Comparison of Discrete Cardiovascular Fitness Groups on Plasma Catecholamine and Selected Behavioral Responses to Psychological Stress

Discrete cardiovascular fitness groups consisting of high-fit (n=10) and low-fit (n=9) men performed a well-learned vigilance task and their self-report, performance, and plasma catecholamine responses were compared. No significant differences were observed between the fitness groups on self-report or psychomotor performance responses to the vigilance task. However, the low-fit group took significantly longer than high-fit subjects to complete the first of three sets of anagrams administered immediately after the vigilance task. Plasma norepinephrine but not epinephrine response was greater in the low-fit group compared to their high-fit counterparts. The findings indicate that enhanced cardiovascular fitness may be characterized by an attenuated plasma norepinephrine response to a vigilance task with sustained cognitive performance subsequent to the task.     

Sequential psychological testing during the course of autoimmune hyperthyroidism

Summary Although the psychological disturbances accompanying Graves' disease are well known, the time required for normalisation of these disturbances during antithyroid drug treatment is not known. Therefore sequential psychological testing during the course of Graves' disease was done. There are also contradictory results concerning the possible correlation of neurophysiological and psychological test results during the course of Graves' disease with thyroid hormone values. Finally, psychological disturbances have been proposed as possible etiologic factors in Graves' disease.In our study, a significant decrease in anxiety and irritability could be observed at the time euthyroidism was achieved. Self-evaluations of depressivity, activity, exhaustion, well-being, extraversion, introversion, and the ability to concentrate changed 1 or 2 months after euthyroidism was induced. Similar test results could be observed after induction of euthyroidism by antithyroid drugs and subtotal thyroid resection. Therefore the mode of therapy does not seem to influence the course of normalisation of psychological parameters.In contrast to other investigations there was hardly any correlation between thyroid hormone values and psychological test results or the ability to concentrate. Nontheless, patients with Graves' disease showing high scores for depression and anxiety exhibit abnormal peripheral helper/suppressor T-lymphocyte relations. Furthermore, patients suffering from Graves' disease tend to be more anxious than controls. It remains to be determined whether an increased susceptibility to psychological disturbances has led to these alterations of lymphocyte subsets in Graves' disease patients with severe depression and anxiety.Supported by SFB 258     

Time course of EEG background activity level before spontaneous awakening in infants

This research aimed to investigate the time course of the cortical activity level preceding spontaneous awakening as a function of age and state. Two groups of infants (1-4 and 9-14 weeks of age) were continuously monitored by polygraphic recording and behavioural observation during the night. The electroencephalographic (EEG) activity recorded by the C3-O1 lead was analysed through an automatic analysis method which provides, for each 30-s epoch, a single measure, time domain based, of the EEG synchronization. The EEG parameter values were computed in the 6 min preceding each awakening out of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and out of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The EEG background activity level did not change in the minutes preceding awakening out of REM sleep. Awakening out of NREM sleep was preceded by a change of EEG activity level in the direction of higher activation with different time course according to the age. Both REM and NREM sleep results suggest that a high level of EEG activity is a prerequisite for the occurrence of a spontaneous awakening.     

Psychological reactions in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

We report the interaction of RA and psychological factors over 2 years in a group of 89 patients with newly established disease. Short-time outcome regarding physical features was fairly good. Disease activity decreased, and disability evaluated by HAQ remained at a low level. Psychological distress as measured by the depression and anxiety subscales of SCL 90 (Symptom Check List) was not very pronounced and not related to disease state factors. A slight decrease of anxiety was recorded after 2 years. A new adjustment test was applied. It contained 13 items focused mainly on negative illness effects such as loss of independence, feelings of guilt, and change of social and leisure time activities. Three factors (regret of lost life values, dysphoric mood, and acceptance) explained 48% of the variance of the 13 items. The validity of the test was acceptable. The patients' degree of adjustment changed slowly or not at all during the 2 years.     

几种常用自陈主观幸福感量表在我国城市居民中的试用报告

本研究考察了几种常用自阵主观幸福感表在我国城市居民中的试用情况。表明，除情感平衡量表外，中国人幸福感量表，总体生活满意感量表和删改后夏普量表，对测量我国居民主观幸福感都有一定的实用或参考价值，但从根本上讲编订一套适用于我国居民的主观幸福感量表是很有必要的。     

Heart rate reactivity and heart period variability throughout the first year after heart transplantation

Heart rate reactivity to mental stress is substantially blunted early after heart transplantation, suggesting that the loss of neural modulation limits the cardiovascular response to mental stress. We tested whether reactivity to mental stress recovers during the first year after heart transplantation. Hemodynamic and respiratory responses to mental arithmetic challenge were studied in 20 heart transplant recipients 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. A normal comparison group was studied at equivalent intervals. Heart rate reactivity to mental arithmetic was significantly reduced in the cardiac transplant group compared to the normal subjects. This effect persisted up to 1 year after transplantation. Heart period variability in the heart transplant recipients was minimal in all three-test sessions. The findings suggest that no functional reinnervation or other compensatory adaptation occurs up to 1 year after heart transplantation.     

三资企业从业人员心理卫生状况调查

[目的 ]　了解三资企业从业人员心理卫生现状。　 [方法 ]　采用症状自评量表 (SCL— 90 )对 776名三资企业从业人员心理卫生情况进行调查及分析。　 [结果 ]　三资企业从业人员SCL— 90量表得分均值高于全国常模 (P<0 .0 1) ;5年工龄以下 ,操作工人的躯体化、强迫症状、敌对、偏执、精神病性症状得分均值高于行政管理人员 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1) ;除强迫症状、精神病性症状外 ,有毒有害接触人员得分均值高于不接触有毒有害作业人员 (P <0 .0 5或P<0 .0 1) ;除敌对、精神病性症状外 ,女性得分均值高于男性 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1)。 5年以上工龄 ,除精神病性症状外 ,操作工人得分均值高于行政人员 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1) ;接触有毒有害人员以及女性得分均值分别高于不接触有毒有害人员和男性 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1)。　 [结论 ]　三资企业从业人员存在一定心理问题 ,有必要开展职业心理卫生的健康干预。     

住院治疗的不孕患者心理健康调查

目的 了解住院治疗不孕的患者心理健康情况。方法 根据相关文献采用自行设计调查表，对因不孕入院手术的患者100例进行有关心理健康调查。结果多数患者存在不同程度的心理问题。100％认为不孕很痛苦，98％内心承受不同程度的心理压力，93％被生育困扰，70％认为不孕检查和治疗带来心理压力和精神紧张，另外自感烦躁、自卑、绝望，认为不孕影响夫妻感情、性生活，影响与家人关系及婚姻，影响工作及生活态度。结论 心理因素是不孕诊治过程中不容忽视的重要因素，可能直接或间接影响不孕症治疗的疗效，所以在进行躯体疾患诊治的同时，应重视心理治疗以提高不孕治疗成功率。     

Social class, income, education, area of residence and psychological distress: does social class have an independent effect on psychological distress in Antalya, Turkey?

  Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the separate effects of social class, income, education and area of residence on psychological distress. The study also assesses whether the association between prevalence of high score on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12) and social class is independent of other variables. Method: Psychological distress was assessed by means of the GHQ 12. The study covered 1092 adults aged 15 years or more living in two different quarters of Antalya. Social class status was defined by occupational position, with income, education and area of residence treated as confounders. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the data. Results: Large inequalities in psychological distress by all variables were observed. Psychological distress was significantly associated with class status, after adjusting for income, education, area of residence and other potential confounders (age, sex and marital status). Class inequalities in psychological distress were observed between blue-collar workers/unqualified employees and bourgeoisie. Conclusions: These findings support the view that the recent widening of inequalities among social classes in Turkey pose a substantial threat to health. Accepted: 5 November 1999