Role Of Anxiety Level Research Articles

Clinical and biochemical features of anxiety in children with hyperkinetic disorder

Clinical and biochemical features of anxiety in children with a hyperkinetic disorder, also known as a combined type of ADHD, have not been studied, although these data are extremely necessary for therapeutic intervention in cases of comorbidity of hyperkinetic and anxiety disorders.Objective: to study pathogenetic mechanisms and the role of anxiety level in the formation of the main symptoms of the disorder.Materials and methods. We examined 182 children with hyperkinetic disorder and 60 peers from control group aged 6–10 years. After clinical examination we studied the content of monoamines, their precursors, and metabolic products in daily urine. Assessment of the main clinical symptoms (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity) was carried out on the SNAP-IV scale. An assessment of the level of anxiety was carried out according to the questionnaire Lavrentieva G.P. and Titarenko T.M. Patients with hyperkinetic disorder were divided into subgroups according to the nature of the monoaminergic “profile”.The results of the study support the hypothesis that pathological and steady increase in anxiety level leads to increase in the impulsivity level in children with hyperkinetic disorder. And the main role in this process is played by the noradrenergic system and the weakening of the inhibitory effect of serotonin, causing an increase of anxiety level and aggravating the imbalance of the activity of monoamine systems.

Diazepam effects on aversive memory retrieval and extinction: Role of anxiety levels

Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are anxiolytic drugs that impair memory acquisition. Previous studies using the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (PMDAT, which assesses memory and anxiety concomitantly) indicated that the effects of BDZs on anxiety and acquisition are related to each other. The possible influence of the anxiolytic action of BDZs on their effects on memory retrieval and extinction are poorly understood. This is relevant considering the relationship between aversive memories and anxiety disorders. We designed a modified protocol of PMDAT that evaluates anxiety during retrieval and extinction of the task. Male Wistar rats were trained in the PMDAT (plus-maze with two open and two enclosed arms) using a standard or a modified protocol. In the standard protocol, the aversive stimuli were presented in one of the enclosed arms during training, and the animal had free access to the whole apparatus. In the modified protocol, the open arms were blocked with glass walls. Twenty-four hours after training, the animals subjected to each of the protocols were treated with saline or 2.0mg/kg of diazepam (DZP) 30min before the test. There was a third session in the maze (retest) 24h after the test. During the test, DZP impaired and improved retrieval in rats that had been trained in the standard and the modified protocol when compared to the respective saline-treated groups. In addition, treatment with DZP prior to the test induced anxiolysis, but only in the animals that were not pre-exposed to the open arms of the apparatus (modified protocol). In these animals, DZP impaired extinction, which was evaluated during retest session. The impairing effect of DZP on extinction seems to be related to its anxiolytic action during the test (extinction learning). Further, we suggest that aversive memory retrieval depends on both the treatment and the arousal elicited by exposure to the apparatus.

Anxiety Score As a Risk Factor for Radial Artery Vasospasm During Radial Interventions: A Pilot Study

We determined the role of anxiety level on radial artery spasm during transradial coronary angiography. Eighty-one patients who had an indication for coronary angiography were enrolled. Radial artery vasospasm was determined by addressing 5 signs: persistent forearm pain, pain response to catheter manipulation, pain response to sheath withdrawal, difficult catheter manipulation after being “trapped” by the radial artery, and considerable resistance on withdrawal of sheath. Radial spasm defined as at least 2 of the 5 signs. The Hamilton Anxiety scale questionnaire was used to determine the level of anxiety. Vasospasm was observed in 19.1% of the patients. Anxiety score was significantly higher in women (11.1 ± 7.2 vs 17.6 ± 7.3; P < .001). Vasospasm was significantly correlated with female sex (P < .001, r = .43) and anxiety score (P = .007, r = .29). Female sex was associated with higher anxiety scores (P < .001, r = .43). In conclusion, higher anxiety scores and female sex are important risk factors for ...

Psychoimmunological effects of dioscorea in ovariectomized rats: role of anxiety level

BackgroundAnxiety levels in rats are correlated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in the brain. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dioscorea (wild yam), a Chinese medicine, on emotional behavior and IL-2 levels in the brain of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.MethodsOne month after ovariectomy, female Wistar rats were screened in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test to measure anxiety levels and divided into low anxiety (LA) and high anxiety (HA) groups, which were then given dioscorea (250, 750, or 1500 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 27 days and were tested in the EPM on day 23 of administration and in the forced swim test (FST) on days 24 and 25, then 3 days later, the brain was removed and IL-2 levels measured.ResultsCompared to sham-operated rats, anxiety behavior in the EPM was increased in half of the OVX rats. After chronic dioscorea treatment, a decrease in anxiety and IL-2 levels was observed in the HA OVX rats. Despair behavior in the FST was inhibited by the highest dosage of dioscorea.ConclusionThese results show that OVX-induced anxiety and changes in neuroimmunological function in the cortex are reversed by dioscorea treatment. Furthermore, individual differences need to be taken into account when psychoneuroimmunological issues are measured and the EPM is a useful tool for determining anxiety levels when examining anxiety-related issues.

Psychoimmunological effects of dioscorea in the ovariectomized rats: role of anxiety level

Psychoimmunological effects of dioscorea in the ovariectomized rats: role of anxiety level

Behavioral effects of d-cycloserine in rats: The role of anxiety level

It has been reported that the glutamatergic N-methyl- d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is involved in stress responses and that anxiety is the primary response to stress. Although individual differences in anxiety levels of rats have been demonstrated by using the elevated plus-maze (PM) test, the role of NMDA receptor activity in such individuality of anxiety is not clear. Here, we examined whether low (LA) and high (HA) anxiety rats might respond differently to treatment with d-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist of the glycine binding site located on NMDA receptors. Male Wistar rats were screened by using the PM and divided into LA and HA subgroups. On the next day, these rats were again tested in the PM, 30 min after the treatment with DCS (5, 10, or 30 mg/kg ip). Five days later, the rats were subjected to a 2-day forced swim (FS) test, receiving the DCS treatment again 30 min before the second day session. The PM data showed that DCS had anxiogenic effects in LA but not HA rats. The immobility of LA or HA rats in the FS test was not affected by DCS. The results indicate that the behavioral effects of DCS depend on the anxiety level of rats and have task-dependent behavioral consequences, suggesting that glycine binding sites on NMDA receptors are involved in individual differences of anxiety level.

The role of anxiety level, coping styles, and cycle phase in menstrual distress

Using three samples, researchers investigated the relation between various anxiety levels, coping strategy use, and menstrual cycle phase to menstrual distress. In Studies 1 and 2, women low in anxiety sensitivity used more acceptance coping strategies and women high in anxiety sensitivity reported using more maladaptive coping strategies. In Study 2, women with medium anxiety sensitivity reported similar coping strategies to women low in anxiety. Menstrual cycle phase did not differentially affect coping strategy use in women varying in anxiety sensitivity levels in Studies 1 and 2. In addition to depressed mood emerging as a significant predictor of premenstrual distress in these two studies for all participants, avoidance coping for women high in anxiety sensitivity and problem-focused coping for women low in anxiety sensitivity were also significant predictors of premenstrual distress. In Study 3, during the premenstrual phase, women with panic disorder, compared to controls, reported using more avoidance coping whereas controls reported used more active coping and seeking social support for emotional and instrumental reasons. Results are discussed within a continuity model from high anxiety sensitivity to anxiety disorder for maladaptive coping and menstrual distress.

Role of anxiety level and stress in rule acquisition.

Role of anxiety level and stress in rule acquisition.

Suicide and Aggression

Suicide-attempt, suicide-ideation, and non-suicidal control groups of VA neuro-psychiatric patients were divided into psychotic and neurotic subgroups ( ns = 15). Ss viewed two classes of slides, a series of death scenes and one of unpleasant scenes. Each series contained both aggressive and non-aggressive content. Analyses of this 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design, with repeated measures, were based on measures of viewing time, rated tension, and rated liking. Aggressive slides induced greater threat than non-aggressive slides to a significant degree in the death slide series and to a lesser degree in the unpleasant slide series. Suicidal patients did not manifest a consistent style of response to aggressive slides in either series. The measure of aggressive mood also was not different for suicidal and non-suicidal patients. Suicide ideators did not differentiate aggressive and non-aggressive slides but attempters and controls did. The role of anxiety level was discussed.