Behavioral models for anxiety and multisensory integration in animals and humans

Complaints related to dizziness, balance problems and spatial disorientation in psychiatry have seldom been considered as a possible manifestation of a distorted multisensory integrative ability. Several kinds of mismatches among simultaneous sensory information are encountered in everyday life but despite these, the central nervous system usually manages to update the internal representation of the body in the surrounding space. In some cases, a sensory mismatch may elicit an erroneous perception of the body in space, resulting in anxiety, dizziness and balance problems.As vestibular system dysfunction leads to dizziness and disorientation, it has been hypothesized that a peripheral vestibular abnormality could explain the presence of certain symptoms related to sensory mismatches in anxiety disorders. Several studies tried to find a link between panic disorder with or without agoraphobia and vestibular system dysfunction. Yet, even though some vestibular abnormalities have been demonstrated in these patients, it is difficult to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between panic disorder and vestibular dysfunction. However, this does not rule out a possible influence of anxiety on normal vestibular function. The study of the relation between vestibular system and anxiety has to take into account that the vestibular system has three main functions: to maintain equilibrium through the vestibular spinal reflexes; to stabilize the visualization of the world through the vestibular-ocular reflex; to contribute to perception and orientation in space.We will review different studies in humans, which have particularly paid attention to the third function and its relation to anxiety. Animal experiments offer possibilities to more precisely analyze the different parameters underlying the behavioral results, as well as possible pharmacological actions on them. Two attempts have been made by our group to model, in mice, the preceding human data on integrated functional sensory relations of the body to space in anxiety disorders: the rotating beam and the rotating tunnel. We summarize here the main results obtained.     

Psychological impact of single and multiple courses of assisted reproductive treatments in couples: a comparative study

Objective

To analyze the psychological impact on levels of anxiety and depression in couples who, confronted with the diagnosis of infertility, propose to carry out ART; to evaluate and compare state-trait anxiety and depression levels in couples undergoing ART treatments for the first time and repeatedly, and to verify gender differences.

Study design

In this prospective study in the Medically Assisted Reproduction Unit of the Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal, 89 couples diagnosed with infertility were divided into two groups: (1) couples starting ART for the first time (43), and (2) couples pursuing ART repeatedly (46). Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y (STAI-Y), prior to their first or subsequent treatment cycle.

Results

Couples pursuing ART for the first time show higher levels of state-anxiety compared to couples who repeatedly carry out ART (p < 0.05). Levels of depression are higher in couples who repeatedly carry out ART (p < 0.05). In both study groups, women and men have higher levels of state-anxiety compared to trait-anxiety (p < 0.05). With respect to depression, there are significant differences between genders in both groups, showing higher values in women compared to men (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The results show that there is room to tailor psychological interventions for the specific story of each couple, but we emphasize the importance and need for more studies to support these findings.     

Resting frontal EEG asymmetry in adolescents with major depression: Impact of disease state and comorbid anxiety disorder

Objective

Greater relative right- than left-frontal cortical activity has been frequently found in adults with major depression (MD). As the few studies in adolescents with MD have been inconclusive, the aim of this study was to assess frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) in an adolescent sample with MD whilst taking into account possible confounding variables such as disease state and comorbid anxiety disorder.

421名新兵的状态—特质焦虑与相关因素

目的:量化评估某部新兵状态-特质焦虑的特点及与相关因素间的关系。方法:采用状态-特质量表、应对方式问卷、症状自评量表、自尊量表对2013年首次夏秋季入伍421名新兵进行团体测定。结果:1新兵状态-特质焦虑与全国常模差异显著(t=4.077,4.222;P0.05);新兵的状态焦虑显著低于中国大学生常模(t=-5.468,P0.05),特质焦虑与中国大学生常模无显著差异;2独生子女在状态-特质焦虑上显著高于非独生子女(t=3.439,2.884;P0.05);来自城市与农村的新兵在状态焦虑、特质焦虑上无显著差异;3状态焦虑、特质焦虑分别与解决问题、求助和自尊呈显著负相关(P0.01),与自责、幻想、退避、合理化及SCL-90因子及总分呈显著正相关(P0.01),状态焦虑与特质焦虑呈正相关(P0.01);4对状态焦虑影响大小依次是特质焦虑、抑郁、自尊、躯体化、解决问题;对特质焦虑影响大小依次是状态焦虑、自尊、自责、人际关系、解决问题。结论:新兵的状态-特质焦虑高于中国全国常模,状态焦虑低于中国大学生,独生子女出现较多状态-特质焦虑,状态-特质焦虑与自尊、应对方式、心理健康关系密切,对状态-特质焦虑共同影响的因子是自尊和解决问题。     

The latent state-trait structure of resting EEG asymmetry: replication and extension

Recent research on brain asymmetry suggested that resting electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry represents a superimposition of a trait-like asymmetry with state-dependent fluctuations. The present study tested this hypothesis and additionally examined individual differences in state changes. A 61-channel EEG was collected from 59 participants in a resting state on three occasions of measurement. An analysis of latent state-trait models suggested that between 40% and 50% of the variance of anterior asymmetry measures was due to individual differences on a latent trait and approximately the same portion of the variance was due to occasion-specific fluctuations. A further analysis of true intraindividual change models indicated that there were large individual differences in intraindividual change over time. These data replicate previous findings and substantiate that resting asymmetry has trait and state properties.     

The state-trait anxiety inventory and sex

This study sought to investigate the response pattern of male and female subjects to the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) under anxiety-provoking and normal conditions. The relationship between the STAI and systolic and diastolic blood pressures for both men and women under the above-mentioned conditions was also examined. We found that the STAI X-2 and the systolic blood pressure discriminated between the sexes and the treatment conditions. On the average, both men and women scored significantly higher during the anxiety-provoking stimulus situation than during the normal condition on systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The men seemed to be more prone to anxiety than the women. We also found that, STAI X-1 related negatively to both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the anxious condition among men, while it related positively to the systolic and diastolic blood pressure among women. During the “calm” period, while STAI X-1 and X-2 were unrelated to systolic and diastolic blood pressure among men, the STAI X-2 correlated positively with systolic and diastolic blood pressures among women.     

Temperament and character dimensions in bipolar I disorder: a comparison to healthy controls

Research on phenotypic markers of vulnerability to bipolar disorder has focused on the identification of personality traits uniquely associated with the illness. To expand knowledge in this area, we compared Cloninger's seven temperament and character dimensions in 85 euthymic/subsyndromal bipolar I inpatients and outpatients and 85 age and sex matched community controls. We also examined associations between Cloninger's personality traits and mood state in the patient group. Bipolar subjects were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania. Controls received the SCID, a family psychiatric history questionnaire, and urine toxicology screen to confirm healthy status. Both groups competed the 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). A multivariate analysis of covariance, accounting for demographic factors, was conducted to compare the groups on the TCI. Bipolar I patients scored higher on harm avoidance, lower on self-directedness, and higher on self-transcendence compared to controls. Harm avoidance and self-directedness were correlated with residual depressive symptoms positively and negatively, respectively; persistence was correlated with residual manic symptoms; and selftranscendence was correlated with residual psychotic symptoms in patients. The results indicate that bipolar I subjects do possess personality traits that are significantly different from non-ill individuals. However, only a prospective, longitudinal study may determine whether these traits mark a vulnerability to the disorder, or represent the scarring effect of affective episodes and chronic subsyndromal symptoms.     

Depression and anxiety in a manganese-exposed community

ObjectiveTo characterize the association between residential environmental manganese (Mn) exposure and depression and anxiety, given prior associations among occupationally-exposed workers.MethodsWe administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to 697 study participants in their preferred languages. These participants represented a population-based sample of residents aged ≥40 from two predominantly Black African communities in Gauteng province, South Africa: 605 in Meyerton, adjacent to a large Mn smelter, and 92 in Ethembalethu, a comparable non-exposed community. We investigated the associations between community (Meyerton vs. Ethembalethu) and severity of depression and anxiety, using linear regression, adjusting for age and sex. To document community-level differences in Mn exposure, we measured airborne PM_2.5-Mn.ResultsMeyerton residents had BDI scores 5.63 points (95 % CI 3.07, 8.20) higher than Ethembalethu residents, with all questions contributing to this significant difference. STAI-state scores were marginally higher in Meyerton than Ethembalethu residents [2.12 (95 % CI -0.17, 4.41)], whereas STAI-trait scores were more similar between the communities [1.26 (95 % CI -0.82, 3.35)]. Mean PM_2.5-Mn concentration was 203 ng/m³ at a long-term fixed site in Meyerton and 10 ng/m³ in Ethembalethu.ConclusionResidence near Mn emission sources may be associated with greater depression symptomatology, and possibly current, but not lifetime, anxiety.     

高职生状态-特质焦虑、自尊与网络成瘾关系的研究

目的探讨高职生网络成癌与状态-特质焦虑、自尊的关系。方法采用中文网络成瘾量表（CIAS）、状态-特质焦虑问卷（STAI-From Y）、“自尊量表”（SES）对450名高职生进行团体施测,并进行相关分析和回归分析。结果高职生的网络成瘾倾向的年级、性别主效应差异显著;高职生独生子女与非独生子女的网络成癌倾向、状态焦虑、特质焦虑、自尊均不存在差异;高职生的网络成瘾倾向、状态焦虑、特质焦虑和自尊相互之间均存在显著的相关;多元线性回归分析表明,高职生特质焦虑能显著的正向预测网络成瘾倾向。结论高职生网络成瘾与状态一特质焦虑、自尊具有重要关系。     

地震医疗救援人员心理健康状况及影响因素研究

目的探讨地震状况下医疗救援人员自我效能感、应对方式、状态-特质焦虑、急性应激反应与心理健康状况之间的关系。方法将154名参加过汶川和玉树地震的医疗救援人员进行自我效能感、应对方式、状态-特质焦虑、急性应激反应量表的测量,评价其心理健康状态结果。结果①抗震救灾医务人员自我效能感与特质焦虑、状态焦虑呈显著负相关(P<0.001),与应对方式呈显著正相关(P<0.001);②应对方式中除解决问题(t=9.62,P<0.01)和求助(t=2.09,P<0.05)高于军队常模外,其余4个因子得分(P<0.01)显著低于军队常模;③在应对方式中6个因子与状态特质焦虑进行相关分析发现,自责、幻想、退避和合理化与特质焦虑有明显的相关性(P<0.05),解决问题和求助与特质焦虑无相关关系。结论需要对地震医疗救援人员的心理健康进行心理干预。