Wavefront sensorless adaptive optics fluorescence biomicroscope for in vivo retinal imaging in mice

Cellular-resolution in vivo fluorescence imaging is a valuable tool for longitudinal studies of retinal function in vision research. Wavefront sensorless adaptive optics (WSAO) is a developing technology that enables high-resolution imaging of the mouse retina. In place of the conventional method of using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor to measure the aberrations directly, WSAO uses an image quality metric and a search algorithm to drive the shape of the adaptive element (i.e. deformable mirror). WSAO is a robust approach to AO and it is compatible with a compact, low-cost lens-based system. In this report, we demonstrated a hill-climbing algorithm for WSAO with a variable focus lens and deformable mirror for non-invasive in vivo imaging of EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) labelled ganglion cells and microglia cells in the mouse retina.OCIS codes: (170.4460) Ophthalmic optics and devices, (010.1080) Active or adaptive optics, (170.0110) Imaging systems, (170.4470) Ophthalmology     

Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of a New Self-Efficacy Scale and Its Relationship to Treatment Outcome in Social Anxiety Disorder

The concept of self-efficacy as applied to individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) represents a person's confidence in being able to convey a favorable impression to others. The current study investigated the psychometric properties and clinical usefulness of a new measure called the Self-Efficacy for Social Situations (SESS) Scale. Results provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the SESS in a clinical sample of individuals with SAD. Pre- to posttreatment change in self-efficacy was a significant and independent predictor of change in social anxiety symptoms. Implications for treatment are discussed.     

Psychometric Properties of a Behavioral Test of Contamination-Related Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms

In this study, we evaluated the psychometric properties of a Behavioral Approach Task (BAT) for contamination-related obsessive–compulsive symptoms. We adapted the BAT from Cougle et al’s. (2007) design, which comprised three tests corresponding to three different contamination-related stimuli and a hierarchy of six steps of approach within each test. We obtained anxiety and disgust ratings at each BAT step. Participants with low or high contamination fear completed self-report measures of obsessive–compulsive symptoms and depression before completing the BAT. Internal consistency of the BAT was high. Furthermore, the BAT demonstrated good convergent validity with a self-report measure of contamination-related obsessive–compulsive symptoms. The BAT also had sound discriminant validity with self-report measures of depression and of obsessive–compulsive symptoms other than contamination. Our study suggests that the use of this test as an observable measure of contamination-related fears is not only psychometrically sound but also easy to administer.     

Responses to Positive Affect: A Self-Report Measure of Rumination and Dampening

Rumination in response to dysphoric moods has been linked to the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms; however, responses to positive moods have received less attention despite the theoretical roles of both positive and negative affect in mood disorders. The purpose of the present study was to develop a self-report measure of ruminative and dampening Responses to Positive Affect (RPA), which we called the RPA Questionnaire. In two psychometric studies, the three subscales of the RPA (Dampening, Self-focused positive rumination, and Emotion-focused positive rumination) demonstrated acceptable structural validity, internal consistency, and preliminary evidence of convergent and incremental validity with concurrent measures of self-esteem, depressive rumination, and depressive and manic symptoms among undergraduates. The present results suggest that future research on mood disorders would benefit from measuring responses to both negative and positive moods.     

Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms and the Expression of Anger

The present study investigates the association between Obsessive–Compulsive (OC) symptoms and the expression of anger in a sample of 131 undergraduates. Participants were divided into two groups based on their self-reported OC symptoms and compared on their tendency to suppress anger inwardly, express anger outwardly, and control their anger. In addition, the associations between anger and specific OC symptoms were investigated. Results indicated that individuals high in OC symptoms tended to experience more anger, be more likely to suppress it inwardly, and report more difficulty controlling their anger than individuals low in OC symptoms. However, these differences appear to be attributable to the presence of depressive symptoms in the participants with high levels of OC symptoms. In addition, OC checking was found to be weakly associated with anger independent of depressive symptoms. These results were discussed within the framework of the cognitive theory of obsessive compulsive disorder.     

Interpretation Bias and Social Anxiety

Socially anxious (SA) individuals interpret ambiguous social events negatively. It is not clear, however, whether this bias is due to general distress (e.g., depression and general anxiety) or level of social anxiety. In the current study we conducted two experiments examining interpretation bias in SA individuals using videos. Each video involved an actor or actress who approached the camera and commented on some aspect of the individual’s belongings or actions. Twenty-four (24) videos were ambiguous (e.g., “That is an interesting shirt you have on”), 24 were positive (e.g., “I really like your shoes”), and 24 were negative (e.g., “That is a horrible hair cut”). Participants were instructed to rate the emotional valance of each video as to how they would feel in that situation. SA individuals rated the valance of ambiguous social interactions as more negative than did nonanxious individuals. Moreover, SA individuals maintained this bias when compared to a high trait anxious and dysphoric control group. These findings demonstrate the unique role of social anxiety in the biased interpretation of ambiguous social interactions.     

Self-Focused Attention and Symptoms Across Menstrual Cycle Phases in Women With and Without Premenstrual Disorders

Premenstrual disorders, which include premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome involve cyclically occurring affective, behavioral, and physical symptoms. Despite high comorbidity rates and symptom overlap with mood and anxiety disorders, there has been a lack of research investigating psychological constructs that contribute to etiology and/or maintenance of premenstrual disorders. The current study hypothesized that self-focused attention (SFA) on emotional and somatic symptoms may contribute to premenstrual distress. Participants were 61 women, including 29 women with a premenstrual disorder (PMD subgroup) and 32 controls. Participants rated symptoms and SFA responses each day for 30 days. Findings indicated that women in the PMD group reported greater use of SFA responses to symptoms compared to the control group, and during the premenstrual compared to intermenstrual phases. SFA partially mediated the relationship between menstrual cycle phase and symptoms. The interaction between physiological menstrual cycle changes and psychological contributions provides a more comprehensive explanation for premenstrual disorders, and future research is warranted to clarify this relationship.     

The clinical utility of the geriatric anxiety inventory in older adults with cognitive impairment

The assessment of anxiety can be difficult in older populations. In particular, the assessment of anxiety in long-term care settings can be problematic, because patients may be experiencing some level of cognitive impairment as well as co-existing medical conditions. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) is a brief, 20-item anxiety screening tool validated previously in community and outpatient samples of older adults. In this series of studies the predictive validity of the instrument in residential care settings is examined. Results indicated that classification of presence or absence of anxiety symptoms by the GAI was not significantly associated with an individual's cognitive status, in either community dwelling or residential care samples. In addition, data supported the predictive validity of the GAI in residential care settings with respect to diagnosis of anxiety disorders. Thus the GAI may be a useful measure to assess anxiety symptoms in residential care.     

Attitudes toward oral contraceptive use among women of reproductive age: a systematic review

Despite the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (OCs), their popularity differs across populations. Attitudes are a significant factor that influences OC use. This report systematically reviews 28 studies on attitudes toward OC use among women. The Matrix Method was used to review the literature. Affective, cognitive, and behavioral components of attitudes were analyzed, including satisfaction, safety, fear/anxiety, and inconvenience. In general, negative attitudes still prevail across countries. Positive attitudes are more prevalent in Europe. Effective counseling and education are needed for those negatively disposed toward OC use. For favorable users, compliance strategies for longer continuation with OC regimen must be provided.     

Action of Progesterone and Progesterone Metabolites in Menstrual-Cycle–Related Disorders

Progesterone and progesterone metabolites are important modulators of central nervous system function through their interactions with the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A receptor. GABA, neurosteroids, and other modulators of GABA_A, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol, typically inhibit neuronal excitability. The resulting anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative, and anesthetic effects are involved in mood, response to stress, and cognition.
The impact of neurosteroids has been demonstrated in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: onset of negative mood symptoms has been correlated with peak progesterone levels, and symptoms intensified with progesterone withdrawal in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. These symptoms were not present during anovulatory cycles without the corpus luteum, the primary source of progesterone and metabolites.
The focus of this article is the paradox of why high levels of progesterone and neurosteroids, which typically are associated with anxiolytic activity, instead induce irritability, anxiety, and mood fluctuations in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.     

Obsessive-compulsive neurosis: A cognitive-behavioral formulation and approach to treatment

Drawing upon the literature from cognitive and behavioral formulations as wall as psychoanalytic theory, a cognitive behavioral model for conceptualizing and treating obsessive-compulsive neurosis is presented. The proposed model is contrasted with traditional psychoanalytic and behavioral conceptualizations. A variety of cognitive and behavioral treatment techniques are described that attempt to help clients modify their unrealistic cognitive appraisals of threat, test the validity of their fears, and realize resources more effective than symptoms for coping with uncertainty and anxiety.     

Preliminary Validation of Subjective Anchor Scales for Worry and Rumination

This research is a preliminary validation of two single-item visual analogue scales. The worry visual analogue scale (WVAS) and the rumination visual analogue scale (RVAS) are self-report measures developed to track state changes in worry and rumination. Each of these scales uses an idiographic anchor sheet, enabling each participant to quantify their personal scale of worry or rumination. We compared ratings on the WVAS and RVAS with self-report measures of trait worry and rumination as well as other constructs administered concurrently in two separate studies. In study 1 we compared results within an unselected undergraduate sample. In study 2 we compared results within a community-based sample of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), individuals with GAD comorbid with unipolar depressive disorders, and healthy controls. Results from both studies indicate the WVAS is a reliable state-level measure of worry with acceptable discriminant and convergent validity. Results for the RVAS showed similar reliability and convergent validity but lacked as much discriminant validity. This difference is possibly due to all experimental groups having comorbid anxiety, which is associated more with worry than rumination. Regression analyses indicate the WVAS predicts trait-level anxiety measures more strongly than measures of depression and beyond the predictive ability of the RVAS. The RVAS predicts measures of depression more strongly than it does measures of anxiety but is not consistently a stronger predictor of depression than the WVAS. These findings suggest worry and rumination are distinct regulatory constructs. In study 2, participants with GAD, and GAD comorbid with unipolar depressive disorders, scored significantly higher than healthy controls in worry and rumination. The internal reliability of the measures is reported.     

Factor Structure and Validity of a Revised Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale

The Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS) (McCracken et al., 1992) is a frequently used 40-item measure designed to assess fearful appraisals of pain, pain-related cognitive and physiological anxiety, and escape/avoidance behavior. Research has shown the PASS to possess a reasonable validity; however, recent evidence has raised questions regarding the factorial validity of its subscales and indicates that revision and expansion appear warranted. Accordingly, we developed a revised and expanded Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS-R). In Study 1, we expanded the item pool and administered the questions to a sample of 69 university students. On the basis of expert opinion and item analysis, we retained a total of 72 items. In Study 2, we subjected the responses of 256 university students to the 72-item PASS-R to a principal-components analysis with oblique rotation. This analysis revealed five lower-order factors (Interference, Approach Behaviours, Catastrophic Thoughts, Monitoring and Prevention, and Physiological Arousal) that loaded together on a single higher-order factor. We created new subscales on the basis of the lower-order factor structure and compared these subscales to a number of other self-report measures of pain, pain behavior, and related psychopathology. The PASS-R subscales demonstrated a good to excellent internal consistency as well as a good construct and criterion validity and contributed unique variance to the prediction of behavioral reactions to recent pain experiences (e.g., visiting a physician). Collectively, these results suggest that the PASS-R is a psychometrically sound self-report measure that allows detailed assessment of anxiety-related cognitions, physiological arousal, and behaviors in response to pain. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications of the studies and future research directions.     

Anxiety and Panic in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Role of Catastrophic Thoughts

A short form of the Interpretation of Breathing Problems Questionnaire (the IBPQ-S) was developed in 30 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It was then used to test specific hypotheses, derived from Clark's cognitive model of panic (D. Clark, 1986). Findings indicated that IBPQ-S catastrophic cognitions were related to anxiety triggered by COPD symptoms but not to general anxiety, or to panic. Severity of IBPQ-S catastrophic cognitions contributed unique variance to the prediction of anxiety triggered by COPD symptoms (in safe and unsafe situations), and to the prediction of behavioral avoidance in unsafe situations. In all 3 cases IBPQ-S cognitive variables added significant incremental variance beyond that explained by disease, demographic variables, and the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire. The measure also has promising psychometric properties. The findings are consistent with Clark's model; they highlight the importance of catastrophic cognitions in COPD-related anxiety.     

Intolerance of Uncertainty Moderates the Relationship Between Catastrophic Health Appraisals and Health Anxiety

The present study examined whether intolerance of uncertainty (IU) moderates the relationship between catastrophic health appraisals and health anxiety. Specifically, appraisals that ambiguous symptoms are the sign of a catastrophic health concern are proposed to be better tolerated by some individuals (i.e., those with low IU) than others (i.e., those with high IU). A large sample of medically healthy college students (N = 412) completed a scenario-based measure assessing the tendency to attribute ambiguous body sensations and symptoms to either catastrophic (i.e., catastrophic health appraisals) or minor (i.e., minor health appraisals) health concerns, as well as self-report measures of IU and health anxiety. Consistent with predictions, catastrophic health appraisals were only significantly associated with health anxiety at high levels of IU. Moreover, and showing a degree of specificity, IU did not moderate the relationship between minor health appraisals and health anxiety. Conceptual and therapeutic implications are discussed.     

Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale-20 in a community physiotherapy clinic sample

The PASS-20 was developed to assess pain-related anxiety among a variety of pain populations. This measure was constructed by extracting 20 items from its 40-item parent measure (PASS). Initial studies of the PASS-20 suggest that the psychometric properties have been preserved. The purpose of the present study extended this research and explored the factor structure of the PASS-20, and its reliability and validity in a sample of pain patients receiving treatment in a community physiotherapy clinic. Patients with current pain (n = 201) were asked to complete a battery of self-report measures related to the experience of pain on two separate occasions (3-month interval). Results of principal components analyses suggested that a 4-factor solution representing fear of pain, escape-avoidance, physiological symptoms, and cognitive symptoms of anxiety provided the best fit to these data. Results also showed that the total and subscale scores of the PASS-20 have good reliability (internal consistency, test-retest) and validity (construct) correlating greater with other conceptually similar measures than distinct constructs. These results suggest that this measure has good utility for both clinical and research applications. Directions for future evaluation are also discussed.     

Anxiety,depression and behavioral problems among adolescents with recurrent headache: the Young-HUNT study

Background

It is well documented that both anxiety and depression are associated with headache, but there is limited knowledge regarding the relation between recurrent primary headaches and symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as behavioral problems among adolescents. Assessment of co-morbid disorders is important in order to improve the management of adolescents with recurrent headaches. Thus the main purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship of recurrent headache with anxiety and depressive symptoms and behavioral problems in a large population based cross-sectional survey among adolescents in Norway.

Methods

A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in Norway from 1995 to 1997 (Young-HUNT1). In Young-HUNT1, 4872 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years were interviewed about their headache complaints and completed a comprehensive questionnaire that included assessment of symptoms of anxiety and depression and behavioral problems, i.e. conduct and attention difficulties.

Results

In adjusted multivariate analyses among adolescents aged 12–14 years, recurrent headache was associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.61-2.61, p < 0.001), but not with behavioral problems. A significant association with anxiety and depressive symptoms was evident for all headache categories; i.e. migraine, tension-type headache and non-classifiable headache. Among adolescents aged 15–17 years there was a significant association between recurrent headache and symptoms of anxiety and depression (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.39-1.93, p < 0,001) and attention difficulties (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.09-1.44, p =0.001). For migraine there was a significant association with both anxiety and depressive symptoms and attention difficulties, while tension-type headache was significantly associated only with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Non-classifiable headache was associated with attention difficulties and conduct difficulties, but not with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Headache frequency was significantly associated with increasing symptoms scores for anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as attention difficulties, evident for both age groups.

Conclusions

The results from the present study indicate that both anxiety and depressive symptoms and behavioral problems are associated with recurrent headache, and should accordingly be considered a part of the clinical assessment of children and adolescents with headache. Identification of these associated factors and addressing them in interventions may improve headache management.     

The positive automatic thoughts questionnaire (ATQ-P) and the automatic thoughts questionnaire—Revised (ATQ-RP): Equivalent measures of positive thinking?

We examined two recently developed measures of positive automatic thought, the Positive Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-P) and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire—Revised (ATQ-RP). Internal consistency, concurrent validity, and convergent and discriminant validity were addressed. Two hundred one undergraduates completed self-report measures of positive automatic thoughts, negative automatic thoughts, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and positive affectivity. The ATQ-P and ATQ-RP both showed high internal consistency, strong negative associations with depressive symptoms, specificity to depressive symptoms rather than anxiety symptoms, an average state-of-mind (SOM) ratio in the positive dialogue range, and a stronger relation with each other than with a measure of positive affectivity. The only notable difference between the measures was a significantly lower mean score (correcting for number of items) on the ATQ-RP. This paper is based on a thesis completed by the first author, under the supervision of the second author, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree at American University. We are grateful to thesis committee members Lorah Dorn and Jim Gray for feedback on this material.     

A Behavioral Index of Imagery Ability in Social Anxiety

Individuals with social anxiety often report recurrent, distorted, negative images of themselves. However, previous research has relied exclusively on self-report methods that assess the content of these images rather than the underlying processes involved in image generation. Therefore, we used a validated behavioral measure to examine image generation ability in individuals with social anxiety and non-anxious controls (NACs). Participants first studied and became familiar with a set of uppercase block letters set in grids. Then participants saw a lowercase letter followed by an empty grid with a single X mark in one of the cells. Participants visualized the corresponding block letter in the grid and decided whether it would have covered the X if it were physically present. Image generation is revealed by longer response latencies for probes located on “late” relative to “early” segments of the letters. Socially anxious individuals showed slower responding to late versus early probe locations compared to the NACs, suggesting that individuals with social anxiety experience a disadvantage in generating images of neutral stimuli.