State Worry Research Articles

Eksperimentalna indukcija stanja netolerancije na neizvesnost - preliminarni rezultati

This study is aimed at pilot testing the experimental procedure for inducing state levels of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) using a sample of 62 undergraduate psychology students (M = 23.13, SD = 2.88, female 90.3%). Although similar procedures were used in other cultural contexts, this is the first time this phenomenon has been tested in Serbia. We used a two-step state IU induction procedure. The first step included describing and analysing one upcoming idiosyncratic life event with a potentially poor outcome. The second step required reading a list of irrational beliefs about uncertainty. In addition, we used an adapted Serbian IUS-11 scale, the Anxiety subscale from the DASS-21, and a single-item measure to collect information about state IU, state anxiety, and state worry, respectively. The ANCOVA results revealed that experimental and control groups did not differ in state IU after the induction. However, there seemed to be an increase in state IU in the experimental group, but not in the control group, when the pretest and posttest scores were compared in each group separately. Additionally, a significant main effect of the measurement time point on state worry and anxiety was found. In contrast, the main effects of condition and measurement time point by condition interaction were non-significant. Although the results are not straightforward (possibly due to a small sample size), the modified procedure seems to potentially serve as a tool for inducing state IU. In the concluding part, we discuss the obtained findings, the procedure's feasibility, as well as the possible modifications that could produce more precise effects.

Investigating the Effectiveness of an Intervention Protocol Based on Grounded Theory on the Quality of Life and Worry of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention protocol based on grounded theory on the quality of life and worry of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The research method of the present study was mixed-methods, implemented in an exploratory design with a two-phase sequential strategy. The qualitative part of the research, considering its grounded theory basis, was phenomenological based on the Strauss and Corbin (1997) theory. The quantitative part employed a quasi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest control group design and a 2-month follow-up phase. The qualitative study population included books, articles, and theses in the field of IBS patients, and IBS patients visiting the Rāh-e Ehyā Psychiatry Clinic, Shahid Tajrish Hospital, and Behboud Gastroenterology Clinic in Tehran during the fall and winter of 2022. The quantitative study population consisted of all IBS patients visiting the Rāh-e Ehyā Psychiatry Clinic, Shahid Tajrish Hospital, and Behboud Gastroenterology Clinic in Tehran during the fall and winter of 2022. In the quantitative part, 28 IBS patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the control or experimental groups. Worry was measured using the Penn State Worry Scale. After eight intervention sessions, the research data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and SPSS software, with a significance level of 0.05. The interaction effect of group×time for the components of physical health (η² = 0.157, P = 0.017, F = 4.85), psychological health (η² = 0.302, P = 0.001, F = 11.27), social health (η² = 0.234, P = 0.001, F = 7.96), and total quality of life score (η² = 0.362, P = 0.001, F = 14.72) was significant. Additionally, the effect of the independent variable on worry (η² = 0.352, P = 0.001, F = 14.15) was significant. The results indicated that the intervention protocol designed based on grounded theory is effective in improving the quality of life and reducing worry in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Effect of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Cognitive Flexibility, and Worry in Women With Depression: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Objectives This study aims to assess the effect of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) on cognitive emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility and worry in women with depression. Methods This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with a pre-test/post-test design. The study population consists of all women with depression referred to psychology clinics in Jahrom, Iran, in 2022. From three clinics of Hami, Rahgosha, and Fardaye Behtar, 30 women with a Beck depression inventory (BDI) score of 20-28 (moderate depression) were selected using a purposeful sampling method, and were randomly divided into intervention (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Garnefski et al.'s cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, Dennis and Vander Wal's cognitive flexibility questionnaire, Meir et al.'s Penn State worry questionnaire, and BDI were used to collect data. Data analysis was done using the analysis of covariance. Results The DBT had a significant effect on the study variables. It has caused an increase in adaptive CER strategies and cognitive flexibility and a decrease in maladaptive CER strategies and worry. Conclusion The DBT can be used to reduce worry and improve cognitive flexibility and adaptive CER strategies in depressed women.

Worry and ruminative brooding: associations with cognitive and physical health in older adults.

Mental health conditions are associated with cognition and physical function in older adults. We examined whether worry and ruminative brooding, key symptoms of certain mental health conditions, are related to subjective and/or objective measures of cognitive and physical (cardiovascular) health. We used baseline data from 282 participants from the SCD-Well and Age-Well trials (178 female; agemean = 71.1 years). We measured worry and ruminative brooding using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Ruminative Response Scale-brooding subscale. We assessed subjective physical health using the WHOQOL-Bref physical subscale, and objective physical health via blood pressure and modified versions of the Framingham Risk Score and Charlson Comorbidity Index. With subjective and objective cognition, we utilized the Cognitive Difficulties Scale and a global composite (modified Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite, PACC5, with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, category fluency, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2, and either the California Verbal Learning Test or the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test). We conducted linear regressions, adjusted for education, age, sex and cohort. Worry and ruminative brooding were negatively associated with subjective physical health (worry: β = -0.245, 95%CI -0.357 to -0.133, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = -0.224, 95%CI -0.334 to -0.113, p < 0.001) and subjective cognitive difficulties (worry: β = 0.196, 95%CI 0.091 to 0.302, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = 0.239, 95%CI 0.133 to 0.346, p < 0.001). We did not observe associations between worry or ruminative brooding and any measure of objective health. Worry and ruminative brooding may be common mechanisms associated with subjective but not objective health. Alternatively, cognitively unimpaired older adults may become aware of subtle changes not captured by objective measures used in this study. Interventions reducing worry and ruminative brooding may promote subjective physical and cognitive health; however, more research is needed to determine causality of the relationships.

Psychological Distress and Treatment Outcome in Patients With Early-Stage Mycosis Fungoides.

Skin diseases have been shown to worsen psychological distress, which, in turn, may be detrimental to treatment outcomes. Both the impact of psychological distress on response to treatment in mycosis fungoides (MF) and the effect of treatments on psychological well-being are unclear. To evaluate (1) the association between pretreatment psychological morbidity and treatment outcome in early-stage MF and (2) the impact of response to treatment on psychological well-being. This was a prospective cohort study of patients with early-stage MF who started a new stage-directed treatment for their disease. The response was determined using the modified severity-weighted assessment tool, and psychological distress was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Participants were followed for 1 year. In all, 24 consecutive patients were recruited. Objective response rate was 71% (17/24), consistent with existing literature. Prior to treatment, 9 patients (38%) had clinically significant psychological distress on the GHQ-12, while 8 (33%) demonstrated high-level worry on the PSWQ. Of these patients, 6 had pathologic scores on both instruments. Patients with significantly less baseline anxiety/depression on the GHQ-12 responded better to treatment than patients with higher levels (P = .004). In addition, responders' mean GHQ-12 scores decreased by 39% and their PSWQ scores by 17%, whereas nonresponders' GHQ-12 scores increased by 93% (P = .042) and their PSWQ scores by 11% (P = .019). These findings suggest that (1) baseline psychological distress is associated with worse outcomes in patients with early-stage MF and that (2) effective treatment improves psychological morbidity.

Associations Between Repetitive Negative Thinking and Objective and Subjective Sleep Health in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults.

Poor sleep and high levels of repetitive negative thinking (RNT), including future-directed (ie, worry) and past-directed (ie, brooding) negative thoughts, have been associated with markers of dementia risk. The relationship between RNT and sleep health in older adults is unknown. This study aimed to investigate this association and its specificities including multiple dimensions of objective and subjective sleep. This study used a cross sectional quantitative design with baseline data from 127 cognitively healthy older adults (mean age 69.4 ± 3.8 years; 63% female) who took part in the Age-Well clinical trial, France. RNT (ie, worry and brooding) levels were measured using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Rumination Response Scale (brooding subscale). Polysomnography was used to assess sleep objectively, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire were used to measure sleep subjectively. In primary analyses the associationsbetween RNT and sleep (ie, objective sleep duration, fragmentation and efficiency and subjective sleep disturbance) were assessed via adjusted regressions. Higher levels of RNT were associated with poorer objective sleep efficiency (worry: β=-0.32, p<0.001; brooding: β=-0.26, p=0.002), but not objective sleep duration, fragmentation, or subjective sleep disturbance. Additional analyses, however, revealed differences in levels of worry between those with short, compared with typical and long objective sleep durations (p < 0.05). In cognitively healthy older adults, RNT was associated with sleep characteristics that have been implicated in increased dementia risk. It will take additional research to ascertain the causal link between RNT and sleep characteristics and how they ultimately relate to the risk of developing dementia.

Ovarian hormones reduce the negative association between worry and cognitive control: A combined neural and behavioral investigation

BackgroundIncreased reactivity to response conflict and errors, processes governed by the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), have both been implicated in anxiety. Anxiety is also more common in females than males. Importantly, natural changes in ovarian hormones levels are related to fluctuations in anxiety symptoms in healthy and clinical populations, and ovarian hormones likely modulate prefrontal cortex structure and function. No studies, however, have examined the role of fluctuating ovarian hormones in the association between anxiety and cognitive control across the menstrual cycle. MethodsIn this multimodal proof-of-concept study, naturally cycling females (N = 30 twins from 14 complete twin pairs and 2 participants whose co-twin was not in the final sample; age 18–29) provided saliva samples to assay for estradiol and progesterone and completed the Penn State Worry Questionnaire for 35 consecutive days. At two time points, during projected pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory phases, they also completed the Flanker task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging to probe cognitive control-related dACC activity. Multilevel modeling was used to examine within- and between-person effects of hormones and worry on cognitive-control indices. ResultsOn days when estradiol and progesterone were low relative to a female’s own average (i.e., within-subjects effect), worry was associated with greater flanker interference. In females with higher estradiol and progesterone levels compared to other females (i.e., between-subject effects), worry was associated with less error-related dACC activity, irrespective of the day that dACC activity was assessed. ConclusionFindings suggest a protective effect of ovarian hormones on the link between worry and cognitive control. Associations between worry and conflict-monitoring were sensitive to daily hormonal fluctuations (within-person states), whereas associations between worry and error-monitoring were sensitive to mean hormone levels (between-person traits), suggesting that ovarian hormones are critical to consider in studies examining associations between anxiety and cognitive control in females.

A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF SELF-HELP GUIDED BY LAY PROVIDERS FOR GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Low use of professional help for anxiety disorders in older adults may be due in part to limited access to mental health services. Self-help guided by lay providers (LPs) could help improve access to treatment. This study evaluated the efficacy and long-term outcomes of self-help guided by LPs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults. Participants (≥ 60 years) with threshold or subthreshold GAD were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 75) or a wait-list control group (n = 75). Intervention group participants used a manual presenting readings and exercises based on principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy and received weekly support calls by LPs. Groups were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and initially did not differ significantly on outcomes. At post-treatment, the intervention group had decreased significantly on various measures while the wait-list group remained stable: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7): -4.8 vs -.03; Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ): -11.7 vs .07; Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI): -5.3 vs -.07. Probability of having a diagnosis of threshold GAD decreased significantly more in the intervention group (79% to 16% vs 74% to 53%). Intervention group scores on the GAD-7, the PSWQ, and the GAI as well as probability of having a diagnosis of threshold GAD remained stable at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Results provide evidence of the efficacy of self-help guided by LPs for GAD in older adults as well as of the maintenance of improvement following this treatment.

P158: Efficacy of a self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy (GSH-CBT) guided by lay providers for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults: preliminary results

Background:Only a small proportion of older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) seek professional help. One reason is the lack of access to mental health professionals licensed to provide psychotherapy. One way to improve access to psychotherapy is through guided self- help (GSH). GSH based on the principles of cognitive-behavior therapy (GSH-CBT) can be guided by trained lay providers (LPs). The purpose of this poster is to report preliminary results from a multisite randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a GSH-CBT guided by LPs for GAD in older adults.Methods:The sample included 150 participants (≥ 60 years old) with a diagnosis of threshold or subthreshold GAD randomly assigned to: 1) GSH-CBT guided by LPs (n = 75) or 2) waiting list (n = 75). The GSH-CBT lasted 15 weeks. Participants used a manual presenting weekly reading and at-home exercises. They also received weekly support calls (30 minutes maximum) by LPs (undergraduate psychology students) supervised by psychologists. Repeated-measures regression models were used to compare changes in the groups before and after 15 weeks on three outcomes: severity of GAD symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item; GAD-7), tendency to worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire; PSWQ), and level of anxiety (Geriatric Anxiety Inventory; GAI).Results:At the first assessment, both groups were similar in terms of age, sex, level of education, marital status, occupation, and did not differ significantly on outcomes. The GSH- CBT group decreased significantly on all three outcomes (GAD-7: -4.8, 95% CI [-5.7, -3.8], PSWQ: -11.7; 95% CI [-13.6, -9.9], GAI: -5.3 95% CI [-6.5, -4.1]) while the waiting list group remained stable over 15 weeks (GAD-7: -0.3, 95% CI [-1.2, 0.6], PSWQ: 0.7; 95% CI [-1.2, 2.5], GAI: -0.7 95% CI [-1.9, -0.5]).Conclusions:GSH-CBT guided by LPs appears to be an effective intervention for reducing severity of GAD symptoms, tendency to worry, and level of anxiety in older people with GAD. Further analyses will be conducted to test whether the intervention differs in efficacy between participants with a threshold vs. subthreshold GAD. The maintenance of long-term gains (6 and 12 months after the intervention) will also be tested.

Impact of Intolerance of Uncertainty on Brain Structural Changes in Panic Disorder.

This study investigated the impact of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) on structural changes in the brain and symptom severity in patients with panic disorder. This study included 90 participants diagnosed with panic disorder. The IU Scale, Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), Self-Forgiveness Scale (SFS), and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF) were used. A voxel-wise correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the structural differences in the gray matter. As IU increased, the cortical thickness of the right lingual gyrus decreased significantly, while the gray matter volume of the right pars triangularis increased. The cortical thickness of the right lingual gyrus showed a significant negative correlation with the BDI-II score and a positive correlation with the SFS. Additionally, the gray matter volume of the right pars triangularis was positively correlated with the PDSS, PSWQ, and BDI-II scores and negatively correlated with the mental health domain of the SF. According to our findings, elevated IU in participants with panic disorder was associated with cortical thinning in the lingual gyrus and increased gray matter volume in the pars triangularis. These structural alterations may also have an impact on perceived quality of life, as well as high levels of depression and anxiety.

Insomnia and potential risk factors during pregnancy

Background: Insomnia during pregnancy adversely affects both mother and newborn, but evidence for its proportion and potential risk factors in Sri Lankan pregnant women is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the proportion and factors associated with insomnia during pregnancy.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 antenatal women who participated in pregnancysupport groups on Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic. They responded to a self-administered questionnaire that included the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to detect insomnia and questions adapted from the Stanford Sleep Questionnaire and an abbreviated version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire to determine associated factors. Habitual sleep efficiency was calculated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Logistic regression models were used to determine the associations of risk factors with insomnia.Results: The proportion of insomnia overall was 32.7%, with proportions of moderate and severe insomnia being 28% and 1.5%, respectively. The proportion of insomnia was lowest in the 1st trimester (19.2%) and highest in the 3rd trimester (42.8%). The risk factors that were associated with insomnia included age ≥30 years (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.09-2.52), third trimester (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.49-6.56), overweight or obesity in early pregnancy (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.04-3.16), irregular sleep routine (OR = 5.2, 95% CI 3.28-8.42), sleeping on lateral position (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.03-2.71), trait of worry (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.50-4.02), night back pain (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.01-2.91), difficulty in breathing (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.37-4.39), heart burn and regurgitation (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.24-2.99), and awakening due to foetal movements (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.14-2.96).Conclusion: Insomnia during pregnancy was high and may have clinical implications for primary antenatal care practice. Many factors associated with insomnia during pregnancy are modifiable and can form the basis for prevention and management.

The Effect of Women’s Family Planning Method Use on Worry Level

Objectives: The research is aimed to determine the effect of women's family planning method use on worry level.&#x0D; Methods: The sample of this descriptive study was composed of 339 women who applied to the outpatient clinics of a hospital in Trabzon between 15.05.2019-01.10.2019. Data from the study was collected via the personal data form and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Descriptive statistical methods, Cronbach Alpha reliability Test, t test in independent groups and ANOVA test were used to evaluate the research data. Before collecting data, permission to use the scale, research permission, ethics committee permission and written consent were obtained from the women participate in the research.&#x0D; Results: The average age of the women involved in the study was 31.51±6.53. %51 of the women were high school graduates and %65.8 were housewives. %12.4 of women expressed concern about the family planning method they used. Women received an average score of 54.16±14.39 from PSWQ. The mean scores of women using oral contraceptives, condoms, intrauterine devices and withdrawal methods from PSWQ are respectively 52.19±9.17, 58.20±15.25, 46.84±14.97 and 59.38±13.82 found to be. The PSWQ mean scores of women 25-32 aged between, 6 Months-1 years married, living in a large family, has a pregnancy and a child, the family planning method he uses negatively affects his sexual life and his relationship with his wife, dissatisfied with the family planning method he and his wife use, not trusting the method, worried about the method, fear of pregnancy it was found to be higher than other women and the difference between groups was statistically significant (p

B - 59 Testing the Cognitive Model of Pathological Worry as an Explanation for Increased Worry among the Oldest Old.

Based on past research demonstrating increased worry among the oldest old compared to younger older adults, this study tested an existing cognitive model of worry to determine whether differences in executive functioning during aging contribute to increased worry among the oldest old. 97 community-dwelling older adults (M age = 74.49; range = 60-89years) completed self-report questionnaires including the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Geriatric Anxiety Scale, and Cognitive Problems and Strategies Assessment, and were individually evaluated with neurocognitive measures including the RBANS, DKEFS Color-Word Interference Test, and Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Two-way ANOVAs revealed no significant differences in worry based on age group (i.e., 60s, 70s, and 80s; F[2, 85] = 1.31, p = 0.28) or gender (F[1, 85] = 3.22, p = 0.08). Further, response inhibition and problem-solving did not predict anxiety or worry severity in multiple regression analyses. Lower education was the only consistent predictor of both anxiety and worry when accounting for cognitive performance, age, and gender. However, subjective cognitive functioning also predicted worry among older adults, independent of objective performance. No age differences in worry or anxiety severity were found. Also, no evidence was found to support age-differences in executive functioning as a contributor to worry presentation in late life. The cognitive model of worry may only be applicable to pathological worry or executive decline among the sample was not pronounced enough to impact anxiety. Overall, this study demonstrates that the cognitive model of worry is not supported in healthy, community-dwelling older adults. However, limitations included limited demographic diversity, small sample size, and limited measurement of executive functioning.

Abnormal multi-layered dynamic cortico-subcortical functional connectivity in major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder

Comorbidity has been frequently observed between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), however, common and distinguishable alterations in the topological organization of functional brain networks remain poorly understood. We sought to determine a robust and sensitive functional connectivity marker for diagnostic classification and symptom severity prediction. Multi-layered dynamic functional connectivity including whole brain, network-node and node-node layers via graph theory and gradient analyses were applied to functional MRI resting-state data obtained from 31 unmedicated GAD and 34 unmedicated MDD patients as well as 33 age and education matched healthy controls (HC). GAD and MDD symptoms were assessed using Penn State Worry Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory II, respectively. Three network measures including global properties (i.e., global efficiency, characteristic path length), regional nodal property (i.e., degree) and connectivity gradients were computed. Results showed that both patient groups exhibited abnormal dynamic cortico-subcortical topological organization compared to healthy controls, with MDD > GAD > HC in degree of randomization. Furthermore, our multi-layered dynamic functional connectivity network model reached 77% diagnostic accuracy between GAD and MDD and was highly predictive of symptom severity, respectively. Gradients of functional connectivity for superior frontal cortex-subcortical regions, middle temporal gyrus-subcortical regions and amygdala-cortical regions contributed more in this model compared to other gradients. We found shared and distinct cortico-subcortical connectivity features in dynamic functional brain networks between GAD and MDD, which together can promote the understanding of common and disorder-specific topological organization dysregulations and facilitate early neuroimaging-based diagnosis.

Intolerance to uncertainty among the medical professionals in Central Kerala – Did COVID-19 make us intolerant?

Abstract Background: With the COVID-19 threat that was looming large, uncertainty prevailed in every sphere of life. Medical professionals were feverishly trying to contain the pandemic and were under tremendous mental pressure. Intolerance to uncertainty (IU) is well known to affect the behavior of health-care professionals and is associated with lower levels of confidence and a propensity to behave overcautiously, leading to undue stress and anxiety. We assessed the IU and worry of health-care workers in a teaching institute in Central Kerala, during the COVID pandemic. Methodology: An online cross-sectional survey was done using the IU survey-12 scale and an ultra-brief version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, after conducting a pilot study. The form was sent to the doctors’ and nurses’ WhatsApp groups both in English and Malayalam translation attached to each question. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21. The Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were done. Results: A total of 431 participants took part in the survey. Their mean age was 34.54 ± 8.6 years. The study showed that 27.8% of the participants had high levels of IU. Troublesome worry was a problem in 10.4%. Logistic regression analysis showed that “Worry” and “being a nurse” were the factors that were significantly associated with high levels of IU. Conclusion: Although some IU is expected at the time of a pandemic, 27.8% of health-care professionals being intolerant is a matter of concern. It is high time we break the cycle of events – Worry and IU, that leads to stress but rather make the health workers resilient and tolerant, spreading positive uplifting influences throughout our communities, much faster than the virus.

Sex Differences in Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Depression in Individuals Infected with Omicron in China.

Sex differences in depression have been well recognized. However, sex differences in depression among Omicron-infected individuals have received little systematic study. This study compared sex differences in depression in infected individuals during the 2022 Omicron pandemic in China. 506 individuals infected with Omicron (males/females = 268/238) were recruited from Tianjin and Shanghai in China. Self-developed Scale of Demographics were used to collect demographic and clinical data, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), De Jong Gierveld Scale (DJGLS), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) were used to measure respondents' depression, anxiety, resilience, loneliness and worry, respectively. The prevalence rate of depression in male patients was significantly higher than in female patients (42.2% versus 31.9%; χ2 = 5.64, p = 0.018). Regression analysis showed that in female patients, depression was associated with anxiety [OR = 1.26, 95% CI (1.16-1.36), p < 0.001], and resilience [OR = 0.98, 95% CI (0.96-1.00), p < 0.05], while in male patients, depression was associated with anxiety [OR = 1.24, 95% CI (1.15-1.33), p < 0.001]. This on-site study demonstrates that depression is more frequent in male than female Omicron-infected patients and suggests that sex differences should be considered in prevention and treatment strategies for depression during the Omicron pandemic.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of sleep hygiene education and FITBIT devices on quality of sleep and psychological worry: a pilot quasi-experimental study among first-year college students.

College students report disturbed sleep patterns that can negatively impact their wellbeing and academic performance. This study examined the effect of a 4-week sleep hygiene program that included sleep education and actigraph sleep trackers (FITBITs) on improving sleep quality and reducing psychological worry without control group. A pilot quasi-experimental design, participants were randomly selected medical and health sciences from a university students in the United-Arab-Emirates. Students were asked to wear FITBITs and log their daily sleep data and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Extensive sleep hygiene education was delivered via lectures, a WhatsApp group, and the Blackboard platform. In total, 50 students completed pre-and post-assessments and returned FITBIT data. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of good sleep postintervention compared with pre-intervention (46% vs. 28%; p = 0.0126). The mean PSQI score was significantly lower post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (6.17 ± 3.16 vs. 7.12.87; p = 0.04, Cohen's d 0.33). After the intervention, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction were significantly improved compared with pre-intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, FITBIT data showed total sleep time and the number of restless episodes per night were significantly improved postintervention compared with pre-intervention (p = 0.013). The mean PSWQ score significantly decreased from pre-intervention to p = 0.049, Cohen' d = 0.25. The correlation between PSQI and PSWQ scores was significant post-intervention (β = 0.40, p = 0.02). Our results may inform university educational policy and curricular reform to incorporate sleep hygiene awareness programs to empower students and improve their sleep habits.

Perfectionism, Academic Stress, Rumination and Worry: A Predictive Model for Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in University Students From Colombia

Perfectionism, academic stress, worry, and rumination are associated with increased levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in university students. However, associations between these variables have been explored separately. Using PLS-SEM, the present study explored a multivariate model in which these variables interplay to predict affective symptoms. A sample of 403 students between ages 18 and 29 years from 55 Colombian institutions of higher education participated by completing Zung depression and anxiety scales, the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Inventory of Academic Stress, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and the Ruminative Responses Scale. Results indicate a positive relationship between perfectionism and academic stress, and a mediation effect of worry and rumination in the relationship between academic stress and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Findings provide evidence of a novel model that precedes the design of target prevention and intervention programs pointing to reduce the risk of affective disorders and its associated negative consequences.

Stress, anxiety, and illness perception in patients experiencing delay in operative care due to the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundAmid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, the US Surgeon General ordered hospitals and healthcare systems to stop all elective surgical procedures. The aim of our study was to evaluate the additional mental health impact of surgical delay on patients awaiting surgery for benign, pre-malignant and malignant conditions within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study designAll patients over the age of 18 awaiting surgery for benign, pre-malignant or malignant conditions within the gynecologic oncology, surgical oncology and colorectal services across Northwell Health were eligible for participation. Upon successful enrollment, participants completed a baseline questionnaire consisting of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and Brief-Illness Patient Questionnaire. ResultsThe surgical delay was considered moderately to extremely concerning by 72 % of survey respondents, with one third indicating the highest (10/10) level of concern. Fifty-five percent of patients with a pre-operatively suspected/confirmed cancer or pre-malignant condition demonstrated mild to severe anxiety in their completion of the GAD-7 scale. The average time awaiting surgery was 117 days (range 8–292); and 63 % of respondents indicated that the delay had a moderate to severe impact on their daily life. ConclusionsPatients awaiting surgery for confirmed, suspected or pre-malignant conditions expressed decreased sense of control and increased levels of distress compared to patients awaiting procedures for benign conditions (p < 0.05, 95 % CI [-2.65, -0.08]). Future research will focus on the effects of COVID-19 related delays in operative care on clinical outcomes, including cancer morbidity and mortality.

Effects of resistance exercise training on depressive symptoms among young adults: A randomized controlled trial

Evidence supports the antidepressant effects of resistance exercise training (RET); however, findings among young adults at-risk for elevated depressive symptoms are limited. This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of eight weeks of ecologically-valid, guidelines-based RET, compared to a wait-list control, on depressive symptoms among 55 young adults (26±5y; 36 female) with and without subclinical, or analogue, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (AGAD; Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire GAD subscale ≥6 and Penn State Worry Questionnaire ≥45) and Major Depressive Disorder (AMDD). Following a three-week familiarization period, participants completed one-on-one, twice-weekly RET sessions. The 16-item, self-reported Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) assessed depressive symptoms. RM-ANCOVAs examined between-group differences, and significant interactions were decomposed with simple effects analysis. Hedges’ d effect sizes (95%CI) quantified the magnitude of differences in change between groups across time. Stratified analyses were conducted among subsamples with AMDD and AGAD. There were no baseline depressive symptom differences between groups. Attendance was 83%, and compliance was 80%. RET induced statistically significant, clinically-meaningful, large-magnitude reductions in depressive symptoms from baseline to week eight in the total (d = 1.01; [95%CI: 0.44–1.57]), AMDD (d = 1.71; [95%CI: 0.96–2.46]), and AGAD (d = 1.39; [95%CI: 0.55–2.24]) samples. These findings support guidelines-based RET as a promising treatment for mild depression.