remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the influence of RNT on global cognition and brain integrity, and their interrelationships among healthy middle-aged and older adults experiencing SCD. Out of 616 individuals with neuroimaging and neuropsychological data available, 89 (mean age = 56.18 years; 68.54% females) met SCD criteria. Eighty-nine non-SCD individuals matched by age, sex, and education were also selected and represented the control group (mean age = 56.09 years; 68.54% females). Global cognition was measured using the preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite (PACC5), which includes dementia screening, episodic memory, processing speed, and category fluency tests. RNT was calculated through three questionnaires assessing intrusive thoughts, persistent worry, and rumination. We generated cortical thickness (CTh) maps and quantified the volume of white matter lesions (WML) in the whole brain, as grey and white matter integrity measures, respectively. SCD individuals exhibited higher RNT scores, and thinner right temporal cortex compared to controls. No differences were observed in PACC5 and WML burden between groups. Only the SCD group demonstrated positive associations in the CTh-PACC5, CTh-RNT, and WML-RNT relationships. In this cross-sectional study, RNT was exclusively associated with brain integrity in SCD. Even though our findings align with the broader importance of investigating treatable psychological factors in SCD, further research may reveal a modulatory effect of RNT on the relationship between cognition and brain integrity in SCD.

Anticipatory anxiety of seizures: What is the best treatment?

Anxiety disorders affect roughly 25% of people with epilepsy (PWE), and are associated with a strong impairment of quality of life and a poorer stabilization of epilepsy. Anticipatory anxiety of seizure (AAS), defined by the persistent worry or fear to have another seizure, is highly frequent and associated with avoidant behavior. Unfortunately, AAS is often overlooked and untreated. Here, we present the case of a 35-year-old patient suffering from AAS secondary to focal epilepsy. We aimed to provide practical guidelines and tools for the screening and treatment of anxiety disorders in PWE. Regarding psychotropic medication, Sertraline or Citalopram might be good options for first-line treatment of AAS, since they are efficient against anxiety and well-tolerated in epilepsy.

Dynamic Shifts in Digital Currencies: Tracing the Evolution of Digital Currencies from Bitcoin's Inception to 2023

The rapid "development of communication technology" has had a considerable impact on financial transactions, leading to the appearance of new types of "currency." These digital currencies are intended to streamline processes, decrease time and effort expenditures, and minimize financial losses while doing away with the need for traditional financial intermediaries and central bank regulation. Despite persistent worries and hazards that remain in the minds of people participating in currency trading and stock exchanges, digital currencies have significantly impacted the global financial industry. The fundamental issue with digital currencies is the question of the legal and regulatory frameworks. Since digital currencies are decentralized, conventional regulatory frameworks might find it difficult to keep up with the consequences of this rapidly changing technology. This may result in ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the governance and regulation of digital currency.Best in Class In addition to exploring the ideas of Bitcoin and block chain technology, this study attempts to give an overview of digital currencies, including their definition, emergence, and development. The research examined the stages of development of digital currency from its inception in 2009 to the present year, 2023. It traced the evolution of digital currency over this period. The study provided into how digital currency has evolved from its early days, marked by the introduction of Bitcoin in 2009, to its current state in 2023. Index Terms— Digital currency, Block chain, Bitcoin, Advantages, Challenges and Central Bank Digital Currency.

Innovative and entrepreneurial thinking training combined with psychological nursing intervention on the relief of Graduate’s employment anxiety

BackgroundSevere employment competition and pressure have triggered students in higher vocational school to develop negative emotions of anxiety. They show intense, excessive as well as persistent worries and fears, and even somatic anxiety symptoms. In order to alleviate the anxiety triggered by the employment pressure of graduates of higher vocational school, the study introduces psychological care to intervene in graduation innovation and entrepreneurial thinking training and analyzes its ability to alleviate anxiety.Subjects and Methods48 graduates suffering from anxiety disorders in a higher vocational school were used as experimental research subjects, and the experimental group received a training program combining psychological nursing intervention and innovative entrepreneurial thinking; the control group received traditional innovation and entrepreneurship training courses. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Symptom Self-assessment Scale SCL90, and Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (SAQ) were evaluated before the experiment, and after the 2nd, 4th, and 8th weeks of the experiment, respectively.Results Graduates who participated in the training on the integration of psychological care into innovative and entrepreneurial thinking showed a significant decrease in the scores of all scales compared to the pre-experimental period (P&lt;0.05), and the relief of anxiety was more pronounced compared to the control group (P&lt;0.05).ConclusionsPsychological care integrated with innovative and entrepreneurial thinking training had a significant effect on the anxiety of graduates. They had a more rational and accurate control of the employment situation and restored their confidence in their future work and life.AcknowledgementThe project of higher education research in 2022 approved by Inner Mongolia Higher Education Society (No.NMGJXH-2022XZ006).

When Do Ruminations About Life-Threatening Crises Threaten Creativity? The Critical Role of Resilience

ABSTRACT This study adds to creativity research by investigating the connection between employees’ ruminations about life-threatening crises and their creative work behavior, with a specific focus on the mediating role of their experiences of personal life-to-work conflict and the moderating role of their resilience in this connection. Cross-sectional survey data (N = 710) gathered from employees who operate in the health-related distribution sector indicate that a key factor that underpins the connection between persistent worries about deadly crises and thwarted creativity at work is that personal life worries spill over into the work domain, but this detrimental effect is less salient if employees can bounce back from difficult situations. For organizations, this investigation reveals a critical conduit, personal life – induced work strain, through which employees’ struggles to ban negative thoughts about excruciating crises translate into a lower propensity to develop novel ideas for organizational improvement. It also reveals how organizations can mitigate this risk by making their workforce more resilient.

Pre and post test clinical study to assess the combined effect of Brahmigritha-Nasya, Ksheerabalataila-Abhyanga and Saraswatha-Churna in reducing the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder on Hamilton anxiety rating scale

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most frequently occurring anxiety disorder. It is characterized by tension, persistent worry about a variety of everyday problems and other anxiety symptoms for at least 6 months. Although there have been significant improvements over the years in its treatment, GAD remains the least successfully treated among anxiety disorders. This paper aims to explore the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment protocol in providing a remedy for GAD. A clinical trial was conducted with 20 patients in the proposed age group of 20 years to 60 years, diagnosed with GAD according to ICD 10 F 41.1 Criteria, and having a score between 17-24 (mild to moderate) on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The patients were administered 7 days of Sarvanga-Abhyanga (full body massage) with Ksheerabalataila and Brahmigritha-Nasya, followed by internal intake of Saraswatha-Churna for 21 days. The assessment was done using Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale at baseline and after treatment. Patients ranged in the age from 27 to 60 years. Maximum incidence of the disease was seen in the age-wise classification group 20-29 years. There were 8 male subjects and 12 female subjects. After 28 days of treatment, the mean scores of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, which was 21 before treatment, reduced to 9.8 with a mean difference of 11.2 and a statistically significant p-value of 0.01. Thus the present protocol was effective in reducing the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder within a short time-span and without producing any side effects.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder among Adult patients attending psychiatric clinic at Baghdad Teaching Hospital

Background: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by chronic and persistent worry, which is multifocal, excessive, and difficult to control, and accompanied by nonspecific psychological and physical symptoms. The objective of the study is to determine the proportion of GAD, evaluate clinical symptoms with socio-demographic data and determine whether such patients have co-morbid mental illnesses. Method and patient: This cross sectional study was conducted at Baghdad teaching hospital, 263 patients included, the study took 17 weeks starting in June 2021 till mid-October 2021. Result: 6% of patients (7 patients from 263) found to have GAD, men and women were almost equally affected, most of the patients were employed and married, had secondary school achievements and all of them were from urban areas. Restlessness and irritability were the most frequent symptoms and sleep disturbance was the least among other symptoms. Depression was the most frequent comorbid illness; other anxiety disorders and personality disorder were the least comorbidities. Conclusions: The proportion of GAD is slightly lesser than other studies, higher proportion seen in older adults than the younger patients, common symptoms of GAD are also seen in other psychiatric disorders leading to under-diagnosing of the illness, and mental health comorbidities are high among patients with GAD, mainly depression.

Change in interpersonal problems and metacognitive beliefs as predictors of improvement in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent worry and anxiety, often with a chronic course. We tested the role of two suggested underlying factors in GAD, interpersonal problems and negative metacognitive beliefs, as predictors of trait-worry and trait-anxiety. The sample consisted of 56 patients with a primary diagnosis of GAD from a randomized controlled trial. We first estimated the proportion of variance lying between the higher level of the data structure to account for potential therapists' effects. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted testing change in interpersonal problems and negative metacognitive beliefs as predictors of change in trait-worry and trait-anxiety following treatment. Change in depression and anxiety symptoms was controlled. Change in negative metacognitive beliefs was the strongest predictor of improvement of both trait-worry and trait-anxiety. Change in interpersonal problems was not a unique predictor of change in trait-worry but did make a significant and unique contribution to trait-anxiety. Negative metacognitive beliefs may be important targets to improve trait-worry and trait-anxiety in GAD. Interpersonal problems may be relevant for trait-anxiety but could also be a surface marker of higher order vulnerability factors. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Errors and fallibility in radiology: X-ray readings and expert radiologists, 1947–1960

AbstractThis article traces the historical emergence of a new understanding of radiologists as fallible expert observers from the late 1940s, a conception that was shaped by new technologies and techniques, but also prepared the ground for promises of automation and artificial intelligence in the field of medical imaging. Reports of radiologists’ unreliable performance prompted investigations in many countries into ‘observer variability’ and ‘observer error’. Towards the end of the 1950s, scientists could conceive of radiologists as imperfect medical decision makers, while they concurrently developed a new model for ‘logical analysis’ of the diagnostic process that would limit errors. As well as technological solutions to flawed X-ray readers, researchers proposed ‘double-reading’ practices (a second independent reading) as a way to mitigate the ‘human factor’. Yet these ideas did not find widespread resonance due to concerns about feasibility and debates about radiological expertise, and also because of a discrepancy between experimental models and real-world practices. A genealogy of the fallible trained observer helps us understand persistent worries about – and solutions to – radiologists’ ‘error problem’ and contributes to a better understanding of current discourses on AI in medical imaging.

Sources of Clinician Burnout in Providing Care for Underserved Patients in a Safety-Net Healthcare System.

Burnout among clinicians is common and can undermine quality of care, patient outcomes, and workforce preservation, but sources of burnout or protective factors unique to clinicians working in safety-net settings are less well understood. Understanding these clinician experiences may inform interventions to reduce burnout. To describe clinician perspectives on sources of burnout in a safety-net healthcare system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians from multiple disciplines who provided care at a safety-net healthcare system from October 2018 to January 2019. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Forty clinicians (25 female and 15 male; mean [SD] age, 41 [9.1]) participated, including physicians, social workers, advanced practice providers, nurses, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals. Themes and subthemes that reflected clinician experiences, burnout, and workload expectations. Five themes emerged: limited resources (entrenched social injustices, brokenness of the US healthcare system, precarious discharge options, and "revolving door" readmissions), barriers to building trust with patients (chasm of communication, addressing fear and mistrust, and being exposed to threats), administrative requirements (criticism hampering meaningful care, assuming extra workloads, bureaucratic burden), compassion fatigue (confronting traumatic situations, persistent worry about patient safety and welfare, witnessing mistreatment and stigmatization, overextending and overinvesting, withdrawing and shutting down, blaming self and career crisis), and advocacy as a counterbalance to burnout (solidarity when helping underserved communities, fervent advocacy, and patient gratitude). Among clinicians who provide care in a safety-net healthcare system, sources of burnout included limited resources, barriers to building trust with patients, administrative requirements, and compassion fatigue, but clinicians remained driven by their desire to advocate for patients. Policy-level interventions which increase funding to safety-net healthcare systems to bolster existing resources and staffing, create peer-support and wellness programs, and support advocacy efforts may mitigate burnout.

Pengaruh Murottal Al-Quran Terhadap Penurunan Kecemasan Pada Lansia Penderita Hipertensi Di Puskesmas Paguyaman Pantai

Background: Anxiety is one of the psychological factors that affect hypertension. Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear regarding everyday situations. The Purpose This study aims to determine the effect of Murottal Al-Qur'an on reducing anxiety in the elderly with hypertension at Paguyaman Pantai Health Center. Methods: This study was carried out for two weeks using a quasi-experimental method with a two group pre-posttest design approach, namely the measurement was carried out by giving initial observations before being given an intervention, after that an intervention was given, then a posttest or final observation was carried out. There are 20 samples who suffer from anxiety where 10 people in the intervention group murottal Al-Qur'an and 10 people in the control group without murottal Al-Qur'an. The instrument used was the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS/SRAS) questionnaire. Analysis of the data in this study using Univariate Analysis and Bivariate Analysis. Bivariate analysis using Lambda Test Statistical Test. Results: The results showed that there were differences in the level of pre and post anxiety in the intervention group given Murottal Al-Qur'an, with a p-value of 0.001 or p?0.05, meaning there was a significant difference. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that there is an effect of murottal Al-Qur'an on reducing anxiety in the elderly with hypertension at the Paguyaman Beach Community Health Center.

Toward Linguistic Recognition of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

BackgroundGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) refers to extreme, uncontrollable, and persistent worry and anxiety. The disorder is known to affect the social functioning and well-being of millions of people, but despite its prevalence and burden to society, it has proven difficult to identify unique behavioral markers. Interestingly, the worrying behavior observed in GAD is argued to stem from a verbal linguistic process. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate if GAD can be predicted from the language people use to put their anxious worries into words. Given the importance of avoidance sensitivity (a higher likelihood to respond anxiously to novel or unexpected triggers) in GAD, this study also explored if prediction accuracy increases when individual differences in behavioral avoidance and approach sensitivity are taken into account.MethodAn expressive writing exercise was used to explore whether GAD can be predicted from linguistic characteristics of written narratives. Specifically, 144 undergraduate student participants were asked to recall an anxious experience during their university life, and describe this experience in written form. Clinically validated behavioral measures for GAD and self-reported sensitivity in behavioral avoidance/inhibition (BIS) and behavioral approach (BAS), were collected. A set of classification experiments was performed to evaluate GAD predictability based on linguistic features, BIS/BAS scores, and a concatenation of the two.ResultsThe classification results show that GAD can, indeed, be successfully predicted from anxiety-focused written narratives. Prediction accuracy increased when differences in BIS and BAS were included, which suggests that, under those conditions, negatively valenced emotion words and words relating to social processes could be sufficient for recognition of GAD.ConclusionsUndergraduate students with a high GAD score can be identified based on their written recollection of an anxious experience during university life. This insight is an important first step toward development of text-based digital health applications and technologies aimed at remote screening for GAD. Future work should investigate the extent to which these results uniquely apply to university campus populations or generalize to other demographics.

Recovering the Story of Pragmatism in India: Bhimrao Ambedkar, John Dewey, and the Origins of Navayana Pragmatism

Recovering the Story of Pragmatism in India: Bhimrao Ambedkar, John Dewey, and the Origins of Navayana Pragmatism