Transmission Of Symptoms Research Articles

Peer-to-peer: The Social Transmission of Symptoms Online.

Social learning can be highly adaptive-for example, avoiding a hotplate your friend just burnt themselves on-but it has also been implicated in symptom transmission. Social learning is particularly pertinent given the rapid increase in the use of online mediums for social interaction. Yet, little is known about the social transmission of symptoms online or social chains extending further than a single model-observer interaction. To explore whether socially induced symptoms could be propagated through a three-generation social transmission chain in an online setting. We explored the social transmission of cybersickness following a virtual reality (VR) experience through online webcam interactions. One hundred and seventy-seven adults viewed a VR video in one of four links along a social transmission chain, after: viewing an actor model cybersickness to the VR video (First-Generation); viewing the First-Generation participant undergo VR (Second-Generation); viewing the Second-Generation participant undergo VR (Third-Generation); or naïve (Control). Cybersickness was strongest in First-Generation participants, indicating social transmission from the model. This was mediated by expectancy and anxiety. Whether or not subsequent generations experienced cybersickness depended on what the observed participant verbally reported, which is consistent with social transmission. Results demonstrate that symptoms can be readily transmitted online, and that expectancy and anxiety are involved. Although it is inconclusive as to whether symptoms can propagate along a social transmission chain, there is some evidence of protection from symptoms when a model who does not report any symptoms is observed. As such, this research highlights the role of social transmission in the modulation of symptoms through virtual mediums.

The Contagion of Psychopathology across Different Psychiatric Disorders: A Comparative Theoretical Analysis.

Psychopathology is often studied and treated from an individual-centered approach. However, studies have shown that psychological distress is often best understood from a contextual, environmental perspective. This paper explores the literature on emotional contagion and symptom transmission in psychopathology, i.e., the complex ways in which one person’s psychological distress may yield symptoms among others in his/her close environment. We argue that emotions, cognitions, and behaviors often do not stay within the borders of the individual, but rather represent intricate dynamic experiences that are shared by individuals, as well as transmitted between them. While this claim was comprehensively studied in the context of some disorders (e.g., secondary traumatization and the “mimicking” of symptoms among those close to a trauma survivor), it was very scarcely examined in the context of others. We aim to bridge this gap in knowledge by examining the literature on symptom transmission across four distinct psychiatric disorders: PTSD, major depression, OCD, and psychosis. We first review the literature on emotional contagion in each disorder separately, and then we subsequently conduct a comparative analysis highlighting the shared and differential mechanisms underlying these processes in all four disorders. In this era of transdiagnostic conceptualizations of psychopathology, such an examination is timely, and it may carry important clinical implications.

CANKADO PRO-React: E-health solution with dynamic symptom questionnaires and automated recommendations for cancer patients.

7 Background: It is proven that the online documentation and transmission of symptoms can prolong the overall survival of cancer patients. Recent studies have shown that this advantage exists both in conventional chemotherapy and in oral therapy.Current implementations require a healthcare professional who monitors the data online. In most centers, such kind of human resources is not available except in clinical trials. It was therefore the goal of this project to develop an eHealth procedure, in which no permanent online observation is necessary. Methods: PRO-React, a symptom-based automated feedback or advice feature is integrated into the eHealth platform CANKADO. In the online settings, physician activates medication plans for his patients, documents drug-taking and sets reminders for the patient of future intake times. PRO-React assists the patients daily in global health documentation and dynamic symptom questionnaires. A built-in automated analysis brings forth suitable recommendations for patients like discuss with the physician, visit the physician immediately, visit directly or go to ER. The patient reported outcomes are shared in real-time with the physicians. Results: Trials are ongoing. Interim analysis is planed for January 2018. Results will be presented at the conference. Conclusions: PRO-React helps in the dynamic recognition of events with minimal daily documentation from the patients as well as assist in reacting to the needs of the patients. It also circumvents the need of a mediator group like nurses and thereby increase compliance and improve the doctor-patient-relationship leading to decreased mortality and higher patient satisfaction. PRO-React is available for routine care but also included into several multi-center trials.

A twin study of depressive symptoms in childhood.

Although depression in childhood appears to be familial, transmission of symptoms could be genetic or environmental. Twin studies enable us to separate these effects. Our aim was to assess the importance of genetic and environmental factors on depressive symptoms during childhood and adolescence in an epidemiological sample of twins. Questionnaires (including the Mood and Feelings questionnaire) were mailed to a systematically ascertained sample (411 twin pairs) aged between 8 and 16 years. The overall response rate was 77%. Data for the whole sample were best explained by an additive genetic model, with heritability of depressive symptom scores estimated at 79%. However, on splitting the sample, symptoms in children (aged 8 to 11) could be explained by shared environmental factors only, while symptoms in adolescents (aged 11 to 16) remained highly heritable. The results suggest that although depressive symptoms appear to be largely heritable, the influence of genetic and environmental factors may vary with age.

Mass hysteria among student performers: social relationship as a symptom predictor

In April 1989 an outbreak of illness suddenly afflicted student performers in Santa Monica, Calif., and an extensive investigation revealed no environmental cause. To clarify the details of the epidemic and determine whether mass hysteria occurred, the authors examined physical, psychological, and social factors that might have contributed to the outbreak. Participating middle- and high-school performers were surveyed; 93% (N = 519) responded; cases were defined as students who had one or more symptoms during the outbreak. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant predictors of illness. Characteristic features of mass hysteria were present, including preponderance of illness in girls, symptom transmission by sight or sound, presence of hyperventilation, and evidence of psychological or physical stress. Symptomatic and asymptomatic groups differed in frequency of several physical and psychological variables, but observing a friend become sick was the best predictor of the development of symptoms. These results confirm earlier research demonstrating multiple psychological and physical factors that contribute to such outbreaks, particularly symptom transmission through social networks. Investigators should explore social transmission as an additional characteristic feature of mass hysteria in order to facilitate early identification of future outbreaks.