Anxiety Research Articles

Data-driven View of Customer Psychological Anxiety Attributes for Cooperate Social Responsibility in Supply Chain Management: a LDA Model

Background-Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) in supply chain management requires understanding customer psychological anxiety attributes. A data-driven approach, such as using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model, can provide insights. By recognizing and addressing customer psychological anxiety, CSR can provide better support, which leads to higher customer satisfaction. When customers feel understood and supported, they are more likely to have a positive perception of the company and its supply chain services. Subjects and methods- The study aims to use the LDA method to explore consumer psychology anxiety and its attributes for CSR in supply chain management. The corpus is collected from the Web of Science core collection with keywords “CSR” and “supply chain management”, and 965 articles related to the field from1990-2022. LDA is a natural language processing technique that uncovers thematic structures in textual data. By applying LDA to customer feedback, businesses can identify anxiety attributes. Steps include data collection, preprocessing, LDA model training, topic interpretation, and deriving business insights. Results- The study used the Python program to run LDA, after putting in the text data, the study identify number of 11 topics according to the value of topic coherence, then identified topics based on the most representative words or phrases within each topic combined CSR and supply chain related knowledge and fit the service quality model to find the customer psychological anxiety attributes, the results reveal that customer tend to be anxiety about the aspects of reliability and assurance for CSR in supply chain management, more concern about the environmental and social aspects responsibility. Conclusions- The study revealed customer psychological anxiety about CSR initiatives and strategies within their supply chain management. The results show that consumers feel most anxiety about the aspects of reliability and assurance of supply chain management. They are concerned about the environment and social responsibility that the supply chain enterprise is taking, especially in the food supply chain field. By addressing these concerns, organizations can enhance customer satisfaction, build stronger relationships, and improve their overall CSR performance. The findings of this study also contribute to the field by providing valuable guidance, further research can add other text mining methods like structural topic modelling, or add deeper quantitative research in the field and develop of a new customer-CSR service quality model in the service industry.

Multi-dimensional measurements of long-term quality of life and recovery patterns of patients with cervical cancer after treatment.

e17533 Background: Cervical cancer is a prevalent malignancy affecting the female reproductive system globally, and its incidence among younger individuals is on the rise. This study employed the CC-PRO137 scale to evaluate the long-term quality of life and recovery patterns of cervical cancer patients post- treatment. Clinicians are guided to provide individualized treatment and psychological support. Methods: This study recruited patients with primary cervical cancer who underwent primary surgical treatment at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from October 2018 to June 2021. The CC-PRO137 (Cervical Cancer Patient Reported Clinical Outcome Assessment Scale) was used for follow-up to assess changes in the patients' physical, psychological, and social life states. The data was analyzed to examine variations in the recovery status of the patients across 13 modules: urinary function (URI), bowel function (BOW), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), ovarian function (OVA), lymphatic function (LYM), nervous function (NEU), sexual function (SEX), anxiety (ANX), depression (DEP), shame (SHA), belief (BEL), social support (SUP), and daily life (LIF). Subgroup analysis was conducted based on different stages, surgical methods, and adjuvant treatment plans. Results: A total of 304 participants were tested both 6 months and 12 months after the completion of treatment. The scores for URI, NEU, and SEX were significantly higher after one year compared to within 6 months (URI: t=-3.519, p=0.001; NEU: t=-2.138, p=0.033; SEX: t=-2.338, p=0.021). This suggests a notable improvement in urinary function, nervous function, and sexual function after 12 months. In terms of the psychological domain, DEP scores were significantly higher after 12 months compared to within 6 months ( t=-2.517, p=0.012). The LIF index showed a significant improvement after 12 months ( t=-5.224, p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that Stage II had worse outcomes compared to Stages I and III, particularly in terms of URI ( F(2,297) = 10.619, p < 0.001) and POP ( F(2,299) = 8.559, p< 0.001) indexes. The laparoscopy had a greater impact on the urinary system ( t = 2.157, p = 0.046). The adverse effects of concurrent chemoradiotherapy on URI ( F(2,297) = 11.497, p < 0.001) and DEP ( F(2,299) = 4.149, p = 0.017) functions were more significant than those of chemotherapy. Conclusions: The recovery of patients following cervical cancer treatment is primarily observed in improvements in urinary, bowel, and nervous functions in the physiological domain. In the psychological domain, there is a noticeable improvement in depressive state, while the social life domain also shows signs of improvement over time. By focusing on the disease impact within a limited time frame, the scale helps clinicians provide targeted guidance and advice based on the main issues.

Assessing Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Factors Among Healthcare Workers in a Rural Tertiary Care Hospital in Wardha, India: A Study Protocol.

Background Cardiometabolic diseases pose a significant public health challenge globally, particularly among healthcare workers, who often face heightened occupational stress and lifestyle challenges. This study aims to assess the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and their determinants among healthcare workers at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in rural Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving the recruitment of healthcare workers from various job roles. Data on demographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors, anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and mental health status was collected using standardized instruments and procedures. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, inferential tests, and multivariate analyses to identify significant associations and predictors of cardiometabolic risk factors. Expected results Anticipated findings include a notable prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among healthcare workers, including elevated BMI, fasting blood glucose, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Behavioral risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary habits, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption are expected to be prevalent. Additionally, varying degrees of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress, are anticipated. Significant associations between cardiometabolic risk factors and demographic variables are expected to be identified. Conclusion The study findings provide valuable insights into the prevalence and determinants of cardiometabolic risk factors among healthcare workers in a rural setting. These insights can inform targeted interventions and public health strategies aimed at improving the cardiovascular health and overall well-being of healthcare workers, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of healthcare delivery and outcomes in rural areas.

Seismic fragility analysis of human perception in high‐rise buildings subjected to far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motions: A case study for Shanghai tower

AbstractHuman perception in high‐rise buildings during far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motions often induces psychological discomfort, including fear and anxiety. A comprehensive understanding on human perception of seismic events is vital for city planning and emergency management, facilitating effective evacuation plans and minimizing stampede risks. This study addresses a gap by employing the seismic fragility analysis method to delineate how human perception in high‐rise buildings is affected during far‐field long‐period ground motions. The methodology involves several key steps. First, the far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motion was identified by detecting the later‐arriving surface waves, and a series of records were selected from the next generation attenuation (NGA) West‐2 ground motion database of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research center. Then, a high‐rise building in Shanghai, China was modeled using ETABS 20. Through the linear‐elastic time history analysis, the structural seismic response at each floor was computed. Furthermore, human perception thresholds to vibration were introduced to assess the degree of human perception at each floor, illustrating the difference of human perception to seismic tremor at different floors. Finally, a novel earthquake intensity measure (IM), namely average response spectrum intensity (ARSI) within the vibration period ranging from 0.1 s to 10 s was introduced to generate seismic fragility curves for human perception. According to the investigation, it was found that the corner frequency and the associated energy ratio are useful indicators to identify the far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motions. The ARSI is an effective parameter to assess human perception to seismic tremor compared to the spectral acceleration at a given fundamental period. The generated seismic fragility analysis can provide a complete and thorough understanding on the probability of people that should be evacuated under different earthquake intensity levels. The probability of human perception at different floors varies along the building height, demonstrating the difficulty to make crowd evacuation plan in practice. This insight is vital for understanding and mitigating seismic concerns in high‐rise buildings, particularly in low‐to‐moderate seismicity regions.

Quality of Professional Life in Medical Students: The Roles of Psychological Self-care, Anxiety, and Depression

Background: Medical students often experience high levels of psychological stress, which can significantly impact their professional lives. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the quality of professional life among medical students and the influence of psychological self-care and resilience on both professional quality of life and psychological distress among medical clerks and interns at Babol University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study, conducted from May to September 2022, included 270 medical trainees from Babol University of Medical Sciences (Babol, Iran). Participants had not taken academic leave in the past year nor transferred to another university. They completed online questionnaires covering resilience, psychological self-care, quality of professional life, and psychological distress, along with demographic details such as age, gender, and marital status. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Results indicated a generally favorable quality of professional life among the students, characterized by low compassion fatigue (mean 17.43 ± 7.87 out of 36) and low psychological burnout (mean 15.34 ± 4.10 out of 24), but moderate compassion satisfaction (mean 34.52 ± 8.13 out of 50). Additionally, mean scores for depression (7.84 ± 3.50 out of 21) and anxiety (7.24 ± 3.76 out of 21) were low. Students demonstrated above-average psychological self-care (mean 127.47 ± 17.97 out of 180) but had low resilience against stress (mean 24.12 ± 5.28 out of 38). Regression analysis revealed that psychological self-care significantly influenced the quality of professional life (P < 0.001, β = 0.318). Furthermore, age (P < 0.001, β = 0.299), female gender (P = 0.013, β = -0.136), and self-care (P < 0.001, β = -0.327) significantly affected levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Psychological self-care plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of professional life and in mitigating anxiety and depression among medical clerks and interns.

The course of acute low back pain: a community-based inception cohort study.

Acute low back pain (LBP) is increasingly recognized for its potential recurrent nature and long-term implications. This community-based inception cohort study aimed to delineate trajectories of acute LBP over one year and investigate associated biopsychosocial variables. One hundred seventy-six participants with acute LBP were monitored at 5 follow-up time points over 52 weeks. Pain trajectories were identified using a latent class linear mixed model, and their associations with baseline biopsychosocial factors were evaluated through multinomial logistic regression. Four distinct LBP trajectories were discerned: "mild/moderate fluctuating pain" (54.0%), "delayed recovery by week 52" (6.2%), "persistent moderate pain" (33.0%), and "moderate/severe fluctuating pain" (6.8%). Increased baseline pain intensity and history of LBP episodes were significantly linked with less favorable trajectories. Contrary to expectations, psychological variables like stress, anxiety, and depression did not significantly associate with unfavorable trajectories. This study underscores the heterogeneity of acute LBP's course over a year, challenging the conventionally benign perception of the condition. Recognizing these distinct trajectories might enable more tailored, effective clinical interventions for LBP patients. The small sample size of certain trajectories may influence the generalizability of the results. Acute LBP can manifest in different trajectories, with nearly half of the participants experiencing less favorable trajectories. Baseline pain intensity and previous episodes of LBP emerged as key factors, whereas psychological variables had no discernible influence. Recognition of these trajectories may be necessary for improved patient management and targeted interventions.

Diaphragm dysfunction is found in patients with chronic painful temporomandibular disorder: A case-control study

AimTo determine whether patients with chronic painful temporomandibular disorder (TMD) had abnormal diaphragm function compared to healthy controls and to explore the correlation between diaphragm contractility, psychological status, and pain characteristics. MethodsA single-blinded, case-control study was conducted involving 23 chronic painful TMD patients and 22 healthy volunteers. The examination and diagnosis were performed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, and questionnaires were used to evaluate pain, depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms status. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure diaphragm thickness and contractility. The sonographer responsible for measuring the diaphragm was blinded to group membership. Results1. Depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms scores were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls (p < 0.05). 2. The Interference Score of pain was significantly correlated with depression and physical symptoms (p < 0.01). 3. Bilateral diaphragm contractility was significantly smaller in the patients than in the controls (right: P = 0.003; left: P = 0.001). 3. There was no correlation between diaphragm contractility on the left and right sides in the patients (r = −0.112, P = 0.611), while there was a positive correlation in the control group (r = 0.638, P = 0.001). 4. No correlation was found between the degree of diaphragm contractility, psychological status, and pain scores. Conclusions1. Patients with chronic painful TMD have worse psychological status, including depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms. 2. Patients with chronic painful TMD have a smaller degree of bilateral diaphragm contractility and more significant left-right incongruity, which indicated that diaphragm dysfunction may be correlated with chronic painful temporomandibular disorder.

Implementation of the Psychological Scale Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (Dass-21) in the Expert System for Diagnosing Mental Health Disorder

Implementation of the Psychological Scale Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (Dass-21) in the Expert System for Diagnosing Mental Health Disorder

A survey of cancer patients’ interest in undertaking exercise to promote relaxation during radiotherapy for breast cancer and metastatic cancer

BackgroundApproximately 25–50% of patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) experience psychological distress and anxiety, which can detrimentally affect both their quality of life and treatment outcomes. While previous research has demonstrated that relaxation exercises can enhance the tolerability of RT and alleviate associated stress and anxiety, the specific needs for such therapies in radiation oncology remain under-explored. This study aims to investigate the demand for and preferences toward relaxation exercises among radiotherapy patients, addressing a critical gap in patient-centered care.MethodsA prospective pseudonymized survey study using a one-time paper-based questionnaire was conducted from 2022 to 2023 among patients undergoing curative-intent RT for breast cancer or patients undergoing palliative RT for bone metastases. Patients were asked in a 11-item questionnaire about their anxiety, pre-existing practice of relaxation exercises/interventions, their interest in relaxation exercises, and preferences on the type and format of instruction. Data were analyzed descriptively.Results100 patients (74 female and 26 male) responded, of whom 68 received curative-intent adjuvant RT and 32 palliative RT. Median age was 62 years. 78% of patients indicated a desire to be actively involved in their radiotherapy, but only 27% had used relaxation exercises prior to RT. 44.8% of both curatively and palliatively treated patients who wanted to be actively involved in their therapy desired to learn how to best relax. 56.4% of respondents were willing to spend extra time learning offered exercises.ConclusionThe survey indicates that patients undergoing RT, both for curative or palliative intent, desire relaxation exercises to relieve stress and anxiety from RT. It is therefore important to assess the need for relaxation interventions in individual patients and to develop suitable programs or collaborate with other healthcare professionals to meet these needs.

Mitigating Identity-Related Anxiety through Humor and Immersive Storytelling with 360-Degree Video in Virtual Reality: A Study on Microaggressions' Mental Health Effects.

Background: Microaggressions are subtle slights that can cause significant psychological distress among marginalized groups. Few studies have explored interventions that might mitigate these effects. Objective: This study aimed to investigate if and how humor-infused immersive storytelling via virtual reality (VR) could reduce identity-related psychological distress caused by microaggressions. Methods: Using a community-based participatory research approach, we developed a 7-min 360-degree VR film depicting scenarios of microaggressions across various identities. Forty-six college students participated in a controlled study where they were exposed to this immersive VR experience. We measured identity-related psychological anxiety, character identification, perceived humor, and perceived psychological presence. Results: The findings demonstrated a significant anxiety reduction following the VR intervention, supporting the efficacy of humor-infused storytelling in alleviating the impact of microaggressions. Character identification significantly predicted anxiety reduction, while perceived humor and psychological presence did not directly influence anxiety reduction but indirectly contributed through enhanced character identification. Conclusions: Humor-infused immersive storytelling, facilitated by VR, effectively reduces identity-related psychological distress primarily through character identification. The structural equation modeling results emphasize the importance of integrating humor and psychological presence to enhance character connection, advocating for a balanced approach that combines traditional narrative elements with technological innovations in health interventions aimed at combating the adverse psychological effects of microaggressions.

포용적 리더십이 중장년층 구성원의 내면화된 수치심에 미치는 영향

Middle-aged members experience high psychological anxiety or are alienated from the organization due to rapid changes in the business environment and job insecurity, reduced work and roles, age discrimination, and forced retirement. The anxiety of middle-aged members appears as internalized shame, showing a cynical attitude toward the organization, and has the potential to spread negative emotions to individuals and organizations. In addition, middle-aged members are an area of interest in research in that they have know-how and performance resources through their careers. This study focused on the internalized shame of middle-aged members, and to confirm the psychological mechanisms that alleviate it, the direct effect of inclusive leadership, the controlled role of leader trust and perceived organizational support were verified. The survey was conducted twice by separating the measurement period of the survey from 455 office workers working in various industries. As a result of the study, first, inclusive leadership was found to reduce the internalized shame of middle-aged members. Second, it was found that inclusive leadership was regulated by leader trust and alleviated internalized shame. Third, inclusive leadership was found to alleviate internalized shame as a controlled moderating effect of leader trust and perceived organizational support. Focusing on the status, emotions, and characteristics of middle-aged members, this study deeply verified the relationship between variables, presented theoretical and practical implications, and presented future research tasks and limitations based on the research results.

Psychological burden, anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with hand eczema: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Living with hand eczema (HE) has been associated with impaired quality of life (QoL), having anxiety and depression but the magnitude of association is not clear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the psychological burden in terms of anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with HE. Several databases were systematically searched. Weighted means with standard deviation (SD) were calculated for disease severity, QoL, depression and/or anxiety scores among patients with HE. For studies presenting QoL, depression and/or anxiety scores in patients with HE and in controls the weighted means were compared with an unpaired t-test. In studies reporting Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the correlation between HECSI and DLQI was estimated using Spearman's rank correlation (rs). In total, 81 studies encompassing 17,835 patients with HE and 31,541 controls were included. The weighted mean DLQI was 10.66 (SD 8.93) corresponding to a moderate-to-large effect on QoL and a strong correlation (rs: 0.76, 95% CI:0.56-0.87) between DLQI and HECSI was observed. The mean EQ-5D-VAS was significantly lower in patients with HE compared with controls (68.03 (SD 10.52) vs. 80.63 (SD 1.17), p < 0.00001). Patients with HE had higher mean HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) anxiety score (7.4 vs. 5.8, p = 0.0008) than controls but not higher HADS depression score (6.5 vs. 5.7, p = 0.32). Only one study assessed risk of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation showing an increased odds of all diseases among patients with HE compared with controls. Hand eczema has a moderate-to-severe impact on quality of life with a strong correlation between disease severity and impact on quality of life. Patients with hand eczema have an impact on QoL comparable to other chronic diseases when measured with generic QoL scoring systems.

Effect of an 8-Week Mindfulness Meditation Training Program on Psychological Distress in Caregivers and on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in People with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesMental health problems are highly prevalent in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their family caregivers. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Health Care Program (MBHC) on the psychological distress of family caregivers of people with AD and, indirectly, on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in people with AD.MethodA sample of 66 caregivers of people with AD was randomly assigned to either 8 weeks of MBHC or treatment as usual (TAU) groups. The psychological distress in family caregivers, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and BPSD in patients, measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), were evaluated and compared at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.ResultsA total of 50 participants (75.6%) completed the MBHC post-intervention and 30 (50%) at the 3-month follow-up. At post-intervention, compared to TAU, MBHC was associated with significantly greater decreases in psychological distress (β = − 3.86; 95%CI, − 7.67, − 0.04; p = 0.047), specifically in anxiety symptoms (β = − 2.84; 95%CI, − 5.38, − 0.30; p = 0.029), but no significant changes were observed in depressive symptoms. MBHC did not produce a significant change in psychological distress at 3-month follow-up. MBHC did not yield a significant reduction in BPSD in people with AD, neither at post-intervention nor at 3-month follow-up.ConclusionsThe results suggest that 8-week mindfulness training can effectively reduce psychological distress and anxiety symptoms in caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease.PreregistrationThis study was preregistered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT03858283) on 26 February 2019.

The impact of distance education on the socialization of college students in the Covid-19 era: problems in communication and impact on mental health

BackgroundThe problems of students’ social interaction and psychological well-being associated with online learning dependent on self-directed learning have become an important topic of research in recent years worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting their Social Emotional Learning. This paper aimed to compare the students’ loneliness, social anxiety, social interaction, and general psychological well-being at different stages of online learning (at the beginning and the height of the pandemic), considering their criteria (presence/absence of a job and own family).MethodsFor this, the researchers conducted an electronic survey of students (n = 320) twice, in February and May 2020, using four questionnaires: UCLA loneliness scale-3, Social Anxiety Scale for E-Learning Environments, Social Interaction Scale, and Brief Adjustment Scale. The responses at different stages of online learning were compared using Student’s t-test. Differences between employed and unemployed students with or without their own families were determined using the analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe findings showed that unemployed students without their families suffered the most from loneliness. Social interaction online was rated higher by students with their own families; psychological well-being at the beginning of the distance period and social anxiety at the height of the distance period were higher among unemployed students.ConclusionsThis research can become a theoretical basis for a phase-by-phase study of social predictors for the psychological well-being of higher education students and is of practical value for teachers and administrators of online learning aimed at students’ socialization. In addition, it provides education officials with information about how students perceive psychological well-being, anxiety, social interaction, and loneliness during distance learning, which can help officials direct their decisions and reforms to improve interaction in the online environment.

Investigating the Relationship Between Insulin Treatment Refusal and Psychosocial Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Objective: Refusal of insulin therapy is an important barrier in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The current study aimed to investigate the effect of psychosocial status of diabetic patients on insulin treatment acceptance and refusal. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with age and gender matched 80 diabetic patients who accepted insulin therapy and 80 diabetic patients who refused insulin therapy. Participants were interviewed face-to-face using a questionnaire consisting of five sections: socio-demographic, depression, anxiety, fear of self-injection and adherence to diabetes treatment. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age and gender. The beck depression scale score (p=0.002) and beck anxiety scale score (p&lt;0.001) of the participants who refused insulin treatment were statistically significantly higher than the group who accepted the treatment. The injection fear scale score of the group who refused insulin treatment was statistically significantly higher than those who accepted insulin treatment (p&lt;0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between injection fear score and treatment adherence scale score in both participants who accepted (r:-0.224; p:0.045) and refused insulin treatment (r:-0.309; p:0.005). Conclusion: The current study showed that depressive and anxiety moods of the individuals caused insulin therapy refusal. In addition, fear of injection was another factor causing insulin treatment refusal. Depression and fear of injection were also found to negatively affect adherence to treatment.

Research Progress on the Basic Pharmacodynamic Substance and Mechanism of &lt;i&gt;Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus&lt;/i&gt; in Relieving Anxiety

Anxiety disorder resulting from the interaction of psychological factors-caused anxiety and mood disorder symptoms is one of the clinical mental diseases. Excessive worry, nervousness and fear often bring about several negative outcomes, and seriously impact the physical, mental, and social functioning of patients. What’s worse, with poor treatment, anxiety disorder may develop into mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia. The treatment of anxiety has mainly recourse to drug therapy and psychotherapy; however, Western drug therapy represented by 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitor often causes evident adverse effects, including nausea and constipation, as well as poor long-term medication compliance of patients. Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus can sooth the liver and regulate qi, which can be applied to alleviate anxiety disorder as an ancillary drug. Modern pharmacological research revealed that bergamot volatile oil, also known as bergamot essential oil (BEO), is the main active chemical component of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus for anti-anxiety. BEO has been confirmed to exert an anti-anxiety effect through modulating neuronendocrine-immune network, including immunoregulation, suppression of hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, enhancement of function of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, modulation of neurotransmitter, and promotion of neurotrophic effect. The study discusses the current research status regarding the application of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus for anti-anxiety in recent years, and deeply probes into the mechanism of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus playing an anti-anxiety role via neuronendocrine-immune network, in an effort to provide references to clinical treatment of anxiety disorder and new ideas for developing drugs targeting anxiety disorders.

Association of OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 and COMT rs4680 polymorphisms with clinical phenotype among women with fibromyalgia

To investigate the association between three selected pain polymorphisms and clinical, functional, sensory-related, psychophysical, psychological or cognitive variables in a sample of women with fibromyalgia (FMS). One hundred twenty-three (n = 123) women with FMS completed demographic (age, height, weight), clinical (years with pain, intensity of pain at rest and during daily living activities), functional (quality of life, physical function), sensory-related (sensitization-associated and neuropathic-associated symptoms), psychophysical (pressure pain thresholds), psychological (sleep quality, depressive and anxiety level) and cognitive (pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia) variables. Those three genotypes of the OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 and COMT rs4680 single nucleotide polymorphisms were obtained by polymerase chain reactions from no-stimulated whole saliva collection. No significant differences in demographic, clinical, functional, sensory-related, psychophysical, psychological and cognitive variables according to OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 or COMT rs4680 genotype were identified in our sample of women with FMS. A multilevel analysis did not either reveal any significant gene-to-gene interaction between OPRM1 rs1799971 x HTR1B rs6296, OPRM1 rs1799971 x COMT rs4680 and HTR1B rs6296 x COMT rs4680 for any of the investigated outcomes. This study revealed that three single nucleotide polymorphisms, OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 or COMT rs4680, mostly associated with chronic pain were not involved in phenotyping features of FMS. Potential gene-to-gene interaction and their association with clinical phenotype in women with FMS should be further investigated in future studies including large sample sizes.

Supportive care needs and anxious-depressive symptoms in cancer patients: An interaction effect between emotional competence and the COVID-19 pandemic?

The main objective was to assess the link between emotional competence (EC) and adjustment outcomes such as supportive care needs (SCN) and anxious-depressive symptoms in cancer patients starting chemotherapy. The second objective was to assess the interaction effect between EC and the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. patients included before or during the pandemic) on these outcomes. At the beginning of care, 255 patients with digestive or hematological cancer, recruited before the pandemic began (n = 156, 61.2%) or during the pandemic (n = 99, 38.8%), completed the Short Profile of Emotional Competence, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form. Partial correlations and multiple regressions were used. Intrapersonal EC showed negative significant correlations with psychological unmet SCN (r = -.32, p < .001), anxiety (r = -.37, p < .001), and depression (r = -.46, p < .001). Interpersonal EC showed only significant interaction effects (p < .05): it was only associated with fewer unmet physical and daily SCN (p < .002) and fewer depressive symptoms (p < .004) during pandemic. Results show significant associations between intrapersonal EC and better adjustment of cancer patients from the early stage of care. Interpersonal EC seems to be a significant resource to deal with illness only in difficult contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The relationship between dental anxiety and oral health literacy with oral health-related quality of life

Background and AimDental anxiety is a prevalent issue in society, characterized by an uneasy sensation and anticipation of negative experiences in dental settings. In essence, dental anxiety, oral health literacy, and quality of life may have a relationship with each other, however, there is a shortage of evidence examining the interplay between these factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health literacy (OHL) with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL).MethodsThis is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 155 patients referred to the Department of Oromaxillofacial Diseases. Three questionnaires consisting of dental anxiety scale, oral health impact profile- 14, and oral health literacy adult questionnaire were used to measure anxiety, health literacy, and the quality of life-related to oral health. Scores were recorded and analyzed by IBM SPSS 24 software using independent samples T-test and ANOVA. Besides, the confirmatory modeling through the goodness of fit index of the model was applied.ResultsThis study involved 155 participants, with a mean age of 38.44 ± 14 years. The majority were females, comprising 99 individuals (63.9%). In this study, 89 patients (57.4%) had dental anxiety. The mean OHL score in the examined participants was 9.88 ± 3.97. Both factors of anxiety (p < 0.001) and OHL (p = 0.012) had a significant effect on the OHRQOL. There was no significant difference in the mean OHRQOL among the three categories of OHL (p = 0.085). The confirmatory modeling showed that only the fourth (p = 0.065) and fifth (p = 0.146) questions of the OHL questionnaire had no significant effect on the total score of OHL. Besides, both factors of anxiety (p < 0.001) and OHL (p = 0.012) had a significant effect on OHRQOL. With an increase of one unit in anxiety, the OHRQOL score increases by 0.31 and for a one-unit increase in the OHL score, the OHRQOL score decreases by 0.66 units.ConclusionIn conclusion, it seems that considering various dimensions of oral and dental health can help patients to have reduced psychological anxiety. Notably, further multicenter studies assessing diverse variables related to dental anxiety, OHL, and OHRQOL, and considering more comprehensive study designs with longitudinal follow-up could help provide insights into how changes in dental anxiety and OHL over time affect OHRQOL.

Efficacy of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hong Kong University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a 10-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program “REST Online” for Hong Kong university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress. Method: A total of 206 Hong Kong university students were randomized into: (1) web-based and (2) app-based iCBT, and (3) waitlist control (WLC) groups. Results: Compared with the WLC group, the participants in the two iCBT groups showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions, and significant increase in positive thoughts and emotions, with medium to large effect sizes. The positive effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up test. No significant intervention effects were found between the two iCBT groups except for anxiety symptoms. Discussion: The findings were discussed in terms of program design and service delivery, and suggestions for delivering digital mental health service in Hong Kong universities were proposed.