Total Hostility Research Articles

Arnold’s poem “Sohrab and Rustum”: Firdousi’s heroes in the Victorian epoch context

The article presents the analysis of M. Arnold’s poem ”Sohrab and Rustum”, the plot of which is based on Firdousi’s epic poem “Shakhname”. The Victorian period was marked with the search for heroes – strong personalities who would lead the nation to its revival and save mankind from the “spiritual paralysis” (in T. Carlyle’s expression) as the disease of the age. Like many of his contemporaries Arnold tried to find such heroes in the Medieval past. Arnold leaves out several episodes of the Eastern text and concentrates his attention on the meeting of Rustum and his son who was born in his father’s absence and appeared to belong to the hostile camp during the war. As in Firdousi’s poem Arnold’s Sohrab supposes that he was doomed to be killed by his father. But besides destiny the guilt of the tragedy lies in the lack of trust and inner unity between father and son, upon a person’s isolation in society – one of the predominant themes of Arnold’s poetry. Sohrab’s death leads to Rustum’s spiritual transformation and to the end of the war on the whole. Contrary to Carlyle, Arnold doesn’t consider the appearance of a hero as a means of the nation’s revival. It is possible only by way of overcoming total hostility and isolation at large. So, the plot of the Medieval Eastern poet in Arnold’s interpretation appeared to be consonant with the Victorian epoch.

Cynical hostility relates to a lack of habituation of the cardiovascular response to repeated acute stress.

Hostility is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Heightened cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress has been proposed as a potential mechanism. Recent work has emphasized a need to measure cardiovascular reactivity across multiple stress exposures to assess potential habituation over time. The aims of the current study were (a) to examine the relationship between each of the three main components of hostility (i.e., emotional, cognitive, and behavioral) and cardiovascular reactivity at two separate stress testing visits and (b) to examine the relationship between hostility components and cardiovascular reactivity habituation. This study utilized previously collected data from the Pittsburgh Cold Study 3. One hundred and ninety-six participants (Mean (SD)[range] age=29.9 (10.8)[18-55] years, 42.9% female, 67.3% Caucasian) completed 2 separate, identical laboratory sessions, consisting of a 20-min baseline and 15-min stress (Trier Social Stress Test). Heart rate and systolic/diastolic blood pressure were recorded throughout. Reactivity was calculated separately for heart rate, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure (stress-baseline). Participants also completed a modified version of the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale. Results indicated that greater cognitive hostility (i.e., cynicism) was associated with blunted cardiovascular reactivity at Visit 1 and less cardiovascular reactivity habituation between visits, even when controlling for confounding variables. No significant relationships to cardiovascular reactivity or habituation were found for emotional (i.e., hostile affect) or behavioral (i.e., aggressive responding) components. Outcomes for total hostility did not survive adjustment for confounders. These results identify a potential pathway through which hostility, particularly cynicism, contributes to disease risk.

Association between leukocyte telomere length and hostility in US army service members

Hostility is a common form of emotionally charged anger which can lead to maladaptive and unhealthy behaviors. Significant association between shortened telomeres and greater levels of hostility has been observed in civilian populations, but has not yet been comprehensively studied in military populations. Our study investigates the relationship between hostility, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in a sample of United States Army Special Operations personnel (n = 474) who deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan as part of combat operations. Hostility was measured with five items from the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). PTSD was determined using the PTSD Checklist (PCL) total score. The LTL was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods and regression analyses were conducted to determine the association of hostility and telomere length. PTSD subjects reported higher hostility scores compared with those without PTSD. Among the participants with PTSD, those with medium or high level of hostility had shorter LTL than those with low level hostility (P < 0.01). Stepwise regression indicated that hostility level and age, but not gender and PTSD, were negatively correlated with LTL. Univariate regression showed that total hostility score was negatively associated with LTL (CI= −0.06 to −0.002, Beta= −0.095, p < 0.039) as well as a significant correlation between LTL and hostility impulses (HI) (CI= −0.108 to −0.009, Beta= −0.106, p < 0.021) and hostility controlling (HC) (CI= −0.071 to −0.002, Beta= −0.095, p < 0.004). Multiple regression analyses revealed that, while HC has no significant association with LTL, HI was still negatively correlated with LTL (p = 0.021). Our data indicates that LTL is associated with HI levels. Prevention and treatment efforts designed to reduce hostility may help mitigate risk for LTL shortening, a process of cellular aging, and thus slow accelerated aged-related health outcomes.

Comparative study of hostility in depressive patients with and without a suicide attempt history

Hostility in association with depression seems to be connected to suicidal behavior. This study aimed to evaluate hostility and its dimensions in relation to depression in patients who suffered from diagnosed depression with and without a suicide attempt history. The study included 168 participants; 58 patients with depression and suicide attempt history, 55 patients with depression without a suicide attempt history and 55 healthy controls. Hostility was assessed with the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, while depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Patients with depression and a suicide attempt history compared with the patients without attempt history presented statistically significantly higher total hostility (28.71 ± 6.43 vs 24.20 ± 7.66), extroverted hostility (17.16 ± 4.37 vs 14.15 ± 4.63), acting out hostility (6.03 ± 2.09 vs 4.73 ± 1.93), and self criticism (6.95 ± 2.12 vs 5.89 ± 2.32). No statistically significant differences were found between the two clinical groups in depression according to the BDI. Moreover depressive patients with suicide attempt history scored higher in all the hostility dimensions than the controls. Therefore, it could be suggested that hostility and especially its extrapunitive dimensions are associated with suicidal behavior, since no differences in depression were recorded between the two clinical groups.

Hostility and the risk of peptic ulcer in the GAZEL cohort.

Evidence for an association between hostility and peptic ulcer mainly relies on cross-sectional studies. Prospective studies are rare and have not used a validated measure of hostility. This prospective study aimed to examine the association between hostility and peptic ulcer in the large-scale French GAZEL cohort. In 1993, 14,674 participants completed the Buss and Durkee Hostility Inventory. Participants were annually followed-up from 1994 to 2011. Diagnosis of peptic ulcer was self-reported. The association between hostility scores and ulcer incidence was measured by hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals computed through Cox regression. Among 13,539 participants free of peptic ulcer history at baseline, 816 reported a peptic ulcer during a mean follow-up of 16.8 years. Adjusting for potential confounders, including smoking, occupational grade, and a proxy for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exposure, ulcer incidence was positively associated with total hostility (HR per SD: 1.23, confidence interval: 1.14-1.31), behavioral hostility (HR per SD: 1.13, confidence interval: 1.05-1.21), cognitive hostility (HR per SD: 1.26, confidence interval: 1.18-1.35), and irritability (HR per SD: 1.20, confidence interval: 1.12-1.29). The risk of peptic ulcer increased from the lowest to the highest quartile for all hostility measures (p for linear trend < .05). Hostility might be associated with an increased risk of peptic ulcer. Should these results be replicated, further studies would be needed to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Risk factors for suicidal ideations in patients with bipolar disorder

To identify the risk factors for suicidal ideation in subjects with bipolar depression. One-hundred and thirty subjects diagnosed with bipolar depression were evaluated on the following scales: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), Barrat's Impulsivity Scale (BIS), Irritability, Anxiety, and Depression (IDA) Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Buss-Durke Hostile Inventory (BDHI), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Based on the BDI suicidal thoughts and wishes item (score of ≥ 1), the study sample was divided into those with and those without suicidal ideation. Compared to those without suicidal ideations, patients with bipolar depression with suicidal ideation had significantly higher scores on the BDI, YMRS, BPRS total score, IDA total score, PHQ-15, BHS total score, and most of the hostility subscales of the BHI. [corrected]. On binary logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for [corrected] presence of suicidal ideations was more than one and was significant for the BHS [OR = 1.53, [corrected] 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24-1.99], the IDA-irritability directed inwards (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.03-2.13), and the total hostility score (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20). Other factors for which the OR was more than one but the difference was not statistically significant were: Hindu religion (OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 0.76-12.99), lifetime mean duration of depressive episodes (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.74-1.57), past history of hospitalization (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.24-6.16), any preceding life events (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 0.28-7.52), subsyndromal manic symptoms (OR = 1.01, 95% CI:0.53-1.92), presence of psychotic symptoms (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.92-1.22), and irritability directed outwards (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.92-1.41). [corrected]. Among the various predictors of suicidal ideations, the severity of hopelessness, irritability directed inwards, and hostility are the most important risk factors for suicidal ideations in patients with bipolar disorder. [corrected]. Hence, patients with these risk factors should be closely monitored to prevent suicide attempts and completed suicides.

Латинская Америка и Иран

The article reviews the general vectors and the spheres of cooperation between Latin America and Islamic Republic of Iran at present. The major attention is given to the analysis of the Teheran relationships with the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America. It is mentioned that these contacts were mostly based on the anti-American and anti-imperialistic ideas. There are also highlighted the fields of cooperation and the visits of the senior officials which played an important role in the regulation of political, trade, economic and humanitarian relationships, in creating the joint strategy for the world scene. The attitude of the ruling circles toward Iran’s nuclear program is investigated. The article evaluates H. Ch&amp;#225;vez’s contribution to the development of strategic alliance with Iran under M. Ahmadinedjad. It is noted that each of this group of countries put forward its own reasons for strengthening of mutual relations. The difference of approaches of Latin American giants is emphasized. Brazil, taking on the status of the great power, tried to contribute to solving the old nuclear problem, while Argentina turned sharply from total hostility to building constructive partnership. The special attention is paid to Iran president’s visit to 4 countries of the region in January 2012. It was considered as an intention to overcome the isolation at the moment of toughening of the sanctions imposed by the West. The US response to intensifying presence of Iran in the region is stated and the wide ranging opinions on the problem are shown. The article considers the future trends in the relations after the election of 2014 in Iran which brought to power moderate M. Rouhani, whose adjustments in the foreign policy affairs affected Latin America.

The validity of the Type D construct and its assessment in Taiwan

BackgroundType D (distressed) personality, defined by negative affectivity and social inhibition, is related to cardiovascular outcomes. Little is known about Type D in non-Western cultures. We examined the validity of this construct and its assessment in Taiwanese patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and adults from the general population.MethodsCAD patients (N = 87) and adults from the general population (N = 421) completed the 14-item Type D Scale- Taiwanese version (DS14-T), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Chinese Hostility Inventory Short-Form.ResultsBased on the psychometric examination, item #3 of the original DS14, "I often talk to strangers" was replaced by "I don't like to have a lot of people around me" which comes from the “Withdrawal” facet of social inhibition of DS-24. The reliability of Type D assessment in Taiwan was good, with Cronbach’s α for negative affectivity and social inhibition of .86 and .79. Factor analyses confirmed the two-factor model of the Type D construct. The prevalence rate of Type D personality in Taiwan was 20% in CAD patients and 16% in the general population. Negative affectivity was positively associated with anxiety, depression and hostility, and social inhibition was positively associated with suppressive hostility and negatively associated with expressive hostility after controlling for the total hostility. Furthermore, Taiwanese individuals with a Type D personality displayed elevated levels of anxiety, depression and hostility.ConclusionsThe Type D construct and its assessment with the DS14-T is generalizable to an Asian setting, Taiwan. The DS14-T showed good psychometric properties, and the prevalence of Type D personality in Taiwan was similar to the prevalence rates in Western countries and Mainland China, and Type D was associated with anxiety, depression and hostility.

1192 – Investigation of psychological characteristics of greek doctors specializing in general-family medicine and in internal medicine

The relatively recent propagation of the specialty of Family Medicine in Greece has created a new reality in the Greek society. This resulted in the “co-inhabitation” of the Family Medicine specialists and the Internal Medicine specialists in various Primary Care units of the country. To investigate the internal and external shame of the residents in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine and the comparison of both groups. To demonstrate the distinct role that Family doctors must have in Primary Care. 102 Greek resident doctors, 52 specializing in Family Medicine and 50 specializing in Internal Medicine participated in the study. The scientific tools used were: a)the Other As Shamer Scale, b) the Experience of Shame Scale, c) the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, d) The Symptom Checklist-90-R, e) Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Comparing the two groups using the T-Test, it was observed that the residents of Family Medicine showed a statistically significant higher mean value compared to the residents Internal Medicine in the subscales of: characterological shame, behavioral shame, bodily shame, total shame, emptiness, criticism of others, self-criticism, guilt, intropunitiveness, total hostility, neuroticism and an statistically lower mean value compared to the residents of Internal Medicine in the subscales of: mistakes, Anxiety, Phobic Anxiety and Psychotism. The results of the study are supporting the common belief that the specialty of Family Medicine has not yet obtained a specific and distinct role and furthermore has not yet gained the necessary recognition by the Greek society.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese-version of the ambiguous intentions hostility questionnaire

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese-version of the Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire(AIHQ-C). Methods 303 healthy subjects and 202 schizophrenic patients were asked to completed the AIHQ-C along with measures of Paranoia Scale (Pa). Two weeks later, 110 healthy subjects and 70 schizophrenic patients who were randomly selected from the total sample completed the AIHQ-C again to compute the test-retest reliability. The criterion-related validity was evaluated by correlating the AIHQ-C with Pa. Results (1)The Cronbach α coefficient of total Hostility Bias(THB), total Blame Bias(TBB) and total Aggression Bias(TAB) for the AIHQ-C was 0.78, 0.94, 0.84(P<0.01) respectively, and the Cronbach α coefficient of Hostility Bias(HB), Blame Bias(BB)and Aggression Bias(AB)for each situation of the AIHQ-C was between 0.51 and 0.90. The test-retest reliability of THB, TBB and TAB for the AIHQ-C was 0.71, 0.73, 0.68(P<0.01) respectively, and the test-retest reliability of HB, BB and AB for each situation of the AIHQ-C was between 0.48 and 0.73. (2) Pa was positively correlated with THB, TBB and TAB (r=0.51, 0.37, 0.41, P<0.01, respectively) and the correlation coefficients of HB, BB and AB for each situation of the AIHQ-C with Pa was between 0.23 and 0.52. The results indicated that the AIHQ-C had good criterion-related validity. (3)Schizophrenic patients had higher scores of the AIHQ-C than the healthy subjects, it suggested that the AIHQ-C had good discriminant validity. Conclusion The AIHQ-C has good reliability and validity in application to Chinese people. Key words: Hostility; Attribution; Scale; Reliability; Validity; Schizophrenia

The relationship among the aggressive behavior, hostile attribution bias and childhood trauma in schizophrenic patients

Objective To explore the relationship among the aggressive behavior, hostile attribution bias and childhood trauma in schizophrenic patients. Methods 135 schizophrenic patients were tested with Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS), the Chinese-version of the Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire (AIHQ-C) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). According to the score of the MOAS, the patients were divided into the aggressive group (n=58) and the non-aggressive group (n=77). The hostile attribution bias and the childhood trauma were compared between the two groups, and correlation and hierarchical regression analysis were used to investigate the relationships of the variables. Results Compared with the non-aggressive patients, the aggressive patients had significantly higher AIHQ-C total hostility bias score (6.27±1.20 vs 5.90±0.97, P<0.05), total blame bias score (8.04±1.97 vs 6.91±2.10, P<0.01) and total aggression bias score (6.17±1.02 vs 5.59±1.04, P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the MOAS score, AIHQ scores and the total score of CTQ were significantly positively correlated with each other (r=0.171~0.350, P<0.05~0.01). Regression analysis indicated the hostile attribution bias directly predicted the aggressive behavior(β=0.342, P<0.05)and completely mediated the relationship between the childhood trauma and the aggressive behavior. Conclusion The aggressive behavior in schizophrenic patients is associated with the experience of childhood trauma and the attribution style. The childhood trauma indirectly influences the aggressive behavior by the mediating of the hostile attribution bias. Key words: Schizophrenia; Aggressive behavior; Hostility; Attribution; Childhood Trauma

Relationship between aggressive behavior and interpersonal attribution in senior primary school students

Objective To obtain knowledge about aggressive behavior and interpersonal attribution of senior primary school students,and to explore the relationship between them.Methods Stratified random sampling was used to conduct a questionnaire survey in students of the fourth grade,fifth grade and sixth grade.The students were surveyed about their general situation and by aggressive behavior scale and interpersonal attribution scale.The relation between aggressive behavior and interpersonal attribution was analyzed using multiple linear regression.Results The score of aggressive behavior of male students was significantly higher than that of female students;the total,physical aggression,anger and hostility scores of male students of the fourth and fifth grades were significantly higher than those of sixth grade(P0.05).The total,physical aggression,verbal aggression,indirect aggression and anger scores of female student of the fifth and sixth grades were significantly higher than those of the fourth grade(P0.05).The interpersonal attribution score of male students was significantly higher than that of female students(P0.05).The fortune score of male students of the fourth,fifth grades were significantly higher than that of the sixth grade(P0.05).There were no significant differences in interpersonal attribution scores in female students of different grades(P0.05).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that scores of situation factor of external control and fortune were both positively correlated with scores of total aggressive behavior,physical aggression,indirect aggression,anger and hostility when gender and grade were adjusted(P0.05);the scores of effort factor of internal control and situation factor of external control had a positive correlation with score of verbal aggression(P0.05).Conclusion The aggressive behavior of senior primary school students is mainly correlated with the external control factors of interpersonal attribution.Students with higher score of external control factors have a higher score of aggressive behavior,suggesting that the intervening measures should be taken to change the interpersonal attribution style to prevent aggressive behavior among these students.

P-1161 - Heart focused anxiety following retrospectives memories of negative life events: the role of hostility

Introduction Retrospective memories of stressful events during childhood have been related empirically with a wide range of symptoms in adulthood. Objective To clarify the possible link between memories of childhood stressful events and adult heart focused anxiety. Aim To investigate whether retrospective stressful memories are associated with cardiac anxiety and if this association is mediated through hostility in adulthood. Method A community sample of 300 individuals (100 men - 200 women, mean age 33, SD = 12,5 ranged 18–75), completed the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire and a questionnaire regarding retrospective memories of stressful experiences during childhood. Results Childhood stressful memories were associated with higher levels of both heart focused anxiety and hostility (r = .005). Elevated levels of cardiac anxiety were also correlated with a hostile attitude (r ≤.001). Regression models revealed that paranoid hostility fully mediated the link between stressful memories and heart focused anxiety for women (β = 2,918, p = .004), after adjustments. No such mediation was proved in men, thus both retrospective stressful memories during childhood and hostile attitudes were independent contributors for anxiety of heart function. No significant differences were found among both sexes, as far as heart focused anxiety (t =−.964, p = .336) and total hostility (t = .342, p = .733) are concerned. Conclusion Findings are consistent with the hypothesis that, in women, childhood stressful memories influences adult levels of cardiac anxiety sensations by fostering paranoid hostility. In men, findings suggest that these memories and hostility are both important independent predictors of adult cardiac anxiety sensitivity.

Effects of personality features on psychological status of patients with lung cancer in perioperative period

Objective To discuss the effects of personality features on psychological status of patients with lung cancer in perioperative period.Methods Choosing 97 patients from the thoracic department of the second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University as the study objects.The general information,psychological status and personality features were investigated by using the self-made General Information Questionnaire,Eysenck Personality Questionnaire( EPQ),Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS),Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) and Self-rating Symptom Scale(SCL-90).Results The scores of seven factors including total scores( 153.28±41.98),somatization ( 1.78 ± 0.42 ),compulsion ( 1.96 ± 0.52 ),depression ( 1.77 ± 0.67 ),anxiety ( 1.82 ± 0.56 ),hostility ( 1.68 ± 0.87 ),panic ( 1.44 ± 0.75 ) and psychosis ( 1.56 ± 0.51 ) in SCL-90 were higher than domestic norm (P ＜ 0.05 ).The score of EPQ-P(Psychoticism) ( 10.96 ± 2.65 ) were higher than the domestic norm ( 5.84 ± 3.27 )(P＜0.001 ),and EPQ-N(neuroticism) and EPQ-P were positively correlated with the scores of seven factors in SCL-90.Conclusion The mental status of patients with lung cancer in perioperative period is poor.Solitude and uncaring others are the features of personality,which is correlated with psychological status,and EPQ-E (introvertion-extroversion) and EPQ-N can predict the happening of negative psychology. Key words: Lung cancer; Perioperative period; Patient; Personality; Psychology

Hostility, Impulsivity, and Behavior Inhibition Among Women with PMDD.

IntroductionThis study aimed to compare hostility, impulsivity, and behavior inhibition between women with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) during both luteal and follicular phases and to examine whether these variables contribute to irritability and daily functional impairment of PMDD. PMDD was screened via the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. A diagnosis of PMDD was confirmed by psychiatric interviewing without 2-month prospective confirmation. Sixty women in the PMDD group and 60 women in the control group completed the Chinese Version of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory-Short Form, Dickman's Impulsivity Inventory, and the Behavior Inhibition System Scale during the luteal and follicular phases. We found that the PMDD group had significantly higher levels of hostility, dysfunctional impulsivity, and behavioral inhibition than the control group in both luteal and follicular phases. The PMDD group also had more premenstrual aggravation on total hostility, hostility affect, and suppressive hostility than the control group. Higher hostility, dysfunctional impulsivity, and behavior inhibition were associated with more severe irritability and functional impairment of PMDD.DiscussionHostility, impulsivity, and behavior inhibition might contribute to irritability and functional impairment in women with PMDD. Assessment and interventions based on these factors should be provided for women with PMDD, especially in the luteal phase.

P01-406 - Normal 0 14 general punitiveness and direction of hostility in chronic prostatitis patients

IntroductionChronic prostatitis has been long considered a psychosomatic illness. We have previously studied alexithymic and obsessive-compulsive features in chronic prostatitis patients.AimsTo evaluate introverted, extroverted and total hostility in patients with chronic prostatitis.MethodsPatients diagnosed with chronic prostatitis at a tertiary care ID clinic were evaluated with the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ), a questionnaire with 5 subscales designed to assess total hostility or punitiveness and direction of hostility. Patients were categorized according to the NIH Consensus Classification System for Prostatitis Category and the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) was calculated.Results82 patients (median age 37.5 yrs old; IQR 30-45.5 yrs) were evaluated. According to the NIH Prostatitis Classification patients were categorized as type II: 45.1%, IIIa: 9.7%, IIIb: 39%, IV: 2.4%. Median CPSI score was 19.5 (IQR: 14.5-24.3). Median introverted, extroverted and total hostility scores were 3 (IQR: 2-6), 9 (IQR: 7-13) and 13 (IQR: 9-18) respectively. Results from the Extroverted Hostility HDHQ subscale correlated (r squared = −0.25, p = 0.024) with subscales of the TAS (Toronto Alexithymia Scale). These results were independent of CPSI scores.ConclusionsChronic prostatitis patients’ total hostility scores are similar to those of the general population reported by other studies. However, chronic prostatiitis patients show more outward directed hostility. The relationship between TAS subscale scores and measures of extroverted hostility needs further elucidation. Patients with chronic prostatitis are potentially at risk for psychiatric disturbances and thus may need psychiatric counseling and therapy.

A Urinary Marker of Oxidative Stress Covaries Positively With Hostility Among Midlife Community Volunteers

Although not all findings are consistent, growing evidence suggests that individuals high in dispositional hostility are at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality; however, the mechanisms of these associations remain unclear. One possibility is that hostility is associated with oxidative stress. Here, we explore relationships between hostility and a measure of systemic oxidative stress among a mid-life sample. In a community sample of 223 adults aged 30 to 54 years (86% white, 50% female), oxidative stress was measured as the 24-hour urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). An abbreviated Cook Medley Hostility Scale was used to measure dimensions of hostility. Regression analyses controlling for demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors showed a positive relationship of 8-OHdG with total hostility (beta = 0.003, p = .03) and hostile affect (beta = 0.018, p < .001). These findings provide evidence that dispositional hostility, and in particular, hostile affect, covary positively with systemic oxidative stress, raising the possibility that oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenicity of hostile attributes.

Carl Schmitt's attitude towards total war and total enemy on the eve of the outbreak of WWII

Carl Schmitt is usually perceived as the theorist of total state, total war and total hostility. In the article, the author however tries to show that from 1937 to 1944, Schmitt was arguing that total war and total hostility were dangerous for Germany (as well as for the rest of Europe) and warned against perpetuation of all efforts to totalize enemy that started in 1914. In his theoretical endeavors in this period there was place for the total state only - and especially for the total state strong enough to resist temptation of declaring total war on total enemy. The total state he recommended Hitler and his Nazi comrades was German Reich, as a part of Europe ordered and divided in the huge spaces (Grossraumordnung). Positioned in the centre of Europe, between the rest of the powers (France, Italy, USSR as well as the Scandinavian states), Germany should be careful enough to wage war only against its Eastern enemies (Poland and maybe USSR) and only in order to achieve 'just' borders. Occupying in this way its huge space Germany should devote itself to the task of exploitation of various peoples such as Poles, Chechs and Slovaks, which were perceived as incapable of having their states and doomed to serve the master race - the Germans.

Cynical hostility and stimulated Th1 and Th2 cytokine production

Hostility has been associated with heightened proinflammatory activity. However, it is not known whether greater hostility contributes to greater inflammation by promoting higher Th1 activity, lower Th2 activity, or both. The present study examines the relation of hostility to mitogen-stimulated Th1 and Th2 cytokine production in vitro. Participants were 193 healthy men and women (mean age 37.3; 44% non-white). Hostility was assessed with a 20-item version of the Cook–Medley Hostility Scale (CMHS). PHA-stimulated interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ were used to measure Th1 activity; PHA-stimulated IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 were used to measure Th2 activity. Greater hostility was related to greater production of two of the three Th1 cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Hostility was not associated with any measure of Th2 cytokine production. Associations with Th1 cytokines were independent of age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, body mass index, depressive symptoms, and health-related behaviors, and were consistent across men and women. Associations were not explained by social network characteristics, social support, or personality traits closely associated with social behavior. Exploratory analyses substituting the CMHS cognitive, affective, and behavioral subscales for total hostility revealed that associations between hostility and Th1 cytokine production were primarily driven by the cognitive component of hostility (i.e., cynicism). Results suggest that a unique dimension of hostility, particularly the cynicism subcomponent, that is unrelated to social factors, may influence inflammation by promoting greater Th1 cytokine production. This effect on stimulated cytokine activity may have implications for a role of hostility in exacerbating immune-related disease.

Social relationships and negative emotional traits are associated with central adiposity and arterial stiffness in healthy adolescents.

We examined the role of social relationships and negative emotional traits in the development of central adiposity and arterial stiffness in healthy adolescents. A prospective, longitudinal study examined 213 Black and White adolescents (50% Black, 51% female); 160 returned for a second assessment approximately 3 years later. Psychosocial variables at both assessments were measured with the Measurement of Attachment Qualities (Carver, 1997), Social Relationships Index (study entry only; Uchino, Holt-Lunstad, Uno, & Flinders, 2001), Spielberger Trait Anger and Anxiety (Spielberger et al., 1979), and the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale (Cook & Medley, 1954). Central adiposity was assessed by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at both assessments and arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity (PWV) at the second assessment only. Linear regression models controlled for demographic variables and body mass index showed that adolescents with less Supportive Relationships (beta = -.121, p = .05) and higher Trait Anger (beta = .117, p = .05) had increased WHR over time, adjusted for initial WHR. Those with higher Attachment Anxiety (beta = .211, p = .01) and Total Hostility (beta = .234, p < .01) had greater PWV. Psychosocial associations for PWV were more apparent among Blacks. Psychosocial variables may be important in the development of central adiposity and arterial stiffness in adolescence.