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Neurotherapeutics : the Journal of the... Jul 2020Anxiety patients overgeneralize fear responses, possibly because they cannot distinguish between cues never been associated with a threat (i.e., safe) and...
Anxiety patients overgeneralize fear responses, possibly because they cannot distinguish between cues never been associated with a threat (i.e., safe) and threat-associated cues. However, as contexts and not cues are discussed as the relevant triggers for prolonged anxiety responses characterizing many anxiety disorders, we speculated that it is rather overgeneralization of contextual anxiety, which constitutes a risk factor for anxiety disorders. To this end, we investigated generalization of conditioned contextual anxiety and explored modulatory effects of anxiety sensitivity, a risk factor for anxiety disorders. Fifty-five participants underwent context conditioning in a virtual reality paradigm. On Day 1 (acquisition), participants received unpredictable mildly painful electric stimuli (unconditioned stimulus, US) in one virtual office (anxiety context, CTX+), but never in a second office (safety context, CTX-). Successful acquisition of conditioned anxiety was indicated by aversive ratings and defensive physiological responses (i.e., SCR) to CTX+ vs CTX-. On Day 2 (generalization), participants re-visited both the anxiety and the safety contexts plus three generalization contexts (G-CTX), which were gradually dissimilar to CTX+ (from 75 to 25%). Generalization of conditioned anxiety was evident for ratings, but less clear for physiological responses. The observed dissociation between generalization of verbal and physiological responses suggests that these responses depend on two distinct context representations, likely elemental and contextual representations. Importantly, anxiety sensitivity was positively correlated with the generalization of reported contextual anxiety. Thus, this study demonstrates generalization gradients for conditioned contextual anxiety and that anxiety sensitivity facilitates such generalization processes suggesting the importance of generalization of contextual anxiety for the development of anxiety disorders.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Electric Stimulation; Fear; Female; Generalization, Psychological; Humans; Male; Pain Measurement; Reflex, Startle; Young Adult
PubMed: 31933066
DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00831-8 -
Acta Bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis May 2022To demonstrate the duration of negative psychological effects of elective curettage on both nulliparous and multiparous women and to determine the association between...
AIM
To demonstrate the duration of negative psychological effects of elective curettage on both nulliparous and multiparous women and to determine the association between parity and post-abortion depression and anxiety.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 168 women who applied to our reproductive health clinic for elective abortion were included in this prospective study. 84 nulliparous and 84 multiparous women were asked to fill out Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI-II) forms by a psychiatrist at their pre-abortion consultation and at 3 months follow-up. A thorough anamnesis with demographic data of each patient was recorded at initial consultation.
RESULTS
Depression and anxiety measurements in both groups significantly decreased at the end of the 3 months follow-up. The mean depression value in nullipara group decreased from 24.2 ± 5.8 to 9.4 ± 3.3 and anxiety from 23.5 ± 3.7 to 8.8 ± 2.5. In the multipara group, the mean depression score decreased from 15.7 ± 4.0 to 7.3 ± 2.3, and anxiety from 15.9 ± 4.0 to 7.9 ± 2.3. A significant decrease in both depression and anxiety scores could be observed in both groups.
CONCLUSION
Although the severity of depression and anxiety varies between multiparous and nulliparous individuals, this study showed that both depression and anxiety scores return to normal values by the end a 3 months follow-up period.
Topics: Anxiety; Depression; Dilatation and Curettage; Female; Humans; Parity; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 35546033
DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i2.11089 -
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services... Apr 2023Children and adolescents who stutter may be at risk of elevated anxiety and depression symptoms, although studies have indicated variability in reported internalizing...
PURPOSE
Children and adolescents who stutter may be at risk of elevated anxiety and depression symptoms, although studies have indicated variability in reported internalizing symptoms in this population. This study considers the association between anxiety and depression symptoms and stuttering, as well as child, family, and contextual factors that may affect this association.
METHOD
Thirty-five school-age children who stutter completed the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale-Short Version. We fitted regression models to examine the association between anxiety and depression symptoms with bullying, stuttering severity, family history of adverse mental health, and age in children who stutter.
RESULTS
Family history of adverse mental health was found to significantly predict anxiety and depression scores. Age also predicted depression scores, with older children reporting higher scores.
CONCLUSIONS
Family history of adverse mental health is associated with higher self-reported internalizing symptoms in children who stutter. The interaction between child, family, and contextual factors may change with age, and this requires further exploration in larger, longitudinal studies. The association between bullying and anxiety scores indicates the importance of anti-bullying initiatives in promoting psychosocial development in school-age children who stutter. This study also highlights the contribution of known risk factors for mental health, such as family history, to variability in symptom reporting.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Stuttering; Depression; Anxiety; Mental Health
PubMed: 36800488
DOI: 10.1044/2022_LSHSS-22-00086 -
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Jun 2023The combination of depression and anxiety is among the most prevalent comorbidities of disorders leading to substantial functional impairment in children and...
The combination of depression and anxiety is among the most prevalent comorbidities of disorders leading to substantial functional impairment in children and adolescents. The network perspective offers a new paradigm for understanding and measuring psychological constructs and their comorbidity. The present study aims to apply network analysis to explore the comorbidity between depression and anxiety symptoms. Specifically, the study examines bridge symptoms, comorbidity, and shortest pathway networks and estimates the impact of the symptoms in the network's connectivity and structure. The findings show that "feeling lonely" and "feeling unloved" are identified as the most central bridge symptoms. The shortest path network suggests that the role of a mixed anxiety-depressive symptomatology, and specific and non-specific symptoms of clinical criteria, such as "worries," "feels depressed," "fears school," and "talks about suicide" could serve as a warning for comorbidity.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Child; Depression; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Comorbidity; Suicide
PubMed: 34797464
DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01286-4 -
Graefe's Archive For Clinical and... Feb 2021To investigate anxiety and depression levels in prosthetic eye-wearing patients using standardized psychometric instruments, to define factors associated with these...
PURPOSE
To investigate anxiety and depression levels in prosthetic eye-wearing patients using standardized psychometric instruments, to define factors associated with these psychological diseases, and to identify a potential healthcare gap.
METHODS
A total of 295 prosthetic eye wearers were screened using the 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) and the 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Scores of GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were correlated with scores of general physical and mental health functioning, vision-related quality of life, appearance-related distress, appearance-related social function, and further biosocial factors.
RESULTS
Five patients (2%) had a pre-diagnosed anxiety disorder, and 20 patients (7%) had a pre-diagnosed depression. However, our screening revealed 26 patients (9%) with anxiety symptoms, 31 patients (11%) with depression symptoms, and 40 patients (14%) suffering from both anxiety and depression symptoms. This underdiagnosing for both anxiety and depression disorders was significant (p < 0.001, respectively). Higher GAD-7 scores were significantly associated with higher PHQ-9 scores, lower appearance-related social function, lower mental health functioning, and female gender (p ≤ 0.021, respectively). Higher PHQ-9 scores were significantly associated with lower physical and mental health functioning, higher educational degree, and non-traumatic eye loss (p ≤ 0.038, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Anxiety and depression disorders seem to be underdiagnosed in prosthetic eye wearers and to have higher incidence compared with the general population. Therefore, a psychometric screening should be routinely implemented in the clinical care. For a successful long-term rehabilitation, integrated care by a multidisciplinary team including ophthalmic plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, ocularists, general practitioners, and psychologists is essential.
Topics: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Female; Humans; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 32870372
DOI: 10.1007/s00417-020-04908-0 -
Supportive Care in Cancer : Official... Jul 2022The impact of prostate cancer on the mental wellbeing of patients is increasingly being appreciated. Two important aspects of this include fear of cancer recurrence... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The impact of prostate cancer on the mental wellbeing of patients is increasingly being appreciated. Two important aspects of this include fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) anxiety. However, their prevalence, severity and associating factors remain poorly understood. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate the current evidence for the prevalence, severity and associating features of PSA anxiety and FCR.
METHODS
A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases was conducted by two independent reviewers. Observational studies measuring FCR and PSA anxiety in prostate cancer using validated measures were included. Outcome measures were prevalence of significant levels, mean scores and significant correlations of FCR and PSA anxiety scores with patient, disease, treatment or other mental health and quality of life outcomes.
RESULTS
One thousand one hundred forty-eight individual records underwent screening with 32 studies included. Median prevalence of significant FCR and PSA anxiety was 16% and 22% respectively across all studies. Longitudinal studies demonstrated severity of both symptoms peaks at diagnosis, with little variability, even several years following this. Evaluating associating factors revealed younger age, generalised quality of life and mental health symptoms to be important factors for both outcomes. Few studies evaluated associations and differences between other patient, disease and treatment characteristics.
CONCLUSION
FCR and PSA anxiety are prominent symptoms for prostate cancer patients and importantly when present, are associated with poorer quality of life and mental health symptoms. Screening for these constructs and referral to appropriate services should form part of routine follow-up care.
Topics: Anxiety; Fear; Humans; Male; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatic Neoplasms; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35106656
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-06876-z -
School anxiety profiles in Spanish adolescents and their differences in psychopathological symptoms.PloS One 2022School anxiety and psychopathological symptoms tend to co-occur across development and persist in adulthood. The present study aimed to determine school anxiety profiles...
School anxiety and psychopathological symptoms tend to co-occur across development and persist in adulthood. The present study aimed to determine school anxiety profiles based on Lang's model of the triple response system (cognitive anxiety, psychophysiological anxiety, and behavioral anxiety) and to identify possible differences between these profiles in psychopathological symptoms (depression, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, somatization, anxiety, psychoticism, obsessive-compulsive, phobic anxiety, and paranoid ideation). The School Anxiety Inventory (SAI) and the Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire (SA-45) were administered to 1525 Spanish students (49% girls) between 15 and 18 years old (M = 16.36, SD = 1.04). Latent Profile Analysis identified four school anxiety profiles: Low School Anxiety, Average School Anxiety, High School Anxiety, and Excessive School Anxiety. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences among the school anxiety profiles in all the psychopathological symptoms examined. Specifically, adolescents with Excessive School Anxiety showed significantly higher levels of the nine psychopathological symptoms than their peers with Average School Anxiety and Low School Anxiety. In addition, the Excessive School Anxiety profile scored significantly higher in phobic anxiety than the High School Anxiety group. These findings allow to conclude that it is necessary enhance well-being and reduce psychopathology of those adolescents who manifest high and very high reactivity in cognitive, psychophysiological, and behavioral anxiety.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Personality; Psychopathology; Schools; Spain; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35061775
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262280 -
The Roles of Anxiety and Self-Esteem in the Risk of Eating Disorders and Compulsive Buying Behavior.International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2022In contemporary society, following the sudden changes that occur, different forms of addiction are becoming popular. Of note are the new addictions and concepts of...
In contemporary society, following the sudden changes that occur, different forms of addiction are becoming popular. Of note are the new addictions and concepts of poly-dependencies that involve common behaviors and trap people who suffering from them in a vicious circle. The main goal of this study is to investigate the possible mediating role that self-esteem had between trait anxiety and two specific new addictions: compulsive buying behavior and eating disorders. Furthermore, it was verified through a multigroup analysis that trait anxiety had a greater effect on eating disorders in a group of compulsive consumers. Three-hundred and fifty-two participants (67.9% women) were enrolled to participate in this study. The results showed that there was a direct effect of trait anxiety on eating disorders and on compulsive buying behavior; self-esteem mediated the effect of trait anxiety on eating disorders and compulsive buying behavior with specific differences; multi-group analysis showed differences in anxiety's effect on eating disorders between compulsive and non-compulsive consumers; the group of compulsive consumers revealed a significant and stronger effect of trait anxiety on eating disorders in all domains identified. Further research is recommended to better understand the predictors of these disorders and to contribute to a more effective preventive intervention.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Compulsive Behavior; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Consumer Behavior
PubMed: 36498319
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316245 -
Nursing Forum Jan 2022Nurses are a critical component of any healthcare system. The novel coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an increased workload for nurses and heightened stress.
BACKGROUND
Nurses are a critical component of any healthcare system. The novel coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an increased workload for nurses and heightened stress.
AIMS
To assess the psychological health over time of nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the factors associated with stress, anxiety, and psychological wellbeing.
METHODS
Nurses enrolled in the study between 2 July and 26 August 2020 andcompleted questionnaires about stress, anxiety, and psychological wellbeing at baseline and at a second time point T2 12 weeks later. A paired sample t-test was used to examine whether changes in stress, anxiety, and psychological wellbeing were significantly different between baseline and T2. Linear regression models examined factors associated with psychological health outcomes.
RESULTS
Of the 600 nurses initially enrolled, 484 (80.7%) completed psychological health measures at T2. Stress, anxiety, and poor psychological wellbeing scores were high at baseline. Unexpectedly, stress and psychological wellbeing significantly improved between baseline and T2, while anxiety levels increased. Younger nurses had higher baseline stress and anxiety scores.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the potential beneficial effect of effective public health management of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses' stress and psychological wellbeing and highlights the importance of longitudinal research to understand psychological health in nurses.
Topics: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Humans; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 34601731
DOI: 10.1111/nuf.12660 -
CBE Life Sciences Education Mar 2021While student stress and anxiety are frequently cited as having negative effects on students' academic performance, the role that instructors can play in mitigating...
While student stress and anxiety are frequently cited as having negative effects on students' academic performance, the role that instructors can play in mitigating these challenges is often underappreciated. We provide summaries of different evidence-based strategies, ranging from changes in instructional strategies to specific classroom interventions, that instructors may employ to address and ameliorate student stress and anxiety. While we focus on students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the strategies we delineate may be more broadly applicable. We begin by highlighting ways in which instructors can learn about and prepare to act to alleviate stress and anxiety. We then discuss how to better connect with students and build an inclusive, equitable, and empowering classroom environment. When coupled with strategies to change student evaluation and assessment, these approaches may collectively reduce student stress and anxiety, as well as improve student performance. We then discuss the roles that instructors may play in empowering students with skills that improve their time management, studying, and approach toward learning, with an eye toward ensuring their success across all their academic endeavors. We conclude by noting areas in which further research is needed to determine best practices for alleviating student stress and anxiety.
Topics: Anxiety; Engineering; Humans; Students; Technology; Universities
PubMed: 33635124
DOI: 10.1187/cbe.20-08-0189