Using controlled comparisons in disgust psychopathology research: the case of disgust, hypochondriasis and health anxiety

The present paper describes the results of a study investigating the relationship between measures of disgust and measures of hypochondriasis and health anxiety. The results indicated that (1) there were highly significant correlations between measures of trait disgust and disgust sensitivity and measures of hypochondriasis and health anxiety, (2) the relationship between disgust sensitivity measures and hypochondriasis and health anxiety were still significant even when levels of trait anxiety were controlled for, but (3) controlled comparisons revealed that the measures of disgust also predicted scores on measures of disgust-irrelevant control psychopathologies (claustrophobia and height phobia)--even after trait anxiety had been partialled out. In addition, the series of multiple regressions carried out clearly indicated that trait anxiety and disgust sensitivity appear to be independent constructs each of which have relationships with anxious psychopathologies over and above the effect of the other. The discussion explores the nature of the possible relationships between disgust, hypochondriasis and health anxiety, and also looks at the implications for disgust psychopathology research of using controlled comparisons which indicate the existence of significant relationships between measures of disgust and anxious psychopathologies that, a priori, would be considered to be disgust irrelevant.     

Sensation Seeking, Trait and State Anxiety, and the Electrodermal Orienting Response

The relationship between sensation seeking and the orienting reflex (OR) using skin conductance change is investigated in two experiments. In Experiment I, high sensation seekers gave a greater initial OR In novel visual stimuli while not differing in habituation on subsequent trials. In Experiment II. the paradigm was extended to include auditory as well as visual stimuli. Again, high sensation seekers were found to be more arousable with respect to initial ORs while not differing in habituation rates. The results suggest that sensation seekers may be characterized as having strong excitatory CNS processes. In Experiment II, anxiety (trait and state) was also related to the OR. There were no effects due to trait anxiety but state anxiety did yield significant differences. The more highly anxious (state) subjects had weaker initial ORs than lows in both novel tones, but not to repeated tones. The findings with state anxiety are consistent with findings by others using anxiety neurotics as subjects.     

Anxiety and success of in vitro fertilization

Objective

To assess the effects of anxiety on pregnancy rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Study design

This was a prospective study of 180 infertile women who were referred for IVF treatment to two selected infertility treatment centers in Tehran. They were recruited at the last visit before the procedure by quota sampling and their anxiety was assessed using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, following which they were categorized, based on their anxiety scores, to high and low anxiety groups. A positive pregnancy test was considered as the criterion of success of treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17. Pregnancy rates in the low and high anxiety groups were compared using the Chi square test.

Results

Pregnancy rates in the groups with high and low levels of state anxiety were not significantly different (11.1 vs. 10.1 percent; X², p > 0.05); neither were these rates significantly different in groups with high and low levels of trait anxiety (14.5 vs. 9 percent; X², P > 0.05).

Conclusion

High or low levels of state or trait anxiety have no effect on the pregnancy rate after IVF treatment. Counseling is necessary, however, to decrease anxiety in infertile women to improve their quality of life.     

幻觉特征的聚类分析

目的 在幻觉的18个属性中，了解幻觉属性分类。方法 应用幻觉量表对83例有幻觉的精神疾病患者进行评定，进行18类属性的聚类分析。结果 认为幻觉的18项属性可以分为4类，即效应类（13、14、12、3），体验类（10、11、15、17、8）特征类（6、7、4、5、2、9、1）和伴随属性类（16、18）。结论 幻觉的18类属性可以从4个方面来认识，其中前3类可能是最主要的。     

Facial affect recognition in the course of schizophrenia

Deficits in facial affect recognition have been shown repeatedly in schizophrenia. However, the stability of this deficit over time remains to be clarified. A total of 36 remitted, 32 acutely ill schizophrenic patients and 21 healthy volunteers participated in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. All subjects were assessed twice within 4 weeks (acute schizophrenics and normal controls), or 12 weeks, respectively (remitted schizophrenics). Subjects had to identify six basic emotions from corresponding facial expressions shown as photographs on a video screen. Both acute and remitted schizophrenics demonstrated a stable deficit over time in facial affect recognition unrelated to psychopathology and medication. This suggests that deficits in facial affect recognition in schizophrenia reflect a trait-like, rather than a state-dependent, characteristic.     

A Quantitative Trait Locus for Alcohol Consumption in Selectively Bred Rat Lines

Selective breeding for high and low alcohol consumption led to the establishment of alcohol-preferring (P) and alcohol-nonpreferring (NP) rat lines that differ greatly in their alcohol consumption. These lines were inbred and F2 intercross progenies were generated to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) influencing alcohol consumption. A QTL on chromosome 4 was identified with a maximum lod score of 8.6. This QTL acts in an additive fashion and accounts for 11% of the total phenotypic variability and approximately one-third of the genetic variability. Neuropeptide Y, an endogenous anxiolytic and neu-romodulator, has been mapped to this same region of chromosome 4. This study is an advance in genome analyses, demonstrating that crosses between divergent, selectively bred rat lines can be used to identify QTLs. Localization of a gene influencing alcohol consumption may have important implications for the etiology of alcohol abuse and alcoholism in humans.     

Frontal-midline theta from the perspective of hippocampal "theta"

Electrical recordings from the surface of the skull have a wide range of rhythmic components. A major task of analysis of this EEG is to determine their source and functional significance. The hippocampal "theta rhythm" has been extensively studied in rats and its rhythmicity has recently been shown to be functionally significant, per se. Here, we use relevant aspects of the hippocampal literature to provide perspective on one of the most studied human EEG rhythms: frontal-midline theta. We review its electrographic features, localization, prevalence, age distribution, behavioural modulation (particularly in relation to working memory, spatial navigation, episodic memory, internalised attention and meditation), relationship to personality, drug interactions, neurochemical relationships, and coherence with rhythmic activity at other sites. We conclude that FM-theta, like hippocampal theta, appears to play a role in (or at least occur during) processing of memory and emotion. It is correlated with working memory and/or sustained attention; but this does not entail a role in function since clear behavioural correlates of hippocampal theta have been demonstrated that are not sensitive to hippocampal damage. FM-theta is increased by anxiolytic drug action and personality-related reductions in anxiety, whereas hippocampal theta is decreased by anxiolytic drugs. In animals, frontal theta and hippocampal theta can be phase-locked or independent, depending on behavioural state. So, the cognitive functions of FM-theta, and their relationship to hippocampal theta, are unclear and definitive evidence for functional involvement in cognitive or emotional processing is lacking. One possible solution to this problem is analysis of FM-theta in animals-provided homology can be determined. The issues of sporadicity and low incidence of FM-theta also need to be addressed in the future. Changes in functional connectivity, indicated by changes in coherence, are also a largely untapped resource. We suggest that the most hopeful path to assessing the functions of FM-theta will be through the use of drugs, and the variation of their effects depending on baseline levels of FM-theta. Finally, we review some theories of theta function. Despite the apparent richness of the current data, we conclude that it is difficult (and may ultimately be impossible) to formulate a theory that attributes a specific cognitive function to FM-theta. However, the theories share some general computational assumptions and these should be a useful guide to future work and, ultimately, a definite theory of the function or functions of FM-theta.     

父母教养方式对子女焦虑的影响研究

目的探讨父母教养方式对子女特质焦虑的影响。方法采用"家庭教养方式问卷"(EMBU)和"特质焦虑问卷"(TAI),对306名被试进行调查,采用典型相关分析和层次回归分析。结果EMBU和TAI典型相关系数显著,层次回归结果表明,父母教养方式对特质焦虑有显著影响。结论父母教养方式对子女特质焦虑程度有显著影响。     

高三学生自我和谐与应对方式的相关研究

目的考察高三学生自我和谐以及应对方式的基本情况,了解高三学生自我和谐与应对方式的相关关系。方法采用自我和谐量表(SCCS)及特质应对方式问卷(TCSQ)对邯郸市9所高中82名高三学生进行问卷调查。结果①农村学生在自我和谐总分、自我与经验的不和谐量表分上低于乡镇、城市学生,具有统计学意义(d=8.680,P<0.05);②积极应对与自我和谐呈显著负相关(r=-0.307,P<0.01),与自我与经验的不和谐呈显著负相关(r=-0.37,P<0.01);消极应对与自我和谐总分呈正相关(r=0.228,P<0.05),与自我与经验的不和谐呈正相关(r=0.282,P<0.05);③积极应对方式对自我和谐总分、自我与经验的不和谐有负向预测作用(B eta=-0.278,t=-2.615,P<0.05;B eta=-0.334,t=-3.256,P<0.01);消极应对方式对自我与经验的不和谐有正向预测作用(B eta=0.231,t=2.248,P<0.05)。结论自我和谐与应对方式之间存在一定联系,特质应对方式对自我和谐有一定预测作用。     

首发广泛性焦虑障碍患者认知功能特点

目的:探讨首发广泛性焦虑障碍患者认知功能的特点。方法:应用广泛性焦虑障碍量表(GAD-7)、状态-特质焦虑问卷(STAI)、剑桥神经心理自动化成套测试软件(CANTAB)中RVP、DMS、IED 3项测验对48名首发广泛性焦虑障碍患者及48名正常对照施测,分析两组被试注意能力、工作记忆能力、执行功能的差异,并了解上述认知功能和总体焦虑水平、状态焦虑、特质焦虑的相关性。结果:首发广泛性焦虑障碍组RVP测验正确率显著低于对照组(t=-4.38,P0.05),平均反应时显著长于对照组(t=4.66,P0.05);DMS测验中多项延迟测试任务正确数都显著低于对照组(t=-6.31~-3.62,P0.05),平均反应时都显著长于对照组(t=3.45~4.17,P0.05);IED测验中总错误数(t=3.33,P0.05)、外维转换错误数(t=2.48,P0.05)、完成测试数(t=2.59,P0.05)显著大于对照组。首发广泛性焦虑障碍组DMS多项延迟测试反应时、IED外维转换错误数与GAD-7、SAI、TAI得分呈显著正相关(P0.05),RVP正确率与GAD-7、SAI得分成呈显著负相关(P0.05)。结论:首发广泛性焦虑障碍患者存在多项认知功能异常。