Personality traits of agreeableness and extraversion are associated with ADH4 variation.

BACKGROUND: Personality traits are associated with substance dependence (SD); genetic factors may influence both. Strong associations between ADH4 variation and SD have been reported. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ADH4 variation and personality traits in the present study. METHODS: We assessed dimensions of the five-factor model of personality in 243 subjects with SD (175 European Americans [EAs] and 68 African Americans [AAs]) and 296 healthy control subjects (256 EAs and 40 AAs). We also genotyped 7 ADH4 markers (spanning the locus) and 38 unlinked ancestry-informative markers in these subjects. The relationships between the diplotypes, alleles, and genotypes at ADH4 and personality traits were examined using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Generally, SD patients, older individuals, and male subjects scored higher on neuroticism and lower on other personality factors. Personality factors were associated with the diplotypes. The allele A or genotype A/A of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)6 (rs1800759 at the gene promoter) was significantly associated with agreeableness scores. There were associations between extraversion and SNP1 (hcv2033010 at the 3' end) and SNP2 (rs1042364 in exon 9) in subjects with higher conscientiousness scores. CONCLUSIONS: The personality traits of agreeableness and extraversion are related to ADH4 polymorphism. Among the ADH4 markers that appear to predispose to certain personality traits, the functional variant rs1800759 (SNP6) in the promoter region is most important. We conclude that personality traits and SD have a partially overlapping genetic basis.     

小学生个性影响因素研究

【目的】分析影响儿童个性的有关因素，为培养儿童的健全人格提供依据。【方法】对西安市所属的七个区各随机抽取一所学校，每所学校抽取四、五、六年级各两个班．采用龚耀先修订的艾森克个性问卷（Eysenck Personality Questionnaire，EPQ）（儿童用）和自编的个人一般情况调查表，对2000名儿童进行调查。将调查所得数椐进行多元逐步回归分析。【结果】影响小学生个性精神性（Psy choticism，P）的因素有性别、是否班干部、父母关系；影响内外向（extrovision and intrnision，E）的因素有性别、父母关系、是否班干部、住所、母亲文化程度、所在学校；影响情绪稳定性（nearoticism，N）、掩饰性（lie,L）的均为性别、父母关系2个因素。【结论】儿童个性受家庭、学校环境等的多重影响。家长、教师应创造良好的家庭、社会环境，保持情绪乐观、稳定，避免对子女儿童的负面影响，以利于其个性向积极方向发展。     

Differences between urban and rural suicides

As part of a nation-wide psychological autopsy we examined the differences in DSM-III-R mental disorders, recent life events and other characteristics between urban (n=143) and rural (n=85) completed suicides in a random sample of 229 cases from the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland for the period 1987-1988. Psychoactive substance use disorders (48% vs. 34%), cluster B personality disorders (24% vs. 9%) and psychiatric comorbidity (66% vs. 42%) were found more commonly among urban than rural suicides. Urban suicides were also more often reported to be preceded by a recent separation (25% vs. 8%), whereas rural suicide victims tended to have lacked a close companion of the opposite sex (36% vs. 18%) and to have had physical disorders (56% vs. 40%). Overall, urban and rural suicides may vary with regard to the prevalence of some mental disorders, their comorbidity, and physical disorders, as well as the preceding life situation. This variation may also imply the need for differences in strategies for suicide prevention in each setting.     

Causality Between the Amplitude and Frequency of Cardiac Oscillations

Using an information-theoretic approach, causality between the systolic amplitude in blood pressure and the frequency of the heart beat was analyzed. Blood pressure and ECG were noninvasively recorded in young, healthy subjects. Three successive measurements were performed: during spontaneous breathing and during paced respiration—at frequencies both higher and lower than that of spontaneous respiration. We demonstrate that the amplitude and frequency of the cardiac rhythm are synchronized for most of the time. The synchronization is stronger during paced respiration at a frequency lower than that of spontaneous breathing. Episodes where the cardiac frequency was driven by the systolic pressure were also detected during slow, paced respiration.     

现代中医药发展战略思考

建国几十年来，由于党和政府的大力提倡和扶持，中医药得到了很大发展，但相对于西医的发展势头仍显不足。尤其是近10多年来，由于现代科技及现代管理学的有力推动，西医获得了突飞猛进的发展，然而，中医却由于种种原因发展相对缓慢。在这各行各业竞相发展的现代社会，中医要生存，就蓝须发展，中医要发展，就妊须总揽全局，从战略高度克服中医药发展的各种不利因素，充分发挥各方面的有利条件。     

初诊高血压病患者心理、个性和行为特征对控烟效果的影响

目的 观察初诊高血压病患者心理、个性和行为特征对控烟效果的影响.方法 对84例初诊高血压病吸烟患者行控烟治疗,连续3个月后评价控烟效果,并采用A型行为问卷、艾森克个性问卷(EPQ)及症状自评量表(SCL-90)对其进行测评.结果 控烟效果佳者38例,占45.24%;控烟效果差者46例,占54.76%.前者A型行为问卷、EPQ问卷(除外内外向性维度)评分均显著优于后者(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);SCL-90除偏执、阴性项目外,其余项目评分均显著优于后者(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).结论 A型行为类型、神经质和精神病性人格特征及负性情绪是影响控烟效果的重要因素,对此类患者实施控烟的同时予以针对性心理干预可望获得事半功倍的效果.     

Preference awareness education as stress management training for academic staff

This paper describes a response directed stress management intervention (SMI) in the form of a Jungian based preference awareness education (PAE). It uses the Insights System of personality types to increase awareness of behaviour and communication preferences of self and different others. Eighteen self‐recruited academic employees participated for 7 weeks and received feedback about work preferences and personality type. The aim was to reduce perceptions of stress and interpersonal stress and to increase feelings of job satisfaction and interpersonal satisfaction. The data were analysed using two‐tailed t‐tests. No significant findings were observed for the total sample after training, however, interesting results were found for certain sub‐sample groups. Extravert‐thinking types, reported decreased stress levels (p > 0.018), and participants suffering high stress/interpersonal stress pre‐PAE, reported decreased stress levels (p > 0.010–0.018). Participants suffering low job/interpersonal satisfaction pre‐PAE, reported increased job satisfaction (p > 0.015–0.016). These results suggest that individuals who report high levels of stress and dissatisfaction are most likely to benefit from this type of intervention. Future PAE research might: (a) use pilot studies to meet the intervention preferences of employees that are reluctant to participate in SMIs; (b) include a wait‐list control group; use: (c) a follow up education/measures; (d) and organizational level (stressor directed) SMIs at the same time as response directed initiatives. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.