State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Research Articles

Anxiety and depression in metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease: relation with socio-demographic features and liver disease severity.

We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression traits in Italian patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and the possible relation with the severity of liver disease. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory parameters were collected in patients referred to a metabolic unit for a comprehensive evaluation of possible liver disease. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated by surrogate biomarkers. Imaging (controlled attenuation parameter-CAP and vibration-controlled transient elastography-VCTE). Beck depression inventory (BDI) and state-trait anxiety inventory-Y (STAI-Y) were used to define depressive/anxiety states; calorie intake and lifestyle were self-assessed by questionnaires. The whole sample comprised 286 patients (61.9% females; mean age 52.0 years; BMI, 34.6kg/m2); 223 fulfilled MASLD criteria. BDI and trait anxiety scores were lower in the MASLD cohort, and the prevalence of both moderate/severe depression and severe trait anxiety was reduced compared with non-MASLD cases, despite VCTE-diagnosed fibrosis F3-F4 present in over 15% of cases. However, after correction for demographic and anthropometric confounders, MASLD was not associated with a lower risk of moderate/severe depression or severe anxiety trait (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-1.01 and 0.79, 0.27-2.34). Additional adjustment for the severity of fibrosis did not change the results. No differences in state anxiety were observed. The risk of anxiety and depression in MASLD is not different from that generated by diabetes and obesity per se. MASLD patients do not perceive liver disease as a specific source of psychological distress, possibly as a consequence of the unawareness of progressive liver disease.

Effect of music therapy intervention on anxiety and pain during percutaneous renal biopsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) may subject patients to emotional distress and pain before and during the biopsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of complementary/non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy (MT) on anxiety, pain and satisfaction in renal patients undergoing PRB. A prospective, single-centre, single-blind, randomized controlled two-arm trial was conducted. Patients ≥18years of age, hospitalized at the Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit (Bari, Italy) and scheduled for PRB were screened. Participants were assigned to standard treatment (CG) or to the music therapy (MT) intervention group. Participants in the MT group received standard care and an MT intervention by a certified music therapist qualified in guided imagery and music. The CG patients received the standard of care. MT and CG patients were subjected to identical measurements (pre/post) of the parameters in the State Trait Anxiety Inventory Y1 (STAI-Y1), visual analogue scale for pain (VAS-P) and satisfaction (VAS-S) and heart rate variability. A statistically significant difference in the anxiety scores after PRB between MT and CG patients (STAI-Y1 35.4±6.2 versus 42.9±9.0) was observed. MT also had strong and significant effects on VAS-P compared with CG (5.0±1.4 versus 6.3±1.3, respectively; P<.001) and VAS-S (7.8±1.0 versus 6.0±0.9, respectively; P<.001). Decreased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and increased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system was observed after PRB in the MT group. Our study supports the use of MT to mitigate the psychological anxiety, pain and sympathetic activation associated with PRB.

Inulin-type fructans and 2’fucosyllactose alter both microbial composition and appear to alleviate stress-induced mood state in a working population compared to placebo (maltodextrin): the EFFICAD Trial, a randomized, controlled trial

BackgroundThere is increasing interest in the bidirectional relationship existing between the gut and brain and the effects of both oligofructose and 2’fucosyllactose to alter microbial composition and mood state. Yet, much remains unknown about the ability of oligofructose and 2’fucosyllactose to improve mood state via targeted manipulation of the gut microbiota. ObjectivesWe aimed to compare the effects of oligofructose and 2’fucosyllactose alone and in combination against maltodextrin (comparator) on microbial composition and mood state in a working population. MethodsWe conducted a 5-wk, 4-arm, parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 92 healthy adults with mild-to-moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Subjects were randomized to oligofructose 8 g/d (plus 2 g/d maltodextrin); maltodextrin 10 g/d; oligofructose 8 g/d plus 2’fucosyllactose (2 g/d) or 2’fucosyllactose 2 g/d (plus 8 g/d maltodextrin). Changes in microbial load (fluorescence in situ hybridization-flow cytometry) and composition (16S ribosomal RNA sequencing) were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included gastrointestinal sensations, bowel habits, and mood state parameters. ResultsThere were significant increases in several bacterial taxa including Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in both the oligofructose and oligofructose/2’fucosyllactose interventions (all P ≤ 0.05). Changes in bacterial taxa were highly heterogenous upon 2’fuscoyllactose supplementation. Significant improvements in Beck Depression Inventory, State Trait Anxiety Inventory Y1 and Y2, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule scores and cortisol awakening response were detected across oligofructose, 2’fucosyllactose, and oligofructose/2’fucosyllactose combination interventions (all P ≤ 0.05). Both sole oligofructose and oligofructose/2’fuscosyllactose combination interventions outperformed both sole 2’fucosyllactose and maltodextrin in improvements in several mood state parameters (all P ≤ 0.05). ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that oligofructose and combination of oligofructose/2’fucosyllactose can beneficially alter microbial composition along with improving mood state parameters. Future work is needed to understand key microbial differences separating individual responses to 2’fucosyllactose supplementation.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05212545.

Communicating a Positive Result at Newborn Screening and Parental Distress.

The assumption of this study is strictly connected to the need to focus and to know more about the impact on the psychological state of the parents whose newborn babies get a positive result at Expanded Newborn Screening (ENS). As clinical experience shows us, this aspect seems to have a potentially lasting resonance on the way the disease will be managed and handled in the family, leading to potential negative effects and repercussions on the child's wellbeing and on the quality of life within the family. On the basis of this and on the evidence emerging from a review of the literature, this study aims to investigate and objectify possible distress indicators elicited at the moment of the communication of a positive result at ENS. Questionnaires containing the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey tests were administered to the parents of 87 newborns who received positive results at ENS. The parents of 32 babies expressed the presence of discomfort potentially related to the communication of a positive result at ENS.

대학생의 자기불일치와 특성불안의 관계

This study aimed to verify the independent and sequential mediating effect of dispositional self-focused attention and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between self-discrepancy and trait-anxiety in college students. For this, data was collected about Self-Questionnaire, State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y(STAI-Y), Scale for Dispositional Self-focused Attention in Social situation(SDSAS) and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire(K-CERQ) from 400 college students, and the Structural Equation Model analysis was conducted on the collected data using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0. As a result of this analysis, it was confirmed that dispositional self-focused attention and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies had significant independent and sequential mediating effects in the relationship between self-discrepancy and trait-anxiety. This study is significant in that it comprehensively confirmed the role of emotion regulation, which mediates the process of self-discrepancy leading to trait-anxiety, by dividing it into the dimension of emotional recognition and correction.

Depression and Anxiety Symptoms "Among the Waves" of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Adjustment Disorder Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions caused great psychological suffering to the general population and psychiatric patients. We aimed to explore the course of depression and anxiety symptoms in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, adjustment disorder (AD) patients, and participants without psychiatric disorders (control group, CG) across the different phases of the pandemic: the first lockdown, a temporary interruption of restrictions, and the second lockdown. Out of the 158 patients screened, we enrolled 46 OCD and 19 AD patients as well as 29 CG participants. The Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y were administered to all participants at each time point. The results showed different symptom severities among the groups throughout the whole study, with OCD patients always scoring higher than AD patients and the CG, and the AD patients always scoring higher than the CG. The symptom course within each group was different. OCD patients' symptoms sharply worsened during the first lockdown and then remained stable irrespective of the subsequent pandemic phases. In the AD and CG groups, symptoms waxed and waned following the fluctuations of the restriction provisions, with a complete return to the baseline when the restrictions were stopped only in the CG. These findings suggest that the influence of the pandemic and of the associated restrictions on depression and anxiety manifestations may vary depending on the particular pre-existing mental health status.

Differences in Next-Day Adverse Effects and Impact on Mood of an Evening of Heavy Alcohol Consumption between Hangover-Sensitive Drinkers and Hangover-Resistant Drinkers.

The combination of negative mental and physical symptoms which can be experienced after a single episode of alcohol consumption, starting when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) approaches zero, are collectively referred to as the alcohol hangover. Previous research revealed that 10 to 20% of drinkers claim not to experience next-day hangovers. Past studies were usually limited to single timepoint assessments. The aim of the current semi-naturalistic study was to compare the next-day effects of an evening of alcohol consumption of self-reported hangover-resistant drinkers (n = 14) with those of a group of self-reported hangover-sensitive drinkers (n = 15) at hourly timepoint throughout the day (09:30 until 15:30). Assessments of 23 hangover symptoms, mood (Profiles of Mood States-Short Form), and daytime sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) were made hourly after both an alcohol day and an alcohol-free control day. Additional morning assessments were made for mood (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, Beck's Depression Inventory-II), risk-taking behavior (RT-18), past night sleep (Groningen Sleep Quality Scale), alcohol consumption, and activities during the test days. No significant differences were found regarding the amount of alcohol consumed and the total sleep time of the two groups. The hangover-sensitive group reported having a hangover as well as the presence of a variety of hangover-related symptoms, which were most severe in the morning and then gradually decreased during the day. The most frequently reported and most severe symptoms were sleepiness and fatigue, concentration problems, and headache. In contrast, the hangover-resistant group reported the absence of a hangover and the presence and severity of next-day symptoms did not significantly differ from the control day, except for increased fatigue and reduced vigor. The next-day effects on sleepiness-related complaints and vigor were significantly more pronounced among hangover-sensitive drinkers compared to hangover-resistant drinkers. In conclusion, contrary to hangover-resistant drinkers, hangover-sensitive drinkers report a variety of hangover symptoms that gradually ease during the day, but are still present in the afternoon.

Effects of strict COVID-19 lockdown on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to a clinical and a nonclinical sample.

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been reported to increase during the COVID-19 lockdowns because of the hygiene requirements related to the pandemic. Patients with adjustment disorder (AD) may, in turn, represent a vulnerable population for identifiable stressors. In this study, we aimed at assessing potential symptoms changes in OCD patients during the lockdown in comparison with AD patients as well as versus healthy controls (HC). During the COVID-related lockdown, we enrolled 65 patients and 29 HC. Participants were tested with four clinical rating scales (Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale and Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale for OCD patients; Beck Depression Inventory-II and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y for each group) that had been also administered just before the Italian lockdown. Our results showed that during the lockdown: (i) the symptoms of depression and anxiety increased in all groups, but this increase was most pronounced in HC (p<0.001); (ii) OCD symptoms severity did not increase, but the insight worsened (p=0.028); (iii) the proportion of OCD patients showing hygiene-related symptoms increased (p=0.031 for obsessions of contamination), whereas that of patients with checking-related symptoms decreased. The lockdown-induced psychological distress apparently changed the characteristics and the pattern of OCD symptoms expression but not their overall severity. This evidence confirms the heterogeneity and changing nature of OCD symptoms, strongly depending on the environmental circumstances.

Examining the correlation between salivary cytokine concentrations and CRP in people experiencing social-cognitive stress

ABSTRACT Objectives The study aims to determine the relationship of migraine and chronic tension-type headache (TTHs) with alterations in the salivary markers of inflammation . - Methods The prospective study involved 75 patients . The concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-1 β, and IL-6) in migraine and chronic TTH patients were determined in distinct time points: headache-free period (interictal period), during headache (ictal period), day after headache attack. The STAI-Y (State Trait Anxiety Inventory – Y) and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) questionnaires were used to measure the level of anxiety and depression in the interictal and ictal periods. Results The interictal levels of CRP, IL1-β, and IL-6 were significantly higher in headache groups compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Differences in the ictal concentrations were even stronger. Twenty-four hours after headache attack, patients with migraine and chronic TTH experienced a decrease in CRP, IL1-β, and IL-6 levels; yet, those levels were still higher compared with the interictal ones. The repeated analysis of variance revealed no significant statistical differences in CRP, IL-β, and IL-6 levels between the migraine and TTH groups over time (p > 0.05). Statistically higher levels of anxiety and depression were seen in unhealthy groups (p < 0.01). Conclusions The relationship of CRP, IL1-β, and IL-6 concentrations with migraine and chronic TTH has been established. No statistically significant differences were found in the dynamics between migraine and chronic TTH groups. There was a direct correlation of migraine and chronic TTH with anxiety and depression.

대학생의 대처유연성과 주도적 대처가 학업소진에 미치는 영향

Objectives This study verified whether college students' coping flexibility and proactive coping predict academic burnout, and additional hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine whether coping flexibility and proactive coping predicted academic burnout even when other variables(state anxiety and hypervigilance) known to be related to academic burnout were controlled.&#x0D; Methods From June 1 to June 6, 2021, 232 college students were recruited from the online communities of five universities, and participants accessed the announced link and conducted an online survey once. The measured scales Coping Flexibility Questionnaire (COFLEX), Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y), Brief Hypervigilance (BHS), and Korean Academic Burnout Scale. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0.&#x0D; Results First, academic burnout showed a significant correlation with control variables state anxiety and hypervigilance, and independent variables coping flexibility and proactive coping. Second, both coping flexibility and proactive coping were significant predictors for academic burnout, and the higher the coping flexibility and proactive coping, the lower the level of academic burnout. Third, coping flexibility and proactive coping significantly predicted academic burnout even after controlling the effects of state anxiety and hypervigilance.&#x0D; Conclusions These results suggest that interventions that promote coping flexibility and proactive coping in college students can help alleviate the level of academic burnout.

Factors Associated With a High Motivation to Undergo Fertility Preservation in Female Cancer Patients.

Objective: Fertility loss due to cancer treatment can be a devastating experience for women and the couple. Undergoing fertility preservation can be a complex decision from both a medical and emotional point of view. The aim of the present study was to evaluate which socio-demographic and psychological factors predict a high motivation to undergo fertility preservation.Methods: Fifty-eight female cancer patients who accessed an Oncofertility Unit completed: a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic characteristics and the level of motivation, the Beck-Depression Inventory-II, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, and the Fertility Problem Inventory.Results: Almost half of the sample (44.8%) declared a high motivation. At multiple logistic regression analysis only the “Need for parenthood” subscale of the FPI predicted a high motivation. We alternatively evaluated as possible predictor the construct “Representations about the importance of parenthood” (i.e., the sum of the “Need for Parenthood” and “Rejection of childfree lifestyle” subscales) in place of the two separate subscales. At multiple logistic regression analysis, only this variable predicted a high motivation to undergo fertility preservation.Conclusion: The most important predictor of a high motivation to undergo fertility preservation is the individual desire for parenthood. This implies that, regardless of socio-demographic characteristics, any woman of childbearing age should receive an appropriate counseling about fertility preservation.

Rumination Mediates the Effects of Childhood Maltreatment and Trait Anxiety on Depression in Non-Clinical Adult Volunteers.

BackgroundSeveral psychological studies have shown that depressive rumination is associated with the onset and severity of depression. However, it is unclear how rumination interacts with other predisposing factors to cause depression. In this study, we hypothesized that rumination mediates the association between depression and two predisposing factors of depression, ie, childhood maltreatment and trait anxiety.Subjects and MethodsBetween 2017 and 2018, 473 adult volunteers were surveyed using self-report questionnaires regarding the following: demographic information, rumination (Ruminative Responses Scale), trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y), and the experience of childhood maltreatment (Child Abuse and Trauma Scale). The effects of these factors on depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were analyzed by multiple regression and path analysis to analyze the mediating effects of rumination. This study was conducted with approval from the relevant ethics committee.ResultsMultiple regression analysis using depression as a dependent variable demonstrated that trait anxiety, rumination, childhood maltreatment, and living alone were significantly associated with depression. Path analysis showed that childhood maltreatment had a positive effect on trait anxiety, rumination, and depression; trait anxiety had a positive effect on rumination and depression; and rumination had a positive effect on depression. Regarding indirect effects, the experience of childhood maltreatment increased rumination and depression indirectly via trait anxiety. Furthermore, the experience of childhood maltreatment increased depression indirectly via rumination, and trait anxiety significantly increased depression via rumination. In other words, rumination mediated the indirect effects of abusive experiences and trait anxiety on depression. This model accounted for 50% of the variance in depression in adult volunteers.ConclusionOur results suggest that rumination mediates the association between childhood maltreatment, trait anxiety, and depression in adulthood.

Re-examining the Role of Coping Strategies in the Associations Between Infertility-Related Stress Dimensions and State-Anxiety: Implications for Clinical Interventions With Infertile Couples

Research has shown a direct relationship between infertility-related stress and anxiety in infertile patients. The present study goes into this relationship in depth, testing the moderating role of coping strategies (Seeking Social Support, Avoidant, Positive Attitude, Problem-Solving, Turning to Religion) in the associations between specific infertility-related stress dimensions (Social Concern, Need for Parenthood, Rejection of Childfree Lifestyle, Couple’s Relationship Concern) and State-Anxiety among male and female partners of infertile couples. Gender differences were also explored. Both members of 254 infertile couples completed a questionnaire consisting of Socio-demographics, Fertility Problem Inventory–Short Form (FPI-SF), Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced–New Italian Version (COPE-NIV), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y). The results revealed that Social Concern and Couple’s Relationship Concern, in both partners, and Need for Parenthood, in female partners, had positive correlations with State-Anxiety. Seeking Social Support and Avoidant coping were related to increasing levels of State-Anxiety in both partners, whereas Positive Attitude coping strategies were related to lower levels of State-Anxiety in female partners. Problem-Solving and Avoidant coping played moderating roles between specific infertility-related stress dimensions and State-Anxiety in unexpected directions. Problem-Solving exacerbated the negative effects of Social Concern, whereas Avoidant coping buffered the negative effects of several infertility-related stress dimensions in both partners. Interventions to improve stress management and psychological health in infertile couples should consider that the adequacy of coping strategies is inherently situation specific. It therefore follows that patient-centered clinical interventions should consider the potential inadequacy of promoting Problem-Solving strategies, and that even Avoidance can be an efficient strategy for dealing with specific infertility-related stress dimensions.

Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study.

ObjectiveGonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis is missing. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the personality profile of female patients referred to oncofertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment.MethodsFifty-two female cancer patients took part in the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Response Evaluation Measure-71 (REM-71), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Form (STAI-Y) were administered to examine personality characteristics, defense mechanisms, depression and anxiety symptoms.ResultsCompared with reference data of the Italian population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in Harm Avoidance and trait anxiety, and significantly higher levels of mature defense mechanisms. Most of the patients reported low scores in immature defense mechanisms, depression, and trait anxiety, and medium scores in state anxiety.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that these women display functional personality traits and defensive style, in association with low levels of depression and trait anxiety. These features may enable a proactive attitude to cancer and the ability to make long-term plans. This may favor psychological adjustment to cancer and a projection toward the future.

State and Trait Anxiety Among University Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Negative Affectivity, Alexithymia, and Housing Conditions.

ObjectiveStarting university education is a crucial period for the mental health of students, who report higher levels of distress compared to the general population. This study sought to better understand the distress experienced by students by considering contextual facets (e.g., housing conditions) as well as stable clinical variables (e.g., negative affectivity, emotion regulation, and anxiety).MethodsA total of 177 University students (71.2% females) aged 18-29 were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Suicidal History Self-Rating Screening Scale, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20.ResultsUniversity students showed concerning levels of distress, particularly concerning anxiety, and depression. We found that the relationship between negative affectivity and both state and trait anxiety was mediated by alexithymia but housing conditions did not act as a moderator for the indirect effect of negative affectivity on state or trait anxiety through alexithymia.ConclusionUndoubtedly, university lifestyle can be demanding, but experiencing distress is not inevitable nor inexplicable. The present study sought to gain insight into the anxiety experienced by Italian University students while taking into account the importance of personality and clinical characteristics that have previously been widely underestimated. We found that these characteristics can be of extreme importance for developing preventative and therapeutic interventions tailored to the clinical characteristics of students, as well taking into account their living environment.

02: The effect of music listening on preoperative anxiety in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery: A randomized controlled trial

Preoperative anxiety has been associated with increased postoperative pain and lower patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of listening to music just prior to surgery on preoperative anxiety compared to usual care in patients undergoing reconstructive pelvic surgery. Patients scheduled for reconstructive pelvic surgery at our tertiary care center were enrolled on the day of their surgery approximately 45 minutes prior to the anticipated surgery start time. Following consent, all participants completed the Spielberg State Trait Anxiety Inventory Y1 (STAI-Y1) to measure baseline state anxiety levels prior to surgery. Demographic information, past surgical history, and a questionnaire regarding musical background and preferences were collected. Participants were then randomized to either the usual care (control group) or listening to music on headphones (music intervention group). Those in the music group could choose between several genres of prerecorded music. After 30 minutes, the STAI-Y1 questionnaire was re-administered. The primary outcome was the change in anxiety score as measured by the STAI-Y1. Descriptive statistics, T-tests, and Fisher's Exact Test were used to analyze the data. Sixty-six women completed the study; 34 participants in the control group and 32 participants in the music group. Racial/ethnic distribution, age, prior history of surgery, and music background and preferences were similar amongst those in the control group and the music group. Surgical indications included one or more of the following diagnosis: pelvic organ prolapse (44%), stress urinary incontinence (34%), urge urinary incontinence (6%), mesh exposure (5%), vaginal mass/diverticula (5%), genitourinary fistula (4%), and sling revision (2%). Participants reported that they found classical music (26%), soft rock (26%), country (17%), jazz (11%), and gospel music (10%) most relaxing. Baseline STAI-Y1 scores on the day of surgery were similar between the two groups (37.29 ± 11.57 in control group vs. 37.25 ± 9.02 in music group). STAI-Y1 scores significantly improved in the music group after 30 minutes of music listening compared to the control group (-6.81 vs. -1.59, P = 0.006). Patients undergoing reconstructive pelvic surgery present with moderate anxiety on the day of surgery. Allowing patients to listen to their preferred music is a simple intervention that may lower preoperative anxiety in this patient population.

The Comparison of Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Group Therapy and Mindfulness Meditation Group Therapy Added Self-Compassion Meditation for the Female Patients Suffering from Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Background: Choric Musculoskeletal pain patients suffer from emotional distress such as depression and anxiety and also experience much more discomfort in their lives. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a Mindfulness meditation group therapy and Mindfulness meditation group therapy added Compassion meditation on pain, quality of life, and psychological features in Chronic Musculoskeletal pain patients. Methods: 20 participants received 7 weekly sessions in mindfulness meditation training program, which take about 90 minutes each. Only Compassion Meditation group received 20 minutes added program. Measures included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quality of life (WHOQOL-BRIF), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-16 (AAQ-16), Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), Life Satisfaction Expectancy scales (LSES). All the variables were measured at three time points: pre, post, and follow up implementation. Results: The t-test results of the participants before and after the Mindfulness Meditation group showed statistically significant improvement in their Pain (t=2.64, p&amp;lt;.05), Depression (t=5.579, p&amp;lt;.05), and State Anxiety (t=2.223, p&amp;lt;.05), but not in another positive psychological features. Added Compassion Meditation group showed statistically significant improvement all of measures (Pain: t=3.180, p&amp;lt;.01, Quality of life: t=4.781, p&amp;lt;.01, Depression: t=2.208, p&amp;lt;.01, State Anxiety: t=3.838, p&amp;lt;.01, Trait Anxiety: t=3.208, p&amp;lt;.01, Acceptance: t=−2.635, p&amp;lt;.05, Experience: t=−3.041, p&amp;lt;.01, Life satisfaction: t=−2.23, p&amp;lt;.05). The follow-up implementation showed the persistence of beneficial changes. Conclusions: Added compassion meditation is more effective than mindfulness meditation for chronic musculoskeletal pain. There are greater benefits for alleviating pain, improving quality of life and other psychological features that can be gained from performing added compassion meditation rather than doing mindfulness meditation solely.

Infertility-Related Stress and Psychological Health Outcomes in Infertile Couples Undergoing Medical Treatments: Testing a Multi-dimensional Model.

The study aims to propose and test a multi-dimensional infertility-related stress model including socio-demographic and fertility-related characteristics, infertility-related stress dimensions, coping strategies and couple's dyadic adjustment dimensions as predictors of anxiety and depression among partners of couples undergoing infertility treatments. Both members of 250 infertile couples filled out a questionnaire consisting of Socio-demographics (Age; Educational level; Employment status), Fertility-related characteristics (Type of diagnosis; Duration of infertility), Fertility Problem Inventory-Short Form, Coping Orientations to Problem Experienced-New Italian Version, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y and Edinburgh Depression Scale. Hierarchical Multiple Linear Regressions indicated that the proposed predictive models for anxiety and depression were significant and had good levels of fit with the data. Gender differences emerged in predictor variables. Findings provide valid predictive models that could be adopted to assess psychological health in infertile patients and to develop evidence-based and tailored counselling interventions at centres for assisted reproduction.

The measure of effectiveness of a short-term 2-week intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program in decreasing levels of anxiety and depression.

Research on heart disease have found a strong and consistent evidence of association between some psychosocial risk factors, including depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, lack of social support and outcome of disease. Depression increases the risk of cardiac death and is highly predictive of reduced adherence to recommended treatments; anxiety appears to be linked to adverse cardiac outcomes. It was demonstrated that Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) leads to substantial improvements and positive outcomes because combines the prescription of physical activity with the modification of risk factors and aims to reduce symptoms related to the disease and the risk of new cardiovascular events. The main objective of this study is to determine if a short and intense CR program can produce a positive impact on anxious and depressive symptoms revealed in cardiac patients, confirming results of previous researches. The protocol was proposed to all patients referred for an outpatient CR after an acute event who attended the short 2-week intensive rehabilitation program. A total of 157 patients recruited at the operating unit of Cardiology, in the Hospital of Cittadella (Italy), was included in the analysis. The Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y were administered to the patients. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. T-tests for paired samples were used to evaluate differences between the beginning and the end of the CR program. There was a statistically significant difference between the beginning and the end of the CR program. Results for paired samples showed significant differences in all factors of the BDI-II and in the total score. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found even in the state - anxiety subscale. No significant difference was detected for the trait anxiety. According to recent studies, this research shows that the CR program has a significant impact on levels of anxiety and depression, because all activities focus their commitment on changing the patient's personal beliefs and perception of illness, promoting the exchange of information and sharing of concerns and fears, increasing the patient's resilience with the aim of enabling him/her to reorganize positively his/her personal, family and professional sphere.

Évaluation de l’anxiété maternelle liée aux modalités d’informations sur la prématurité chez les patientes présentant un risque d’accouchement prématuré

Women hospitalized for preterm labor require clear information about prematurity. This study assessed whether or not specific written information about prematurity delivered at admission to the unit combined with an oral explanation from a pediatrician would decrease women's anxiety compared to an oral explanation alone. This was a prospective, single-center observational study. Women were included in the high-risk pregnancies department and distributed into two groups: receiving "only oral" information for a prenatal clinical consultation with a senior pediatrician or receiving "combined" oral information+a booklet about prematurity given to the women at admission. The primary endpoint was the change in anxiety-state (before and after the information procedure) evaluated by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y). The anxiety score before receiving information did not differ between the two groups (STAI-Y-A "combined" group: 46.7±3.0 vs. "only oral" group: 42.7±2.74; P=0.55). After consultation with a pediatrician, the acute anxiety-state score STAI-Y-A decreased significantly in the "combined" group (-6.7±1.9) compared to the "only oral" group (-2.5±4.6; P<0.05). A booklet about prematurity combined with oral information from a pediatrician reduced patients' anxiety more than oral information alone. Given that the psychology of the mother interacts with the pregnancy, it is necessary to provide clear and adapted information. Giving a booklet appears to be one of the modalities to improve information. Other modalities such as video documents have to be studied.