Citation patterns and trends of systematic reviews about mindfulness

ObjectivesWe performed a citation analysis of the literature about mindfulness aimed at describing the most significant topics and the impact of more relevant papers.MethodsWe classified 128 systematic reviews about mindfulness-based intervention retrieved in Scopus according to their object, the population included and the type of mindfulness proposed. The citation counting was reported. The cumulative citation numbers per chronological years and article life were analyzed thorough a linear regression model.Results1) We observed a general increase in the number of reviews published from 2003 to 2016; 2) two reviews collected the 33% of the overall citations; 3) citation counting for clinical and mixed population collected the 90% of total citations; 4) clinical reviews had higher cumulative citation per publication/year growth.ConclusionsAs mindfulness research advances, higher attention should be given to the mechanisms by which mindfulness interventions work so as to provide fruitful insights for future research.     

Cigarette-Derived Nicotine is not a Medicine

Regular smokers feel better when smoking than not smoking, and empirical studies confirm that nicotine reinstatement relieves feelings of stress, depression and anger. These acute mood changes have led to the belief that cigarette-derived nicotine can provide medicinal benefits for smokers. However, prospective studies of adolescents who take up cigarette smoking find that they report increased levels of anxiety, stress and depression. Furthermore, adults who quit smoking report enduring mood improvements. Thus the prospective data shows that the nicotine derived from cigarettes leads to heightened distress. The empirical patterns of mood change reported by regular smokers show why nicotine dependency is psychologically damaging. Regular smokers report average moods when replete with nicotine, but suffer mood deteriorations in-between cigarettes. Thus the supposed mood gains of smoking only represent the temporary relief of withdrawal symptoms. This mood relief becomes conditioned with smoke inhalation, which is why cigarettes are regarded positively by smokers. However, the repetitive experience of irritability and other abstinence symptoms in between cigarettes paradoxically causes smokers to suffer worse daily moods than non-smokers. The stronger the nicotine dependency the greater the mood decrements, helping to explain why disadvantaged individuals often smoke heavily and find quitting difficult. In conclusion, there is no empirical evidence that cigarettes provide medicinal benefits, but extensive data showing that nicotine dependency heightens psychological distress in tobacco smokers.     

Physiological and psychological responses induced by expressing empathy with others

Aim: To assess the physical and mental burdens associated with expressing empathy with another person's stress. Methods: Nine female subjects listened to their partner's negative emotions aroused by a stress task (Stroop color‐word test) under two conditions. In the first, the subject reacted empathetically to their partner (“with empathy”); in the second, the subject offered no response (control). Electroencephalograms and skin temperature of the second finger were recorded during the test. Subjective stress was estimated using a visual analog scale, whereas the level of cognition was expressed on a five‐point ranking. Responses during and after expressions of empathy were examined by comparisons with control or by correlation. Results: Sympathetic nerve tone increased under both conditions (i.e. the skin temperature of the second finger fell). Subjective stress was not recognized by the subject while listening “with empathy”, although it did increase significantly after the subject has listened “with empathy”. Subjective stress was not felt under the control conditions. Right temporal activity while listening showed a significantly positive correlation with the level of cognition of feeling the same emotion as the stressed partner, whereas bilateral frontal activity after listening was significantly negative correlated with the level of cognition of understanding the emotions of the stressed partner. Conclusion: Expressing empathy with another person's negative emotion led to increased physiological activity and subjective stress. Physiological responses to empathy depended on cognition of the different subjective factors. Cognition of sharing negative emotions activated the right temporal region of the brain, whereas cognition of understanding negative emotions inhibited bilateral frontal activities.     

Biochemical Variability in a Team Sports Situation

Abstract

Using 13 members of an amateur softball team during the last seven games of the regular season, associations were determined between overall offensive and defensive performance and levels of serum uric acid (SUA) and cholesterol, and urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline. Skilled players were found to have significantly lower cholesterol and noradrenaline levels than less skilled players whether the games were won or lost. Adrenaline and SUA levels did not differ between the two groups nor between losing or winning outcomes. The elevated cholesterol and noradrenaline levels found among the less skilled players may indicate that although they were stressed by the discrepancy between their expectations and their performance, they nonetheless maintained perceived control over performance because of the social support and reinforcement received from the other players and the coach.     

A Historical View of the Stress Field

Abstract

An analysis is presented of selected aspects of stress theory and research in biology and medicine, both before and after the introduction of Selye's stress formulations, which have been of major importance in the development and popularity of this research area. An attempt is made to explore some possible sources of present confusion and controversy in the stress field, with a view to the development of new research strategies that may enable us to clarify, update, and revise stress concepts and to facilitate future progress. In particular, it is suggested that an experimental reevaluation of the concept of the nonspecificity of pituitary-adrenal cortical response is a matter of particular strategic importance, if we are to move out of the present prolonged period of stalemate and confusion over stress theory and terminology. Recent experimental studies which suggest that the nonspecificity concept may have been applied erroneously to lower level physiological mechanisms, rather than to higher level psychological processes, are reviewed. The possible implications of this development are discussed in terms of clarifying current concepts and providing guidelines for future lines of approach in stress research.     

Behavioral Treatment of Hypertensive Heart Disease in African Americans: Rationale and Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

African Americans experience higher morbidity and mortality than Whites do as a result of hypertension and associated cardiovascular disease. Chronic psychosocial stress has been considered an important contributing factor to these high rates. The authors describe the rationale and design for a planned randomized controlled trial comparing Transcendental Meditation, a stress-reduction technique, with lifestyle education in the treatment of hypertension and hypertensive heart disease in urban African Americans. They pretested 170 men and women aged 20 to 70 years over a 3-session baseline period, with posttests at 6 months. Outcomes included clinic and ambulatory blood pressure, quality of life, left ventricular mass measured by M-mode echocardiography, left ventricular diastolic function measured by Doppler, and carotid atherosclerosis measured by β-mode ultrasound. This trial was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that a selected stress reduction technique is effective in reducing hypertension and hypertensive heart disease in African Americans.