Pituitary glucocorticoid receptor deletion reduces vulnerability to chronic stress

The incidence of chronic stress is frequently related to the development of psychiatric disorders like depression. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a major physiological system that mediates the stress response. Tight HPA axis regulation through negative feedback mechanisms is essential for health and environmental adaptation. This feedback regulation acts in part through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) on several organizational levels, including the pituitary, the hypothalamus and the hippocampus. However, the precise role of the different anatomical structures, specifically the pituitary, in HPA axis regulation is yet largely unknown. Here, we show that a conditional pituitary GR knockout is not necessarily detrimental for the animal's ability to cope with chronic stress situations. Mice with a deletion of the GR at the pituitary (GR(POMCCre)) were subjected to 3 weeks of chronic social defeat stress. We analyzed both the behavioral and neuroendocrine phenotype as well as the central nervous system expression of genes involved in HPA axis function in these animals. Our results show a more resilient phenotype of GR(POMCCre) mice with respect to anxiety-related behavior and neuroendocrine parameters compared to stressed wild type animals. In light of the previously reported high corticosterone levels during postnatal development in GR(POMCCre) mice, our findings suggest that adverse early life events may have beneficial developmental effects on the organism to improve stress coping later in life.     

Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health

Traditionally, positive emotions and thoughts, strengths, and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for belonging, competence, and autonomy have been seen as the cornerstones of psychological health. Without disputing their importance, these foci fail to capture many of the fluctuating, conflicting forces that are readily apparent when people navigate the environment and social world. In this paper, we review literature to offer evidence for the prominence of psychological flexibility in understanding psychological health. Thus far, the importance of psychological flexibility has been obscured by the isolation and disconnection of research conducted on this topic. Psychological flexibility spans a wide range of human abilities to: recognize and adapt to various situational demands; shift mindsets or behavioral repertoires when these strategies compromise personal or social functioning; maintain balance among important life domains; and be aware, open, and committed to behaviors that are congruent with deeply held values. In many forms of psychopathology, these flexibility processes are absent. In hopes of creating a more coherent understanding, we synthesize work in emotion regulation, mindfulness and acceptance, social and personality psychology, and neuropsychology. Basic research findings provide insight into the nature, correlates, and consequences of psychological flexibility and applied research provides details on promising interventions. Throughout, we emphasize dynamic approaches that might capture this fluid construct in the real-world.     

Autobiographical integration of trauma memories and repressive coping predict post‐traumatic stress symptoms in undergraduate students

What differentiates those who are able to adapt well to adverse life events (i.e., persons who are resilient) from those who are not (e.g., persons who develop post‐traumatic stress symptoms)? Previous work suggests that enhanced autobiographical integration of trauma memories is associated with more severe post‐traumatic stress symptoms. Extending this line of work, the present study looked at whether the integration of trauma memories, repressive coping and cognitive reactivity are related to post‐traumatic stress symptomatology following negative life events among otherwise healthy young adults (N = 213). Results show that while enhanced integration of trauma memories and high levels of dissociation are related to elevated levels of post‐traumatic stress, people who generally engage in repressive coping report fewer post‐traumatic stress symptoms. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: ? Enhanced integration of trauma memories is linked to increased post‐traumatic stress. ? High levels of trait dissociation are related to elevated levels of post‐traumatic stress symptomatology. ? A repressive coping style is associated with fewer post‐traumatic stress symptoms.     

Survivors’ understanding of vulnerability and resilience to maternal near-miss obstetric events in Uganda

Objective

To gain an understanding of how obstetric complications affect the lives and livelihoods of survivors.

Methods

A phenomenological study was conducted between April and August 2013 at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Data were collected through in-depth interviews among 36 women admitted with obstetric near miss. The interviews investigated perceptions, lived experiences, and meanings attached to such experiences by survivors. More specifically, the questions explored: self-rated health; anticipated social, sexual, and reproductive health challenges; and mitigating factors.

Results

The identified themes were prior expectations, vulnerability, body and social capital, and resilience. Women were found to approach childbirth with predetermined expectations that influenced their pregnancy and childbirth experience. Fatalism, expectations, and social insecurity markedly contributed to vulnerability. Resilience factors included ability to institute adaptations and to harness body and social capital.

Conclusion

Vulnerabilities and their determinants were found to be inter-related. Individuals’ social capital fluctuates over the acute crisis, necessitating multiple adaptations and coping strategies to reduce vulnerability or increase resilience. Although social and body capital may be mobilized to mitigate the effects of the obstetric crisis, they can either worsen vulnerability or increase resilience.     

精神科护士人格特征与心理困扰的关系:心理弹性的中介作用

目的 探讨精神科护士人格特征与心理困扰的关系及心理弹性的中介作用。方法 采用大五人格问卷(BFI)、心理弹性量表(CD-RISC 10)和凯斯勒10量表(K10)对192名精神科护士进行问卷调查。 结果 精神科护士K10得分为20.66±5.91,80.7%的精神科护士存在不同程度的心理困扰(K10得分≥16)。K10总分与人格特征中的N维度呈显著正相关(P<0.01),与E维度、C维度、心理弹性呈显著负相关(均P<0.01),心理弹性与E维度、C维度呈显著正相关(均P<0.01),与N维度呈显著负相关(P<0.01)。心理弹性部分中介了神经质与心理困扰的关系,中介效应占总效应的25.4%。 结论 神经质人格与心理弹性是影响精神科护士心理困扰发生的重要因素,心理弹性部分中介了神经质人格对心理困扰的影响。     

Resilient Children

SUMMARY

Using a grounded theory qualitative research, this study explored the strategies used by children to cope with abusive home environments. Through a series of three interviews, a group of adolescents and child care professionals were asked their perceptions regarding protective factors of resilience. These were then categorized into common patterns that emerged as five themes showing a progression of skills used by adolescents who were maltreated as children.

These themes are: loyalty to parents, normalizing of the abusive environment, establishing a sense of safety through a perception of invisibility to the abuser, self value, and a future view. This research adds important knowledge to the body of practice skills in working with abusing families. Those children who have developed methods to cope provide us with valuable tools to assist other children who may continue to live in abusing environments.     

住院精神障碍患者家属心理弹性与社会支持的关系

目的:通过对四川省某三甲综合医院精神科住院精神障碍患者的家属进行调查研究,探究精神障碍患者家属心理弹性与领悟社会支持的状况以及二者的关系。方法:采用自编的一般资料调查表、心理弹性量表(CDRISC)和领悟社会支持量表(PSSS)进行研究,用SPSS 21.0统计软件进行描述统计分析、差异检验、相关分析及回归分析。结果:领悟社会支持得分为(60.24±10.97),心理弹性得分为(60.00±13.18);心理弹性在月家庭收入上差异显著(P0.01);相关分析研究发现,心理弹性与领悟社会支持呈显著正相关(r=0.619,P0.01),且家庭支持、其他支持能有效预测心理弹性。结论:精神障碍患者家属具有中等偏上的心理弹性和领悟社会支持水平,领悟社会支持在一定程度上能预测家属的心理弹性。     

心理弹性在大学生心理危机预防中的作用

目的:探讨心理弹性在大学生心理危机预防中的作用。方法:应用心理弹性量表(CD-RISC)、大学生危机人格测查问卷、危机脆弱性问卷和自我压弹量表对823名大学生进行团体施测。结果:1大学生在心理弹性总水平上,大四高于大二、大三(P0.05),自我压弹大四高于大二(P0.05)、城市高于农村(t=-2.372,P0.05);2除精神影响因素外,心理弹性其他因素及总分与危机人格各因素及总分、危机脆弱性存在显著负相关(r=-0.104~-0.518,P0.01),与自我压弹存在显著的正相关(r=0.118~0.558,P0.01),高、低心理弹性者在危机人格(t=12.203,P0.01)、危机脆弱性(t=12.134,P0.01)、自我压弹(t=-13.017,P0.01)存在显著差异。结论:心理弹性、自我压弹分别与危机人格、危机脆弱性存在显著的负相关,提高大学生的心理弹性水平可以达到预防大学生心理危机发生的目的。     

贵州农村高中生应对方式与心理韧性的关系

目的:研究旨在揭示农村高中生心理韧性和应对方式的状态,并剖析两者的关系,探寻应对方式能不能作为保护因素,提高农村高中生的心理韧性水平,增强其抗挫能力。方法:采用青少年心理韧性量表与中学生应对方式量表,对381名贵州省农村高中生进行问卷调查。结果:1农村高中生心理韧性(92.30±13.11)和应对方式(95.63±9.47)得分都处于中上等水平;2农村高中生心理韧性和应对方式呈显著正相关(r=0.189,P0.01);3应对方式得分能够预测高中生心理韧性42.1%的变异(R2=0.421,P0.001)。结论:1农村高中生心理韧性与应对方式良好;2农村高中生的应对方式能够有效的预测其心理韧性水平。