State And Trait Anxiety Inventory Research Articles

Decreased Intrinsic Functional Connectivity in First-Episode, Drug-Naive Adolescents With Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry about everyday life. Prior neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that GAD is associated with disruptions in specific brain regions; however, little is known about the global functional connectivity maps in adolescents with GAD. Here, first-episode, medication-naive, adolescent GAD patients (N = 36) and healthy controls (N = 28) (HCs) underwent resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) and completed a package of questionnaires to assess clinical symptoms. Functional connectivity strength and seed-based functional connectivity were employed to investigate the functional connectivity architecture. GAD patients showed reduced functional connectivity strength in right supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and right superior parietal gyrus (SPG) compared with HCs. Further seed-based functional connectivity analysis revealed that GAD patients displayed decreased functional connectivity between right SMG and left fusiform gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral precuneus and cuneus, and between right SPG and bilateral supplementary motor area and middle cingulate gyrus, as well as between the SMG-based network and the SPG-based network. Moreover, the disrupted intra-network connectivity (i.e., the SMG-based network and the SPG-based network) and inter-network connectivity between the SMG-based network and the SPG-based network accounted for 25.5% variance of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and 39.5% variance of the trait subscale of STAI. Our findings highlight the abnormal functional architecture in the SMG-based network and the SPG-based network in GAD, providing novel insights into the pathological mechanisms of this disorder.

DETERMINING THE STATUS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN WOMEN DURING PREGNANCY AND IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD

Problem Statement: The anxiety and depression experienced during pregnancy and in the postpartum period is of considerable importance in terms of the health of the mother and her infant.Purpose of the Study: The aim of this study was to determine the status of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.Methods: The research sample consisted of 100 primiparae and 100 multiparae who had consented to participate in the study. Data was collected with a questionnaire, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS).Findings and Results: It was found that during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, primiparae experienced a higher level of state and trait anxiety compared to multiparae and that the rate of depression was higher in multiparae compared to primiparae.Conclusions and Recommendations: It was determined that primiparae experienced more anxiety than multiparae (p<0.05) during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and that multiparae experienced depression at a higher rate. Therefore, our recommendation is that healthcare personnel provide women with a regular program of education and consulting services to meet their needs during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

Cognitive Interpretation Bias: The Effect of a Single Session Moderate Exercise Protocol on Anxiety and Depression.

Research conducted within the cognitive bias modification (CBM) paradigm has revealed that cognitive biases such as negative cognitive interpretation biases contribute to mental health disorders such as anxiety (Beard, 2011). It has been shown that exercise reduces anxiety (Ensari et al., 2015). Exercise has also been found to reduce negative cognitive attention biases (Tian and Smith, 2011), however, no research to date has investigated the effect of exercise on cognitive interpretation bias. The key aims of the current project is to investigate whether moderate exercise reduces self-reported symptoms of depression and stress. Additionally, to establish which intensity of exercise is required to achieve anxiety reduction and reduce an individual’s negative cognitive interpretation biases. Study 1 recruited a healthy sample of adult participants who were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a walking exercise protocol or a control condition (n = 2 × 12). Participants completed anxiety and cognitive interpretation bias measures before and after the walking exercise or control condition. Those in the walking exercise condition presented less symptoms of trait anxiety on a measure of state and trait anxiety inventory (STAI), compared to controls relative to baseline measures following the intervention. Study 2 recruited frequent exercisers who were assigned to an exercise or control group (n = 2 × 24). Participants completed anxiety, depression, psychological stress, and cognitive interpretation bias measures before and after the exercise or control condition. Following the intervention, negative interpretation biases decreased in the exercise group and stayed stable in the control group. The exercise group also had significantly decreased anxiety, depression, and stress measures after the exercise condition, while controls did not. The research concludes that CBM holds promise for the management of mood disorders and exercise is an effective accompaniment to psychotherapy.

The effects of inpatient versus outpatient spa therapy on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in elderly patients with generalized osteoarthritis: a pilot study.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of inpatient vs outpatient spa therapy on pain, quality of life, and anxiety in elderly patients with generalized osteoarthritis. A total of 150 patients were randomized into three groups. Group I was given medical treatment, group II was treated as outpatients, and group III was treated as inpatient spa therapy. Assessments were made using the Pain (VAS), EQ-5D-3L Scale, and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at the beginning of treatment (W0), at the end of treatment (W2), and at the fourth week after treatment (W6). The comparison of outpatient spa group and etodolac treatment group showed that outpatient spa group was superior to etodolac treatment group in all evaluated parameters at W2 vs W0 and W6 vs W0. The comparison of inpatient spa group and etodolac treatment group showed that inpatient spa group was superior to etodolac treatment group in all evaluated parameters at W2 vs W0 and W6 vs W0. The comparison of inpatient spa group and outpatient spa group showed that inpatient spa group was superior to outpatient spa group in all evaluated parameters except STAI-TXII at W2 vs W0 and in all evaluated parameters W6 vs W0. Spa therapy, either as an outpatient or inpatient basis, may have a positive effect on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in geriatric patients with generalized osteoarthritis. The inpatient spa therapy may be more beneficial than outpatient spa therapy. When the side effects of drug treatments are emphasized, spa therapy may be considered as an interesting option for elderly with osteoarthritis.

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REACTION TIMES AND THE STATE AND TRAIT ANXIETY LEVELS OF THE ATHLETES

Besides supposing that the anxiety levels of the athletes have an impact on their performance it is also important to know the level of this impact. In this study it was aimed to investigate the relationship between the anxiety level and the sporting performance especially the reaction time which is the determinant of the speed requiring sudden movements. The study included 60 university students who participated voluntarily, were actively engaged in sports and were living in Esenyurt district of Istanbul. The average age of the participants was 20,68 ± 2,33, their average height was 179,05 ± 6,43cm, their average body weight was 75,55 ± 9,32 kg and their average sport age was 6,31 ± 3,23years. The State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used in the study in order to determinate and measure the state and trait anxiety levels of participants. The State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was developed by Spielberger and his colleagues in 1970 and its reliability and validity study was carried out by Oner and La Compte by translating it into Turkish in 1983. The analyses of the obtained data were carried out with the SPSS Statistic 17.0 package program. The measurement results were given as mean (x) and as standard deviation (SD). Correlation and regression analysis were applied for the statistical evaluation of the data. In the conducted study the state anxiety level of the athletes was detected to be 29,62±4,46 points, their trait anxiety level was 32,12±6,39 while their double hand reaction time was found to be 0,23±0,02 sec. A positive low level relationship was detected between the trait anxiety levels and the double hand reaction times of the athletes (r=,279,p<,05) while a positive and moderate level relationship was observed between the state anxiety level and the state anxiety level (r=,311, p<,016). Due to the fact that this research is a preliminary study done in the field of sport science, this study is considered to contribute to other studies planned to be done in the future. As a result, it was detected that with the increase in the anxiety level the response time given to an effect from any external factors lengthened. The fact that there was a low level positive relationship with the trait anxiety level revealed the conclusion that with the increase in the trait anxiety level, the reaction time also increases. Article visualizations:

Construct validity of Attitudes Towards Vaccinations Scale (ATVS)–part 2

Understanding patients’ motives for or against taking vaccination can enhance effectivity of doctors’ efforts to motivate their older patients to the advantageous health choices. We developed a tool Attitudes Towards Vaccination Scale (ATVS) assessing senior's attitudes towards vaccination uptake. In this article we demonstrate the relationship between constructs measured by the scale and five well-established psychological concepts, such as anxiety, locus of control, level of self-efficacy, health-related behaviours and styles of coping with stress. MethodThe validation was performed on a sample of individuals aged 60 and more recruited in rural and urban outpatient services (n=85). We assessed divergent and convergent aspects of construct validity by correlating the ATVS Positive Attitude subscale (PA-subscale) and Negative Attitude subscale (NA-subscale) with other psychometric tools, such as State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC), Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Inventory of Health-Related Behaviours (IHRB), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). We estimated also known group differences. ResultsThe PA-subscale correlated positively with all subscales of HRBI, task-oriented style of coping, and internal locus of health control. The NA-subscale correlated negatively with task-oriented style of copying, generalized self-efficacy and internalized locus of control, while positively with anxiety the trait, external locus of health control (based on chance) and the emotion-oriented style of coping. ConclusionsThe results of the study confirmed the construct validity of the ATVS. We believe our tool may be used in a clinical practice to apply more appropriate strategies to encourage older patients to take vaccines.

An Analysis of the Anxiety Levels of Mothers Who Participate in Education and Therapeutic Games About Their Children's Surgeries

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education and therapeutic games on the postoperative anxiety level of mothers who participated in education and therapeutic games with their children. This study used a quasi-experimental method. The study sample consisted of 300 mothers. Data were collected using a questionnaire on the sociodemographic characteristics of the parents and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for others. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests. The mothers in the control group were given a routine explanation of the study. The mothers in the education group were given educational booklets and shown a video presentation. The other group participated in therapeutic games with various game materials and some medical tools along with their children after the education. The difference between the preoperative and postoperative STAI score averages of the mothers who were educated and participated in the games with their children was significantly lower than the difference between STAI score averages of the mothers in the control group (P < .05). The STAI score averages were found to be lower in the education group than in the education and game group (P > .05). Although the trait anxiety score averages were reduced more in the education and game group than in the education group, the difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). Anxiety levels of the mothers in the education and education+game group were found to be lower than those of the mothers in the control group.

The adaptive psychological changes of elective induction of labor in breastfeeding women

BackgroundLabor induction has been associated with breastfeeding suppression, but reasons for why this association exists have not been well determined. MethodsWe examined the influence of elective labor induction by vaginal prostaglandin at gestational week 41+3days on affective, cognitive, and behavioural adaptations early in puerperium and on breastfeeding pattern at 1 and 3months. ResultsOne hundred and eighty consecutive puerperae were assigned to two groups: mothers having received vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel (Prepidil®, dinoprostone) before labor (PGE group, n=90) and mothers having received no treatment (unmedicated group, n=90). The day of discharge mothers completed the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale, (EPDS), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y), and Mother to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS). Later they participated in telephone interviews concerning their breastfeeding practices at 1 and 3months, which were classified according to WHO definitions. When compared with unmedicated, PGE group puerperae scored [median, (IQR)] significantly higher EPDS [9 (7–13) vs 5 (3–8), p 0.003], STAI-state [46 (39–51) vs 39 (34–48), p 0.002], STAI-trait [39 (36–48) vs 34 (32–45), p 0.04], and MIBS [10 (5.25–10) vs 5 (3–4), p 0.002] scores. In addition, while the breastfeeding practices were similar at hospital discharge, at follow-up the labor induced mothers were less likely to maintain full breastfeeding with respect to untreated mothers: 1month (p 0.001); and 3months (p 0.003). ConclusionWe present evidence that elective induction of labor by prostaglandins at gestational week 41+3days is associated with reduced exclusive breastfeeding rates at 1 and 3months after discharge and higher EPDS, STAI, and MIBS scores.

Anxiety and depression mediate the role of low self-esteem and low self-directedness in the development of eating disorders.

Low self-esteem and low self-directedness (SD) are considered a risk factor for the development of eating disorders (EDs). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that low self-esteem and low SD lead to a higher risk for EDs through the mediation of anxiety and depression. Seventy-seven female teenagers answered the Eating Disorder Inventory 3 (EDI-3), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). To test the hypothesis, a structural equation model (SEM) was used. According to the EDI3-EDRC scores, 23/77 (29.9%) participants demonstrated positive results in the screening. Participants who had positive results in the screening had significantly higher scores on trait and state anxiety, depression, and IU, and lower means of self-esteem and SD. The SEM demonstrated good fit indices and all paths were significant in the predicted directions, confirming the hypothesized model. The current results confirm the role of self-esteem and SD in the development of an ED among adolescent females through the mediating action of IU, anxiety, and depression.

Depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between temperament and character and psychotic-like experiences in healthy subjects.

In this study we examined the hypothesis that depression and anxiety may mediate the relationship between personality traits and both positive and negative psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in healthy adults. The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) scale, Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered to 492 healthy individuals. Multiple stepwise regression and mediation analyses were performed to examine whether depressive and anxiety symptoms influence the relationship between the TCI dimensions and positive and negative PLEs. Self-transcendence, persistence, novelty-seeking and self-directedness significantly predicted positive PLEs; self-directedness and harm avoidance were predictable for negative PLEs. Self-transcendence, self-directedness, persistence and harm avoidance also predicted the distress caused by positive PLEs, whereas self-directedness and harm avoidance predicted distress raised by negative PLEs. Depressive symptoms and the state of anxiety partially mediated the linkage between self-directedness and positive PLEs, and between self-directedness, harm avoidance and negative PLEs. Our findings confirm that the personality pattern influences both positive and negative PLEs as well as distress caused by experiencing positive and negative PLEs, and they indicate that certain personality traits may influence the development of PLEs via the emotional pathway of heightened depression and anxiety.

Study of Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depression among Cancer Survivors at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Cancer survivors may experience mental health concerns that affect their emotions, behavior, memory, and ability to concentrate. For example, cancer survivors may feel emotional distress like depression, fear, and anxiety after being diagnosed with cancer. Present study was conducted to assess depression, anxiety level and quality of life of cancer patients. Materials and Methods: 42 cancer survivors (under cancer therapy for 1 year and above) visiting Department of Radiotherapy, Rama Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Hapur, UP, (India) are included in the present study. The study forms including the questions regarding the patient’s demographic characteristics, Becks Depression Inventory (BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and WHOQOL BREF were completed during face-to-face interviews for the determination of the psychological status of the patients. Results: Study sample consists of 16 (38.1%) males and 26 (61.9%) females. Maximum number of the sample belongs to the age group of ˃61 years (33.3%, 14). Further, 35 (83.3%) out of total 42 cases are married. There was a positive correlation between BDI and STAI and there is negative correlation between BDI and quality of life. Study sample was compared in terms of Quality of Life and STAI scores. Comparison on both scales shows that all the dimensions of the Quality of Life except D3= Domain 3 (Social Relationship) is negatively correlated with both the two sub-types of STAI. The state anxiety score is negatively correlated with D1=Domain 1 (Physical health; p<0.001), D2= Domain 2 (Psychological; p<0.001), D4= Domain 4 (Environment; p<0.001) and also the trait anxiety score of the sample is also negatively correlated with D1=Domain 1 (Physical health; p<0.001), D2= Domain 2 (Psychological; p<0.001), D4= Domain 4 (Environment; p<0.001). However, there is no significant difference in terms of D3= Domain 3 (Social Relationship; state anxiety p ˃ 0.001and trait anxiety p ˃ 0.001) and STAI scores. Conclusion: There is a need for methodological studies that measure QOL among cancer survivors more precisely by taking into account the effects of the severity of the cancer and the long-term impact of different treatments. Additional data are needed to help us understand the needs of survivors and to identify those subgroups of survivors who are at greatest risk for the adverse sequelae of the disease and its treatment.

Inter-individual responses to experimental muscle pain: Baseline anxiety ratings and attitudes to pain do not determine the direction of the sympathetic response to tonic muscle pain in humans

We have recently shown that intramuscular infusion of hypertonic saline, causing pain lasting ~60min, increases muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in one group of subjects, yet decreases it in another. Across subjects these divergent sympathetic responses to long-lasting muscle pain are consistent over time and cannot be foreseen on the basis of baseline MSNA, blood pressure, heart rate or sex. We predicted that differences in anxiety or attitudes to pain may account for these differences. Psychometric measures were assessed prior to the induction of pain using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ), Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS) and Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS); PCS was also administered after the experiment. MSNA was recorded from the common peroneal nerve, before and during a 45-minute intramuscular infusion of hypertonic saline solution into the tibialis anterior muscle of 66 awake human subjects. Forty-one subjects showed an increase in mean burst amplitude of MSNA (172.8±10.6%) while 25 showed a decrease (69.9±3.8%). None of the measured psychological parameters showed significant differences between the increasing and the decreasing groups. We conclude that inter-individual anxiety or pain attitudes do not determine whether MSNA increases or decreases during long-lasting experimental muscle pain in healthy human subjects.

Perfectionism, a transdiagnostic construct in eating disorders

IntroductionPerfectionism is considered a multidimensional key risk factor for Eating Disorders (EDs). There are discrepancies regarding if it is mainly associated to Anorexia nervosa (AN) but not to other EDs.ObjectivesTo study if Perfectionism is not only related with AN, but it is present in all EDs and associated with more transdiagnostic attitudes and behaviors.AimsTo see if there were significant differences among EDs subgroups concerning Perfectionism and to study which abnormal eating attitudes were more associated with this trait.MethodsParticipants were 151 outpatients with EDs. DSM-IVTR diagnoses were: 44 (29.1%) Anorexia Nervosa (AN), 55 (36.4%) Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and 52 (34.4%) Eating Disorders not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). Perfectionism was assessed with the Edinburg Investigatory Test (EDI-2) subscale; general psychopathology with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire (RSE). Eating psychopathology was measured with the Bulimic Investigatory Test (BITE), Eating Attitude Test (EAT-40), EDI-2 and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ).ResultsNo significant differences were found regarding Perfectionism among the three groups. Body dissatisfaction was the variable most associated with Perfectionism (β = 0.330, F = 14.2, P &lt; 0.001, 10.9% of the variance) adjusting for general and eating psychopathology. Ascetism and Interoceptive awareness were the EDI-2 subscales most associated with Perfectionism.ConclusionsThe findings confirm that Perfectionism is present in all EDs and there is a relationship between body dissatisfaction and Perfectionism. Interplay has been suggested between these two factors for the development of EDs.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Could psychiatric assessment before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation predict the need for psychiatric consultation during transplantation period?

Psychiatric morbidity seems to be a significant concern associated with all stages of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We aimed to understand whether psychiatric consultation before HSCT procedure could predict the need for psychiatric support during isolation period. Seventy-eight patients undergoing HSCT were included in the study. Patients were diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV). Standard anxiety and depression scores were performed. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were performed. Psychiatric consultation was required for 45 (58%) patients during hospitalization. Only pre-HSCT STAI trait scores were higher in patients who were found to have psychopathology at consultation during hospitalization compared to patients without established psychopathology. Sixteen (76%) and 29 (51%) patients needed consultation with and without pre-HSCT psychopathology, respectively. Our study showed that the psychiatric consultation request rate during the transplantation process was higher for cases previously diagnosed with psychopathology and who had high trait anxiety scale scores before HSCT.

Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Exert Negative Impact on Resilience to Stressful Events in Patients with Refractory Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Late Seizure Recurrence after Surgery

Seizure recurrence after cortico-amygdalohippocampectomy (CAH) in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy and mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) is a potentially serious event, which can compromise their medical treatment and quality of life. However, any purpose of intervention among these patients should be based on specific parameters, and among them their levels of resilience to stressful events. The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of resilience in patients with refractory TLE-MTS submitted to CAH who presented late seizure recurrence after surgery through a structured instrument (Quest_Resiliencia), as well as to measure the possible negative impact of anxiety and depressive symptoms to the presence of resilience levels to stressful events. Methods: Sixty patients with age between 18 and 65 years, followed-up at the Outpatient Clinic of epilepsies of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, with clinical and electrographic diagnoses of TLE-TMS, who had been submitted to CAH and presented seizure recurrence at the time of the study were included. The instruments included a clinical and socio-demographic questionnaire, Quest_Resiliencia, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: Satisfactory levels of resilience to stressful events were observed, suggesting that these patients may benefit from stress-coping interventions. However, significant negative correlation of anxiety (p<0.01) and depressive (p<0.01) symptoms were observed. Since there is a research gap in literature on studies that aimed to verify the resilience levels in patients with TLE-MTS, studies that may support the development of resilience resources are thus necessary.

Effect of Continous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Depression, Anxiety and Percieved Stress Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on depression, anxiety, and perceived stress levels and to identify factors predictive of treatment efficacy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). This study included 51 patients admitted to the Adiyaman University Medical School Otorhinolaryngology Department or Eskisehir Yunus Emre State Hospital between January and September 2014 with one or more complaints including snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, or apnea witnessed by the partner. Diagnosis of OSAS was made by polysomnography and CPAP treatment was initiated. Depression levels were assessed in all study subjects using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at the start of treatment and at 3 months. Anxiety levels were assessed using both the HADS and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and perceived stress level was assessed using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). After CPAP treatment, we observed significant decreases in both the Depression and Anxiety Subscales of the HADS, in the Trait Anxiety subscale of the STAI, and in the PSQ. An evaluation of the initial parameters that predict improvements in these scales revealed that snoring time predicted decreases in all scale scores. In OSAS patients CPAP treatment has positive effects on psychological parameters like depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. We suggest that possible psychogenic benefits should be considered when deciding to start CPAP treatment, particularly in patients with pronounced and extended snoring who may also have social problems.

Applying learning algorithms to extract anxiety levels using the heart rate variability measure

The classification problems in biological measures have been studied since mathematical methods and statistical tools werecreated to determine difference between two distinct samples. In this paper we present a mathematical methodology capableof differing 29 non-clinical volunteers with distinct degrees of trait anxiety (high or low) according to the State and TraitAnxiety Inventory (STAI-T) using an electrocardiogram (ECG) data as starting point. Specifically, the wavelet transforms andits statistical measures were used to extract simple patterns from the resting ECG and classify the group as low or high traitanxiety. The Daubechies, Haar and Symlet mother function were used to filter the original ECG data. Then, by means ofthe Weka Learning Algorithm and using only 5 attributes (Pearson Coefficient from Haar and Symlet, Median from Haar andMode of Haar and Daubechies) we achieved a higher level of reliability, 96.90% ( p < .05), with low training percentages. Theresults showed the efficiency of this methodology to classify volunteers according to their anxiety levels through an ECG datacollection.

Mother-Child Interactions of Preterm Toddlers.

We aimed to investigate the mother-toddler relationship in preterm toddlers. The sample consisted of 18 mothers and their preterm toddlers (group 1) and 20 mothers and their fullterm toddlers (group 2). Anxiety and depressive symptom levels, attachment pattern, and parental attitudes of mothers and social-emotional problems and developmental level of the toddlers were explored to assess possible confounding factors in the mother-toddler relationship. Two researchers rated the Parent Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scales (PIRGAS). Both the mothers in group 1 and group 2 had similar Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores. However, the mothers who gave birth before 32 weeks of gestation had higher trait anxiety scores than others (46±2.4 vs. 42.3±5.4, p=0.01). The groups had similar Brief Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment Scale (BITSEA) problem and competency scores. The parenting style of group 1 revealed that they had higher scores on the Parenting Attitude Research Instrument (PARI) subscale 5 (excessive discipline) (39.6 vs. 32.1; p=0.02). Mother-toddler interaction and attachment security were found to be similar in fullterm and moderately preterm healthy toddlers. Our findings suggest that not the preterm birth itself but the medical, developmental, and/or neurological consequences of prematurity may affect the mother-toddler interaction. To explore the independent effect of prematurity in mother-toddler dyadic relationship, longitudinally designed studies are warranted.

German translation and validation of the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM)

In the present study, the German-language version of the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) by Peacock and Wong was validated in a student population. SAM is a relatively short questionnaire (28 items) that evaluates a current, stress-triggering event. The theoretical background is provided by the stress model of Lazarus and Folkman. 85 students (age: 23; 59 female, 26 male) were exposed to two stress scenarios in order to test whether they were suited to provoke stress. A factor analysis was performed and the internal consistency of the seven SAM scales was determined. In addition, the convergent validity of SAM with State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and specific emotion scales was investigated via Pearson's product-moment correlation. The two stress scenarios were suited to evoke stress. The factor structure and the internal consistency of the individual scales, as well as the convergent validity of SAM were replicated with minor limitations in the present German version. Some items (especially from the fifth factor) were only replicated partially. SAM can also be employed in the German language version.

Trait anxiety moderates the association between estradiol and dominance in women

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between self-assessed social dominance trait and levels of free basal sex steroids: estradiol and testosterone, in reproductive age women. Polish urban women aged 24–35 (N=72) filled in Trait Dominance–Submissiveness Scale (TDS) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). They also gave a single blood sample during the follicular phase of the following menstrual cycle. The blood sample was analyzed for concentration of free testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and cortisol (C).We found that self-assessed social dominance was negatively associated with free E2 and E2 to T ratio. This general relationship was moderated by Trait Anxiety. Higher social dominance was associated with lower E2 and lower E2 to T ratio in moderate and highly anxious women. No such relationship was found in low anxious women.Results of this study evidence important contribution of estradiol and question the independent role of testosterone in shaping dominance in women. They might also suggest important biological and psychological cost of maintaining high social dominance in reproductive age women.