Different types of circulatory responses to mental tasks

The present study investigated the circulatory responses to two mental tasks. Forty males and females performed a mental subtraction task and a color-word task. During each task, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance were measured as cardiovascular indices for a 5-min baseline, a 5-min task period, and a 10-min recovery period. As for the results, three hemodynamic reactivity patterns were verified: Pattern C, characterized by increased cardiac output and decreased total peripheral resistance; Pattern M, characterized by a moderate increase in both cardiac output and total peripheral resistance; and Pattern V, characterized by increased total peripheral resistance and decreased cardiac output. Also, four response types were found among all subjects: Type 1: cardiovascular responses showed the cardiac pattern for both tasks; Type 2: cardiovascular responses changed between the cardiac pattern and the mixed pattern with a change of tasks; Type 3: cardiovascular responses showed the mixed pattern for both tasks; Type 4: cardiovascular responses changed between the mixed pattern and the vascular pattern with a change of tasks. The comparison between types showed that Type 3 and Type 4 had an elevation in their blood pressure by an increased total peripheral resistance. On the other hand, Type 1 and Type 2 tended to have an increased blood pressure by a rise in their cardiac output. And Type 3 and Type 4 showed higher blood pressure and higher scores on the Type A behavior pattern questionnaire. In conclusion, at least four types of circulation response to the mental tasks existed, with Type 3 and Type 4 having higher blood pressure responses and tending to have an elevated blood pressure by a rise in their total peripheral resistance.     

Monitoring Cognitive and Emotional Processes Through Pupil and Cardiac Response During Dynamic Versus Logical Task

The paper deals with the links between physiological measurements and cognitive and emotional functioning. As long as the operator is a key agent in charge of complex systems, the definition of metrics able to predict his performance is a great challenge. The measurement of the physiological state is a very promising way but a very acute comprehension is required; in particular few studies compare autonomous nervous system reactivity according to specific cognitive processes during task performance and task related psychological stress is often ignored. We compared physiological parameters recorded on 24 healthy subjects facing two neuropsychological tasks: a dynamic task that require problem solving in a world that continually evolves over time and a logical task representative of cognitive processes performed by operators facing everyday problem solving. Results showed that the mean pupil diameter change was higher during the dynamic task; conversely, the heart rate was more elevated during the logical task. Finally, the systolic blood pressure seemed to be strongly sensitive to psychological stress. A better taking into account of the precise influence of a given cognitive activity and both workload and related task-induced psychological stress during task performance is a promising way to better monitor operators in complex working situations to detect mental overload or pejorative stress factor of error.     

Predicting Adolescent Anxiety Ratings From Infant Behavioral Style in Response to Expectancy Violation

Nearly 15 years after infants participated in an operant conditioning task, contact was once again established with the former participants to determine relations between infant behavior in response to expectancy violation during mobile conjugate reinforcement and reported anxiety ratings during adolescence. Shifting infants from a high-stimulation reinforcement contingency to a low-stimulation contingency violated expectancy during the learning task, which elicited negative reactivity, crying, in a number of infants. Original participants and 1 parent were later asked to complete a behavioral assessment questionnaire. Results were consistent with studies that have established relations between early negative reactivity and later internalizing behavior. Infant negative reactivity and poor environmental regulation together significantly contributed to the prediction of higher ratings on a later anxiety scale. Also, infant fear and crying were related and higher fear predicted higher anxiety. Findings also suggested fear is a distinct negative emotional reaction and even early in development can be differentiated from other negative reactivity styles.     

Measuring outcomes in plastic surgery: body image and quality of life in abdominoplasty patients

Abdominoplasty is an increasingly common aesthetic surgery procedure that has yet to be evaluated using the most recently developed and psychometrically sophisticated measures of body image and quality-of-life outcomes. This study prospectively evaluated 30 consecutive female abdominoplasty patients, preoperatively and postoperatively, using measures of body image, psychological investment in appearance, and general psychosocial functioning. One-way repeated-measures (pretest versus posttest) analyses of variance revealed significant positive postsurgical changes on the Appearance Evaluation subscale of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. Mean scores for the questionnaire's Body Areas Satisfaction Scale improved postoperatively (p < 0.001). Scores for the Body Exposure and Sexual Relations Questionnaire also improved significantly (p < 0.001) postoperatively. These findings indicate significant improvements in body image outcome, including positive changes in patients' evaluations of their overall appearance, their average body image dissatisfaction, and their experiences of self-consciousness and avoidance of body exposure during sexual activities. As predicted, no changes were seen on any measure of psychological investment in appearance or on patients' reports of general psychosocial functioning (self-esteem, satisfaction with life, or social anxiety).     

A tentative proposal on physiological polymorphism and its experimental approaches

The purpose of this paper is to propose a tentative concept of physiological polymorphism and experimental approaches to it. We think that the concept of physiological polymorphism is to categorize the diversified phenomena into various types with statistical methods and to explain the differences among the categorized types from the viewpoint of their physiological mechanisms. Furthermore, it is necessary to take into consideration the fact that physiological polymorphism is observed as a phenotype, and the phenotype results from a genotype modified by culture and environment. As an experimental approach, we studied the effects of gustatory stimulation by chocolate on the activities of the prefrontal area and found that the activities were increased in some cases and decreased in other cases. Therefore, to begin with, when we divided them into an "increasing group" and a "decreasing group," we found that the increasing group had many subjects of Type B and High anxiety, and the decreasing group had many subjects of Type A and Normal anxiety. By the chi-square test for independence, it was found that the ratio of "increase" and "decrease" was related to the trait anxiety and type A personality, respectively. Next, we divided the activities of the prefrontal area into Type A and Type B, as well as a high anxiety group and a low anxiety group. As a result, the Type B and high anxiety groups showed significantly increased activities, while the Type A and normal anxiety groups showed no changes in their activities. Consequently, this data enabled us to explain the difference in activities of the prefrontal area from the viewpoint of personality characteristics. To conclude, we were able to categorize diversified changes in the prefrontal area into certain types when a gustatory stimulus was applied, and to explain them by using personality characteristics (State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Type A behavioral pattern) that are commonly known for their reflection of genotypes.     

Extraversion is linked to volume of the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala

Neuroticism and extraversion are personality factors associated with the vulnerability for developing depression and anxiety disorders, and are possibly differentially related to brain structures implicated in the processing of emotional information and the generation of mood states. To date, studies on brain morphology mainly focused on neuroticism, a dimension primarily related to negative affect, yielding conflicting findings concerning the association with personality, partially due to methodological issues and variable population samples under study. Recently, extraversion, a dimension primarily related to positive affect, has been repeatedly inversely related to with symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. In the present study, high resolution structural T1-weighted MR images of 65 healthy adults were processed using an optimized Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) approach. Multiple regression analyses were performed to test for associations of neuroticism and extraversion with prefrontal and subcortical volumes. Orbitofrontal and right amygdala volume were both positively related to extraversion. Extraversion was differentially related to volume of the anterior cingulate cortex in males (positive) and females (negative). Neuroticism scores did not significantly correlate with these brain regions. As extraversion is regarded a protective factor for developing anxiety disorders and depression and has been related to the generation of positive affect, the present results indicate that the reduced likelihood of developing affective disorders in individuals high on extraversion is related to modulation of emotion processing through the orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala.     

Type A personality as a mediator of stress and strain in employed women

A survey of 136 employed women was conducted. Type A personality, demographic variables, job characteristics and attitudes, health habits, and physical and psychological symptoms of strain were assessed. Average Type A score was higher than the normative mean (57th percentile). Compared with Type Bs, the Type A women had been in their current jobs for a shorter time, worked longer hours, and were less satisfied with their jobs. None of the health habit behaviors was related to Type A score. Small but substantial proportions of the sample complained that they often or always experienced a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. The former were not related to Type A score, but Type A women did tend to report more nervousness in all situations and more dysphoria of all kinds at work. Correlations between job dissatisfaction and rated job stress with symptoms were calculated separately for Type As and Type Bs. Substantial correlations were found for the Type As but not the Type Bs. Dissatisfaction and stress were related to more frequent symptom complaints in the Type As. Correlations of health habits and symptoms were also computed for Type As and Bs separately. Implications for future research are discussed.     

Measuring and Validating a General Cancer Predisposition Perception Scale: An Adaptation of the Revised-IPQ-Genetic Predisposition Scale

Background

Illness perceptions are linked to individual help-seeking and preventive behaviors. Previous illness perception studies have identified five dimensions of illness-related experience and behaviour. The Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) for genetic predisposition (IPQ-R-GP) was developed to measure illness perceptions in those genetically-predisposed to blood disease. We adapted the IPQ-R-GP to measure perceptions of generalized cancer predisposition. This paper describes the development and validation of the Cancer Predisposition Perception Scale (CPPS).

Methods

The draft CPPS scale was first administered to 167 well Hepatitis B carriers and 123 other healthy individuals and the factor structure was examined using Exploratory Factor Analysis. Then the factor structure was confirmed in a second sample comprising 148 healthy controls, 150 smokers and 152 passive smokers using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

Results

Six-factors comprising 26 items provided optimal fit by eigen and scree-plot methods, accounting for 58.9% of the total variance. CFA indicated good fit of the six-factor model after further excluding three items. The six factors, Emotional representation (5 items), Illness coherence (4 items), Treatment control (3 items), Consequences (5 items), Internal locus of control (2 items) and External locus of control (4 items) demonstrated adequate-to-good subscale internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.63–0.90). Divergent validity was suggested by low correlations with optimism, self-efficacy, and scales for measuring physical and psychological health symptoms.

Conclusion

The CPPS appears to be a valid measure of perceived predisposition to generic cancer risks and can be used to examine cancer-risk-related cognitions in individuals at higher and lower cancer risk.     

The measurement of subjective response to stressful life events

A scale was developed to assess subjective responses to stressful life events. Over 400 subjects (divided between psychiatric patients and nonpatients) completed the 14-item response-to-stress scale for events perceived as personally important. Optimal scale item weights were assigned on the basis of Nishisato's dual scaling procedure. Four items, typically associated with responses to stress, did not contribute to the item-weight solution and were dropped from the scale. Factor analyses showed that responses to stress loaded on one bipolar factor composed of four emotional distress items and six control-management items. In contrast to previous methods developed to assess response to stress, there was less than 4% overlap between the subjective response to stress mean scores and the total number of events endorsed by each subject. Also, the correlations between simple event counts and symptom index scores were smaller than those between the subjective stress-response scores and the symptom variable. The influence of demographic factors on both the patients' and nonpatients' responses to stress were analyzed.     

A cross-cultural study of depressive symptomology

Black (N = 26), white (N = 26) and Overseas Chinese (N = 32) college students were surveyed with Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). With the exception of two items where marginally significant differences were found, there were no quantitative differences in the results across these ethnic groups. Inter-item analyses, factor analyses and comparison of factor profiles indicated that the items clustered in different configurations for the three groups. The factors contributing the most variances differed in their item contents across the ethnic groups: a mixture of affective and somatic complaints characterizes the black group; existential and cognitive concerns characterize the white group and somatic complaints characterize the Overseas Chinese group.Discussion was focused on issues concerning cultural conception of psychological difficulties, communication styles used to communicate these difficulties and situational variables affecting performances on psychological diagnostic tests.     

肠癌湿热内蕴证量化辨证标准的研究

目的：建立肠癌湿热内蕴证辨证量化标准。方法：在对311例肠癌患者进行临床流行病学调查的基础上,组织专家组对其进行辨证,根据各相关中医症状在湿热内蕴证组和非湿热内蕴证组中出现状况的差异对这些症状进行赋分;根据专家辩证的结果,应用ROC（receiver operating characteristic curve）曲线的方法选择最佳诊断阈值从而建立量化辨证标准;以专家组统一辨证作为＂金标准＂对建立的量化标准进行回顾性检验;结果：我们结合专家意见,分析了所有可能与湿热内蕴证相关的中医症状,确定身重等20个中医症状为肠癌湿热内蕴证的候选相关因素;经列联表分析,尿黄、黄疸等5项中医症状在湿热内蕴证和非湿热内蕴证中出现的差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,将这5项中医症状作为logistic回归分析的变量进行筛选,最后确定尿黄、黄疸、苔黄、厚、腻为肠癌湿热内蕴证的相关中医症状;应用条件概率方法换算,这五个症状的赋分为9、9、8、8、9;经ROC方法分析,确定量化辨证标准为≥9分;回顾性检验的敏感度、特异度、准确度均在75%以上,阳性似然比4.32;结论：建立的量化标准的特点是：①较符合肠癌的临床特点;②符合中医辨证的临床实际;③数理统计方法的运用比较合理。     

Differences in reactivity of antibodies to active versus inactive PLTP significantly impacts PLTP measurement

Due to conflicting reports concerning the relationship between phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity and mass in plasma, the protein concentration and activity of PLTP were assessed in fractions isolated by fast protein liquid chromatography from the plasma of healthy normolipidemic individuals. Using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, PLTP was identified by Western blot analysis after both SDS and non-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and quantitated by dot blot. PLTP activity was determined using a labeled vesicle/HDL assay. PLTP mass corresponded substantially with the activity distribution using the polyclonal antibody on dot blot with some inactive PLTP being present. However, the monoclonal antibody preferentially reacted with inactive PLTP, primarily associated with LDL and large HDL, overestimating inactive PLTP. Western blot analysis of non-denaturing gradient gels, using the polyclonal antibody, indicated that active PLTP was associated with numerous discrete HDL subpopulations (7.6-12.0 nm) with the major portion being 9-12 nm. Inactive PLTP was associated with particles of 12 to >17 nm. The monoclonal antibody demonstrated a different pattern of reactivity on gradient gels, showing strong reactivity with the inactive PLTP in particles of 12 to >17 nm, but less reactivity with particles of 7.6-12 nm. The differences in reactivities of antibodies for active versus inactive PLTP can account for some of the discrepancies reported in the literature regarding the relationship between PLTP mass and activity.     

某军校2014级与2010级新生16PF的比较分析

目的:比较某军校2014级与2010级本科新生以及14级新生内部的人格特点,为改善和提高军校的教育管理水平提供有效依据。方法:对2个年级新生进行16PF测试,对测查结果进行比较分析。结果:2014级新生在B、C、E、G、H、L、O、Q1、Q3、Q4、适应与焦虑性、内向与外向、心理健康因素、专业成就个性因素和新环境成长能力因素的得分与2010级新生得分有显著差异(P0.01)。从效果量角度分析,两级新生在A乐群性,适应与焦虑性,专业成就个性因素以及新环境成长能力因素等方面得分差异的效果量d大于0.2。2014级本科新生在A、B、C、E、I、L、M、O、Q1、Q2、Q3、Q4、感情用事与安详机警型、怯懦与果断型、心理健康因素、专业成就个性因素、创造能力个性因素以及新环境成长能力因素方面以及适应与焦虑性的得分与士官新生存在显著差异(P0.01)。从效果量角度分析,14级本科新生与士官新生在B,E,I,L,M,O,Q2,Q4,适应与焦虑性以及心理健康因素等方面得分差异的效果量d大于0.2,在数字搜索成绩,A,Q1,感情用事与安详机警型以及怯懦与果断型等方面得分差异的效果量d大于0.5。结论:14级不同身份学生存在各自特点,军对院校在对其教育管理上要注重方式方法,因材施教,合理引导,培养合格的军校学员,为我国培养优秀的军官。     

Individual differences in preschoolers' salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity: Relations to temperament and maladjustment

We examined the relations of 84 preschoolers' (43 boys; mean age = 54 months) situational stress reactivity to their observed emotions and mothers' reports of temperament and adjustment. Salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) were collected prior to, and following, a frustrating task. Children's anger, sadness, and positive affect were measured, and mothers reported on preschoolers' dispositional emotionality, regulation, impulsivity, and problem behaviors. Forty-seven percent of children had an increase in sAA and 52% had an increase in cortisol following the challenging task. On average, sAA levels showed the predicted pattern of rise following the frustrating task, followed by return to baseline. For cortisol, there was a mean increase from pre-task to 40 min post-test. sAA reactivity was associated with relatively low levels of dispositional anger and impulsivity and relatively high regulation, particularly for girls. sAA reactivity also was related to low externalizing problems for girls, but not boys. Although cortisol reactivity was unrelated to children's emotions and maladjustment, it was positively related to mothers' reports of regulation. The findings suggest that sAA reactivity in response to a frustrating social task may reflect girls' constrained behavior.     

The type A behavior pattern: a critical assessment

Research on the Type A (coronary-prone)behavior pattern has proliferated at a rapid rate in recent years. With the cardiovascular risk value of Type A behavior well established, many studies have focused on reliability, validity, and other essentially psychological and psychometric issues. These studies are evaluated, along with the fundamental assumptions underlying the construct. Further research is suggested which examines the comparative predictive validity of Type A behavior and its defining criteria across diverse populations and the interaction of stress and behavior pattern.     

Type A behaviour pattern: a concept revisited.

It is generally accepted that the type A behaviour pattern is a risk factor in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Type A people have been characterized as hard-driving, competitive, aggressive and hurried. A number of investigators have attempted to correlate these facets of type A behaviour with increased risks of CAD. However, there have been conflicting results, primarily owing to differences in methods and CAD outcomes and inconsistencies associated with measuring the type A behaviour pattern. As a result, researchers have begun to focus on subcomponents of the type A behaviour pattern, particularly hostility and anger, that appear to be more reliable predictors of CAD outcome. A reconceptualization of the type A behaviour pattern is required.     

Prevalence of psychological distress in elderly hypertension patients in primary care

Background

Recent guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention advocate the importance of psychological risk factors, as they contribute to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. However, most previous research on psychological distress and cardiovascular factors has focused on selected populations with cardiovascular disease.

Aim

The primary aim was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and Type D personality in elderly primary care patients with hypertension. Secondary aim was to examine the relation between elevated systolic blood pressure and depression, anxiety, and Type D personality.

Design and Setting

A cross-sectional study in primary care practices located in the south of the Netherlands.

Method

Primary care hypertension patients (N = 605), between 60 and 85 years (45 % men, mean age = 70 ± 6.6), were recruited for this study. All patients underwent a structured interview including validated self-report questionnaires to assess depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and Type D personality (DS14) as well as blood pressure assessment.

Results and Conclusion

Depression was prevalent in 5 %, anxiety in 5 %, and Type D personality in 8 %. None of the distress measures were associated with elevated systolic blood pressure of >160 mmHg (all p-values >0.05). This study showed no relation between psychological distress and elevated systolic blood pressure in elderly primary care patients with hypertension.     

Development of a Short Version of MSQOL-54 Using Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory

BackgroundThe Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54, 52 items grouped in 12 subscales plus two single items) is the most used MS specific health related quality of life inventory.ObjectiveTo develop a shortened version of the MSQOL-54.MethodsMSQOL-54 dimensionality and metric properties were investigated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch modelling (Partial Credit Model, PCM) on MSQOL-54s completed by 473 MS patients. Their mean age was 41 years, 65% were women, and median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 2.0 (range 0–9.5). Differential item functioning (DIF) was evaluated for gender, age and EDSS. Dimensionality of the resulting short version was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and CFA. Cognitive debriefing of the short instrument (vs. the original) was then performed on 12 MS patients.ResultsCFA of MSQOL-54 subscales showed that the data fitted the overall model well. Two subscales (Role Limitations—Physical, Role Limitations—Emotional) did not fit the PCM, and were removed; two other subscales (Health Perceptions, Social Function) did not fit the model, but were retained as single items. Sexual Satisfaction (single-item subscale) was also removed. The resulting MSQOL-29 consisted of 25 items grouped in 7 subscales, plus 4 single items. PCM fit statistics were within the acceptability range for all MSQOL-29 items except one which had significant DIF by age. EFA and CFA indicated adequate fit to the original two-factor (Physical and Mental Health Composites) hypothesis. Cognitive debriefing confirmed that MSQOL-29 was acceptable and had lost no key items.ConclusionsThe proposed MSQOL-29 is 50% shorter than MSQOL-54, yet preserves key quality of life dimensions. Prospective validation on a large, independent MS patient sample is ongoing.     

Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale Form C in a Non-Western Culture

Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (MHLC-C) was designed to investigate health-related control beliefs of persons with an existing medical condition. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of this instrument in a culture characterized by external control beliefs and learned helplessness—contrary to the societal context of original test development. Altogether, 374 Hungarian patients with cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders were enrolled in the study. Besides the MHLC-C, instruments measuring general control beliefs, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and health behaviors were also administered to evaluate the validity of the scale. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques were used to investigate the factor structure of the scale. Our results showed that the Hungarian adaptation of the instrument had a slightly different structure than the one originally hypothesized: in the present sample, a three-factor structure emerged where the items of the Doctors and the Others subscales loaded onto a single common component. Internal reliability of all three subscales was adequate (alphas between .71 and .79). Data concerning the instrument''s validity were comparable with previous results from Western countries. These findings may suggest that health locus of control can be construed very similarly to Western countries even in a post-communist society—regardless of the potential differences in general control beliefs.     

Response to Propranolol and Diazepam in Somatic and Psychic Anxiety

A total of 12 chronically anxious psychiatric outpatients were treated with racemic propranolol (Inderal), diazepam (Valium), and placebo for one week each, using a balanced cross-over experimental design. Six patients had predominantly somatic anxiety, complaining mostly of bodily symptoms, and six had mainly psychic anxiety, complaining primarily of psychological symptoms. Clinical ratings of anxiety were made by patient and psychiatrist after each treatment. Though diazepam was in general more effective than propranolol or placebo in relieving anxiety, propranolol was more effective than placebo in patients with somatic anxiety but not in those with psychic anxiety. We suggest that propranolol should be reserved for patients whose anxiety symptoms are mainly somatic.