Stress profile, coping style, anxiety, depression, and gastric emptying as predictors of functional dyspepsia: A case-control study

Objective

To determine whether gastric emptying, stomach peristaltic frequencies, stress profile, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and salivary cortisol levels could predict functional dyspepsia (FD).

Methods

Magnetogastrography (MGG) was used to measure gastric emptying time and the gastric peristaltic frequencies in 15 patients with FD diagnosis and in 17 healthy volunteers. In all the participants, stress profile, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were evaluated by means of standardized questionnaires, and morning salivary samples were collected for the measurement of cortisol levels. A univariate logistic regression model was used to examine the probability of the measured variables to predict the presence of FD.

Results

The univariate logistic regression model showed that the half-time of gastric emptying (OR=1.16 P=.01); the subscale of stress items (OR=1.08, P=.003); negative appraisal of subscale coping strategies (OR=1.03, P=0.007); anxiety (OR=1.05, P=.01); and depression (OR=1.23, P=.02) had a significant predictive value for the presence of FD. However, by applying the stricter multiple comparison criterions, only stress, negative appraisal, and anxiety arose as predictors of FD. The FD patients compared with healthy volunteers showed significantly elevated half-time of gastric empting (P<.0006), high scores in the subscales of stress (P<.000003), in behavior type “A” (P<.04), in coping styles (P<.008), in depression (P<.0004), and in anxiety (P<.0002).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that psychosocial stress, mood symptoms, and coping style are predictors of FD. The stress shows high sensibility and specificity in the patients with FD, indicating a contribution in the etiopathogenesis of dyspepsia.     

Life stress and non-ulcer dyspepsia: a case-control study

Sixty-two patients with persistent NUD symptoms were compared with healthy persons of comparable age, sex and social status on a variety of life stress, personality, mood state and coping measures. Highly threatening chronic difficulties were significantly more evident in the NUD group than controls (98 and 2% respectively), as were acute life events which remained highly threatening one week after their onset. Other psychological variables significantly related to NUD were high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, personality traits indicating neurotic or anxious tendencies, a tendency to use less mature stress-coping mechanisms and to have less high-quality emotional support. Multivariate analysis revealed the presence of highly threatening stressors to be by far the most important predictor of NUD status. The implications of these findings in relation to the significance of stress and other psychological variables in the aetiology and treatment of NUD are discussed.     

Stress, depression and immunity: the role of defense and coping styles

It is by now widely recognized that acute and chronic stress have an impact on the immune system. Acute stress may have a stimulating effect on the immune system, while in the case of chronic stress--and in particular in depression--the immune system may be down-regulated. However, there is considerable individual variability in the immune response to stress. This seems to a large extent to be determined by the subject's way of dealing with stress. The perception and evaluation of a stressor and the specific ways of stress coping may in different ways be related to various aspects of the stress response: sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, both systems affecting the immune system. Prolonged exposure to stressors or to severe life stresses may outweigh the person's coping resources leading to feelings of depression. The affective changes with the accompanying changes in the HPA axis are one of the hypothesized mechanisms underlying the immune changes in depression. It should be noted that the relationship between depression and immunity is affected by several other factors, such as gender and age and other personal resources. Increasing the subject's abilities to cope with stress and to reduce the negative affect by psychological interventions may on the other hand have a beneficial effect on the immune system.     

Interpersonal distances,coping strategies and psychopathology in patients with depression and schizophrenia

AIM: To explore (1) intergroup differences in comfortable interpersonal distances (CIDs) and the use of coping strategies; (2) the association of these parameters with individual symptomatology; and (3) the interplay between CIDs and coping styles in patients with depression and schizophrenia.METHODS: The parameters of interest were assessed by means of standardized questionnaires: CID and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. Psychopathology was evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory and Positive and Negative Syndromes Scale. ANOVA, Pearson’s correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to examine relationships among the variables.RESULTS: Compared with controls, depressed patients were more distanced from family members, significant others and self-images, whereas patients with schizophrenia were less distanced from neutral and threat-related stimuli. Distancing from self-images was mostly associated with depression severity in depressed patients, whereas distancing from hostile and threat-related stimuli with the severity of psychotic and affective symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Both patient groups used more emotion-oriented than task-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping strategies. Self-distancing among patients with schizophrenia was positively associated with the use of the social diversion coping, implying social support seeking.CONCLUSION: Patients with depression and schizophrenia use different maladaptive emotion - regulation strategies to cope with their symptoms and related distress. Training in stress management might provide these patients with skills for more effective emotion regulation.     

Volume estimation of the gastric antrum and the gallbladder in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and erosive prepyloric changes, using three-dimensional ultrasonography

Abstract Background: Two-dimensional ultrasonography has shown a widened gastric antrum in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) and erosive prepyloric changes (EPC).
Methods: In this study, volumes of gastric antrum and gallbladder were estimated with three-dimensional (30) ultrasonography before and after ingestion of 500 ml meat soup in 17 NUD with EPC patients and in 18 healthy subjects. A mechanical ultrasound scanner, coupled to a stepping motor, tilted the transducer through an angle of 51° or 88° while recording a total of 95 or 81 images, respectively. Volume estimation was performed digitally after interactive manual contour tracing and organ reconstruction in three dimensions.
Results: Antral volumes were larger in NUD patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.001). Fasting gallbladder volumes were similar in the two groups. Postprandial antral filling was more pronounced in patients than in healthy subjects (P = 0.02). whereas gallbladder emptying was more pronounced in healthy subjects than in patients (P = 0.05). The soup induced dyspeptic symptoms in 15 NUD patients, but only had this effect in two healthy subjects (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Patients with NUD and EPC are characterized by abnormal antral filling, reduced gallbladder emptying, and dyspeptic symptoms in response to ingestion of meat soup.     

抑郁症患者的积极情绪状况及与应对方式和社会支持的关系

目的了解抑郁症患者的积极情绪、特质应对方式和社会支持状况。方法采用方便取样法对天津安定医院14例抑郁症住院患者和18例健康人分别进行正性负性情绪量表(PANAS)、特质应对方式问卷(TCSQ)和领悟社会支持(PSSS)的评估。结果抑郁组积极情绪、积极应对方式和领悟社会支持低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(t=-5.53,P0.01;t=-3.76,P0.01;t=-2.35,P0.05),抑郁组消极应对方式高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(t=1.15,P0.05)。抑郁患者的积极情绪和积极应对方式存在相关,有统计学意义(r=0.54,P0.05)。结论抑郁症患者的积极情绪和积极应对方式较少,感到较少的社会支持。抑郁症患者的积极情绪和积极应对方式相关。     

抑郁症患者抑郁症状与自我效能感、自我接纳、应付方式的关系

目的:探讨抑郁症患者抑郁症状与自我效能感、自我接纳及应付方式的关系。方法:对40例抑郁症患者(抑郁症组)进行贝克抑郁问卷(BDI)、一般自我效能感量表(GSES)、自我接纳问卷(SAQ)、应付方式问卷的评定,同时以40名正常人(正常对照组)作为对照进行GSES及SAQ的评定,两组进行比较及相关分析。结果:抑郁症组自我效能感、自我接纳因子、自我评价因子得分及SAQ总分均低于正常对照组(t=3.980,t=5.907,t=2.967,t=5.411;P均0.01)。相关分析显示,BDI得分与自我效能感、自我接纳总分均呈高度负相关(r=-0.602,r=-0.786;P均0.05);与应付方式中的情绪缓冲性应付总分、情绪加工因子、顺从回避因子呈正相关(r=0.433,r=0.425,r=0.372;P均0.05)。结论:抑郁症患者抑郁症状越严重,自我效能感、自我接纳程度越低,自我评价也越低。     

Perceived parental rearing,depression and coping behavior

Summary Within the framework of Perris' vulnerability model of psychopathology the relationships between perceived parental rearing and coping behaviour in adulthood have been investigated. Rejecting and punitive rearing practices of both parents seem to contribute to the formation of intrapsychic, emotion-oriented coping strategies. The results indicate that childhood social experiences, in particular, parent-child relations, both directly affect vulnerability to psychopathological manifestations in later life and indirectly influence the conditions through the aquistion of coping strategies.     

Stress, coping, and immune function in breast cancer

Research has found suggestive links between emotional distress and immune and neuroendocrine measures in cancer patients. Furthermore, several studies have reported that participation in psychological support groups is associated with better health outcomes for cancer patients. However, controversy exists surrounding these findings, and the mechanisms behind such effects are unclear. This article integrates current evidence from several lines of research concerning the relations among coping, psychological adjustment, cortisol and immune function, and disease progression in breast cancer patients. A biopsychosocial model is evaluated in which coping and psychological adjustment are associated with alterations in cortisol levels, immune function, and potential long-term medical outcomes in breast cancer patients. Although strong evidence suggests that coping and psychosocial intervention can improve psychological outcomes for breast cancer patients, potential effects on physiological outcomes remain speculative.     

Stress, depression and fibromyalgia

There is increasing evidence that stress and depression may play a crucial role in the aetiology and pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM). We first review recent studies on the possible role of life stress, including childhood trauma, in FM. Subsequently we focus on clinical and aetio-pathogenetic links between stress, depression and pain. We put forward the hypothesis that chronic stress/depression may contribute to a dysregulation of neuro-endocrine, immune and central pain mechanisms in FM. Finally, we discuss some future directions, including the use of new conceptual models, research topics and strategies, as well as potential implications from recent studies in affective disorders for the treatment of FM.     

抑郁症患者总体幸福感与社会支持和应对方式的相关性

目的调查抑郁症患者的幸福感,探讨其总体幸福感与社会支持和应对方式的相关性。方法于2019年2月-9月在安徽省精神卫生中心焦虑抑郁科门诊及住院患者中选择120例符合《国际疾病分类(第10版)》(ICD-10)抑郁症诊断标准的抑郁症患者作为抑郁症组,同时从社区人员及患者家属中选择122例作为对照组。采用总体幸福感量表(GWB)(中国版)、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)、简易应对方式问卷(SCSQ)进行评定,应用Pearson相关分析及多元线性回归分析比较抑郁症患者GWB、SSRS与SCSQ评分的相关性。结果抑郁症患者GWB评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义[(62.43±13.48)分vs.(84.97±10.02)分,t=-14.780,P<0.01];抑郁症患者GWB评分与SCSQ总评分和积极应对方式评分均呈正相关(r=0.378、0.460,P均<0.01);抑郁症患者GWB评分与SSRS客观支持、主观支持、对支持的利用度评分及总评分均呈正相关(r=0.354~0.561,P<0.05或0.01);SSRS客观支持、主观支持、对支持的利用度评分及总评分与SCSQ总评分和积极应对方式评分均呈正相关(r=0.234~0.398,P<0.05或0.01)。结论抑郁症患者幸福感较低,且其幸福感水平与社会支持和积极应对方式相关。     

应对技能训练应用于抑郁症患者

目的:探讨应对技能训练对抑郁症患者应对方式的影响。方法:将60例抑郁症患者随机分为研究组30例和对照组30例,研究组给予药物治疗加应对技能训练,对照组仅给予药物治疗。观察8周。于训练前及训练8周采用应付方式问卷评价患者的应对水平。结果:应对技能训练后,在应对方式上,研究组自责、幻想、退避评分低于对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01),而解决问题、求助评分高于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:应对技能训练可部分改善抑郁症患者的应对方式。     

Stress, medical illness, and depression

In this review, we present potential pathways through which medical illness may act as a stress-related catalyst of major depression. We will consider available evidence and discuss biological, psychological, and psychosocial theories, individually and in their interplay, in an attempt to better understand the potential roles of stress in mediating the relationships between medical illness and mood disorder. We will use the specific example of major depression occurring after acute myocardial infarction to illustrate the application of our theoretical framework.     

单双相抑郁障碍患者应对方式的比较

目的 比较双相抑郁障碍与复发性抑郁障碍患者的应对方式,并评估应对方式与两种疾病的关联.方法 采用横断面的病例对照设计,共入组双相抑郁障碍患者144例,复发性抑郁障碍患者189例,健康对照123例,应用特质应对方式问卷(TCSQ)评估被试的应对方式.结果 与对照组比较,两患者组消极应对方式得分较高,积极应对方式得分较低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);与复发抑郁障碍患者相比,双相抑郁障碍组积极应对方式较高(P<0.01).同种疾病中,非缓解期的患者较缓解期患者消极应对方式得分更高,积极应对方式得分更低.Logistic回归分析结果显示,在控制了年龄和疾病状态的影响后,积极应对方式仍是患双相障碍的危险因素(OR=1.064,95%CI=1.026~1.102),该模型对双相障碍的预测准确率为64.3%.结论 与复发抑郁障碍患者相比,双相抑郁障碍患者多采用较为积极的应对方式;采用较为积极的应对方式的抑郁障碍患者,发展成双相障碍的可能性较大.     

Stress, depression and the hippocampus

Stress exposure is an important factor in the development of depressive disorders. Although the mechanisms of this relationship are largely unknown, several pieces of evidence point to an involvement of the hippocampal formation: 1. stressful stimuli cause remodeling of hipocampal pyramidal cells and inhibit neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Antidepressive drugs attenuate these effects, probably by increasing the expression of neurotrophic factors; 2. facilitation of serotonergic neurotransmission in the hippocampus attenuates behavioral consequences of stress and produce antidepressive-like effects in several animal models; 3. antagonism of glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter of the hippocampus, also induce antidepressive-like effects; 4. increased hippocampal activity has been described in genetically selected rats that are more sensitive to depression models. Similar result was found in depressive patients that fail to respond to antidepressant drugs; 5. together with the amygdala, the hippocampus plays a key role on consolidation and evocation of aversive memories. The challenge for the future will be to integrate the results from these different fields (clinical, electrophysiological, pharmacological and molecular) in an unifying theory about the role of the hippocampus on mood regulation, depressive disorder and antidepressant effects.     

Stress, coping and suicide ideation in Chinese college students

The study was to examine 1) whether stress and coping styles could significantly predict the probability of suicide ideation; 2) and whether coping styles were mediators or moderators on the association between life stress and suicide ideation. The survey was conducted in a sample of 671 Chinese college students. Approximately twenty percent students reported having suicide ideation. Life stress, active coping styles, and passive coping styles all had independent effect on the probability of suicide ideation. Passive coping styles, especially fantasizing, mediated the relation between life stress and suicide ideation. Moderation hypotheses were not supported. Implications of the findings and future directions were discussed.     

Stress, depression and hippocampal apoptosis

In this review, we summarize and discuss recent studies on structural plasticity changes, particularly apoptosis, in the mammalian hippocampus in relation to stress and depression. Apoptosis continues to occur, yet with very low numbers, in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of various species. Stress and steroid exposure modulate the rate of apoptosis in the DG. Contrary to earlier studies, the impact of chronic stress on structural parameters of the hippocampus like cell number and volume, is rather modest, and requires prolonged and severe stress exposure before only small reductions (< 10 %) become detectable. This does not exclude other structural parameters, like synaptic terminal structure, or dendritic arborization from being significantly altered in critical hippocampal subregions like the DG and/or CA3. Neither does it imply that the functional implications of the changes after stress are also modest. Of interest, most of the structural plasticity changes appear transient and are generally reversible after appropiate recovery periods, or following cessation or blockade of the stress or corticosteroid exposure. The temporary slowing down of both apoptosis and adult proliferation, i.e. the DG turnover, after chronic stress will affect the overall composition, average age and identity of DG cells, and will have considerable consequences for the connectivity, input and properties of the hippocampal circuit and thus for memory function. Modulation of apoptosis and neurogenesis, by drugs interfering with stress components like MR and/or GR, and/or mediators of the cell death cascade, may therefore provide important drug targets for the modulation of mood and memory.