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The Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule (ARSS) was administered 10 a sample of male and female late adolescent college students from Japan (N = 500). The responses to the ARSS are factor analyzed using a principal component method. The results of the factor-analyzed ARSS tram the Japanese sample are compared and contrasted with the results from a previous study (Holmes et al., 1987) in which ARSS was administered to a sample of American male and female college students (N = 231). Both the American and Japanese samples produced 10 interpretable factors. A recommendation is made to replicate the present study with groups of early and mid-adolescents in each culture in order to study shifts in reinforcers during different periods of adolescent development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for improving mental health problems among university students. However, intervention components have different effects on mental health problems. This paper is a meta-analysis of the data concerning the relationship between cognitive behavioral variables and mental health status among university students. A total of five electronic databases were reviewed, and 876 articles met the initial selection criteria. Reviewers applied standardized coding schemes to extract the correlational relationship between cognitive behavioral variables and mental health status. A total of 55 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Correlations were found for three cognitive behavioral variables (attention, thought, and behavior) across nine mental health domains (negative affect, positive affect, happiness, social function, stress response, psychological symptom, quality of life, well-being, and general health). Across each cognitive behavioral process and all mental health domains, the estimated mean correlation was medium (r = .32 - .46), and varied by the domain of mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although insomnia complaints are associated with mental health problems and reduced work productivity, the central insomnia symptoms in workers at-risk for insomnia remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the central insomnia symptoms among daytime workers at risk for insomnia. The participants were 881 Japanese daytime workers at-risk for insomnia with a mean age of 49.33 ± 9.92 years. At-risk for insomnia was defined as an Athens Insomnia Scale score of six or higher. The Athens Insomnia Scale was used as a screening for at-risk insomnia because it has higher sensitivity and specificity than other insomnia screening scales. The Insomnia Severity Index is recommended as a mechanism of insomnia and an outcome measure; therefore, a network analysis was conducted with the seven items of the Insomnia Severity Index. The important variables in the connections between insomnia symptoms were estimated from centrality indices, which were interpretable only for strength. The strength value results suggest that difficulty staying asleep and worry about sleep problems were the central insomnia symptoms. The connections were stronger for difficulty staying asleep and problem waking up too early, difficulty staying asleep and difficulty falling asleep, and interference with daytime functions and noticeable to others. Worry about sleep problems was strongly associated with variables other than nocturnal insomnia symptoms. Therefore, difficulty staying asleep and worry about sleep problems are important variables in daytime workers at-risk for insomnia and are key points for improvement or exacerbation of insomnia symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although insomnia complaints are associated with mental health problems and reduced work productivity, the central insomnia symptoms in workers at-risk for insomnia remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the central insomnia symptoms among daytime workers at risk for insomnia. The participants were 881 Japanese daytime workers at-risk for insomnia with a mean age of 49.33 ± 9.92 years. At-risk for insomnia was defined as an Athens Insomnia Scale score of six or higher. The Athens Insomnia Scale was used as a screening for at-risk insomnia because it has higher sensitivity and specificity than other insomnia screening scales. The Insomnia Severity Index is recommended as a mechanism of insomnia and an outcome measure; therefore, a network analysis was conducted with the seven items of the Insomnia Severity Index. The important variables in the connections between insomnia symptoms were estimated from centrality indices, which were interpretable only for strength. The strength value results suggest that difficulty staying asleep and worry about sleep problems were the central insomnia symptoms. The connections were stronger for difficulty staying asleep and problem waking up too early, difficulty staying asleep and difficulty falling asleep, and interference with daytime functions and noticeable to others. Worry about sleep problems was strongly associated with variables other than nocturnal insomnia symptoms. Therefore, difficulty staying asleep and worry about sleep problems are important variables in daytime workers at-risk for insomnia and are key points for improvement or exacerbation of insomnia symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Presenteeism is the loss of productivity due to a worker's health problems, despite the worker being present at the workplace. Although the association between presenteeism and insomnia complaints is well known, few studies have examined the association between insomnia severity and presenteeism. This study aimed to explore the association between insomnia severity and presenteeism. This study included 1925 participants (1543 males, 379 females, and three of other genders) in total. The mean age of the participants was 49.94 ± 9.82 years. The inclusion criteria were full‐time employment, working 8 hr per day and 5 days per week, and having no night shifts. The insomnia severity was classified based on the Insomnia Severity Index and Athens Insomnia Scale criteria. Logistic regression analysis showed that moderate and severe insomnia severity were associated to a greater magnitude with presenteeism than mild insomnia severity. Severe insomnia severity was associated to a greater magnitude with presenteeism than moderate insomnia severity. In summary, logistic regression analysis showed that increased insomnia severity based on Insomnia Severity Index classification was associated with increased odds of presenteeism, but increased insomnia severity based on Athens Insomnia Scale classification was not fully consistent with increased odds of presenteeism. Because increased insomnia severity is associated with worsening of presenteeism, early detection of and early intervention against insomnia complaints are important for reducing presenteeism. This study was the first to examine the associations between presenteeism and insomnia severity classification of no insomnia, mild, moderate, and severe insomnia severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Presenteeism is an indicator of productivity loss and the risk of absence from work due to mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of sleep debt, social jetlag, and insomnia symptoms on presenteeism and psychological distress. Methods: The participants were 351 Japanese workers (271 males, 79 females, and one of other gender, with a mean age of 49 ± 9.49 years). The eligibility criteria for this study were full-time employment, working eight hours per day, five days per week, and no night shifts. The participants answered questionnaires measuring sleep debt, social jetlag, insomnia symptoms, presenteeism, and psychological distress. Results: Insomnia symptoms had the greatest impact on presenteeism and psychological distress when compared with sleep debt and social jetlag (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 5.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.88–10.91; adjusted OR = 7.29, 95%CI = 3.06–17.35). Sleep debt had a greater impact on presenteeism and psychological distress than did social jetlag (adjusted OR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.14–2.27; adjusted OR = 1.68, 95%CI = 1.11–2.54), which had no impact on these variables (adjusted OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 0.91–1.20; adjusted OR = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.76–1.22). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicated that insomnia symptoms had a more significant impact on presenteeism and psychological distress than social jetlag and sleep debt. Although sleep debt might have an independent impact on presenteeism and psychological distress, social jetlag did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery is described as a process that is in contrast to the process whereby the psychological stress response increases. Recovery experiences refer to specific experiences that promote recovery and represent psychological attributes including relaxation. This preliminary study tested the hypothesis that levels of psychological stress before the weekend have a moderating effect on the relationship between an increased recovery experience during the weekend and a reduction of psychological stress from workdays to the weekend. Of 270 Japanese teachers who were invited to participate, 181 completed questionnaires on the psychological stress response before, on the psychological stress response and the recovery experience during the weekend. Data from 7 part-time teachers and 38 teachers who were not stressed at all before the weekend were excluded; therefore, data for 136 participants were ultimately analyzed. Results of hierarchal regression analysis indicated that increased relaxation was associated with an increased reduction in psychological stress response during the weekends in participants with high levels of psychological stress before the weekends. This moderating effect was not observed for other recovery experiences. Considering the psychological stress response is important for research on recovery experiences during weekends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Cutaneous ureterostomy is the simplest and safest method of all permanent urinary diversions. However, the procedure does carry a risk of stomal stenosis. We describe a simple technique for improving tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy. Technical Considerations: Between June 1991 and June 2003, the Toyoda cutaneous ureterostomy was performed in 54 patients (102 renal units) with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. Since 1998, we introduced a new technique, consisting of fixation between the anterior and posterior rectus sheath by four interrupted sutures to maintain the stability of the abdominal wall tunnel for the ureters. The ureteral patency rate was reviewed. Of the 79 renal units (77.5%) that achieved a tubeless condition, 70 (68.6%) had no hydronephrosis. The catheter-free rate improved from 60.5% (26 of 43 renal units) to 89.8% (53 of 59 renal units) with the introduction of the new surgical stabilization step for the abdominal wall tunnel. Conclusions: This surgical modification is an effective and simple procedure that improves tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy performed with the Toyoda method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coping processes on psychophysiological and psychological responses in stressful settings. In particular, we focused on the effects of a combination of active and avoidant coping processes. Subjects were 40 healthy undergraduate male students (mean=19.80, S.D.=0.97) who were randomly divided into four groups: (a) an effort coping group in which a subject faced a controllable stressor mobilizing an effortful and active coping behavior for a reward; (b) a distress coping group in which a subject faced a distressful stressor mobilizing an avoidant coping behavior for threat of punishment; (c) an effort–distress coping group in which a subject faced an ambivalent stressor mobilizing active coping behavior for a reward and avoidant coping behavior for threat of punishment; and (d) a control group. Initially, the effects of effort coping, distress coping, and effort–distress coping on psychophysiological and psychological responses were investigated. It was found that effort coping and effort–distress coping intensified cardiovascular responses, particularly blood pressure, and that distress coping and effort–distress coping intensified skin conductance level (SCL). Secondarily, the relationships between effort coping process, distress coping process, psychophysiological responses, and psychological responses were investigated. As a result of cluster analysis, the changes of heart rate and blood pressure were correlated to the change of the effort score, and the changes of SCL and psychological responses were correlated to the change of the distress score. These findings suggest that active coping processes and avoidant coping processes independently affect different response systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Sleep problems interfere with work performance. Decreased work productivity due to health problems is defined as presenteeism. Although empirical data on the improvement of presenteeism by sleep interventions have been published, a systematic review elucidating whether there is a difference in the improvement of presenteeism across various types of sleep interventions has not yet been published. This systematic review of studies aimed to clarify which sleep interventions are more likely to be effective in improving presenteeism. Methods: The electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE were used to perform a literature search (the start and end search dates were October 20, 2019, and March 11, 2020, respectively). A combination of terms such as "employee*," "sleep," "insomnia," and "presenteeism" was used for the search. Both randomized and non-randomized control trials were included in this systematic review. Results: Six types of sleep interventions were identified, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), sleep hygiene education, yoga, mindfulness, weight loss program, and changing the color temperature of fluorescent lights in the workplace. Only CBT-I improved both sleep problems and presenteeism compared with a control group. The results of this review also show that there is heterogeneity in the measurement of presenteeism. Conclusions: The results of this systematic review suggested that CBT-I could be adapted for workers with sleep problems and presenteeism. We discussed whether CBT-I improved both sleep problems and presenteeism compared with other interventions. In addition, methods for measuring presenteeism in future research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance abusers' family members tend to have a unique dysfunctional cognition, which may affect mental health. Objectives: This study investigated dysfunctional cognition's effects on mental health in a sample of substance abusers' family members. Methods: A survey questionnaire was completed twice to obtain data on mental illness, wellbeing, and dysfunctional cognition. A hierarchical linear regression analysis tested the relationships net of the effects of control variables. Results: Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that dysfunctional cognition affected mental illness, but not wellbeing. Conclusion: Cognitive dysfunction should be incorporated into interventions to support the mental health of substance abusers' family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although previous studies reported a relationship between cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms, whether context processing relates to symptoms of depression remains unclear. Hence, the question of whether context processing in depressed individuals is negatively specific or a general deficit also remains unanswered. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether mildly depressed individuals would evince a context processing deficit in response to negative emotional stimuli interference. We employed Emotional AX-CPT (AX version Continuous Performance Task), in which negative distractors were presented in the interval between cue and probe stimuli. ANOVAs revealed that when negative distractors were presented, the depressed group made more BX errors than the non-depressed group, and that the depressed group made more BX errors in response to negative distractors than to neutral distractors. Our results suggest that mildly depressed individuals show a context processing deficit when negatively charged stimuli interfere with retaining contextual information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined self-efficacy (confidence to exercise), pros (exercise’s advantages), and cons (exercise’s disadvantages) as variables associated across the transtheoretical model’s six stages of change in 403 Japanese college students. A series of logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results showed that higher pros and lower cons were associated with being in contemplation compared to precontemplation. Lower cons were associated with being in preparation compared to contemplation. Higher self-efficacy was associated with being in action compared to preparation as well as being in maintenance compared to action. Lower cons were associated with being in termination compared to maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is the most common genitourinary cancer in men. Population-based serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is used to screen men for the early detection of asymptomatic prostate cancer. The present study compared the features of patients with prostate cancer in Kusatsu City, the only municipality in Shiga Prefecture of Japan to implement organized PSA screening, with those in other municipalities. The target population for organized PSA screening by mail invitation was men ≥50 years. Patients were pathologically diagnosed via prostate biopsy because of elevated serum PSA. This multicenter observational study was subsequently conducted in 14 hospitals. The following information was extracted from patient records: age, reason for PSA testing, initial PSA level, Gleason score, clinical stage, and place of residence. Risk classification was defined as low, intermediate, high, and advanced. Each patient was stratified according to their city/town. A total of 984 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in Shiga in 2012 and 2017 were analyzed, of which 955 (97%) were opportunistically tested, with the remaining 29 (3%) assessed by organized screening. In Kusatsu, 93 patients were diagnosed, of whom 26 (28%) were detected by organized screening. By contrast, only three of 891 patients (0.3%) were detected by organized screening in other municipalities. Of patients in Kusatsu, cases identified by opportunistic testing had a higher initial PSA value (P=0.010) than those identified by organized screening. However, patients detected through opportunistic testing in Kusatsu City were younger (P=0.034), had a lower PSA value (P=0.001), and improved risk classification (P<0.001) than those in other municipalities. It was concluded that more patients were diagnosed with early-stage cancer by organized PSA screening. Furthermore, population-based PSA screening in Kusatsu City may have indirectly affected early detection, even by opportunistic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using parental reports, the current study investigated anxiety symptoms among Japanese children as part of the process of developing the Japanese version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for Parents (SCAS-P). The participants were 677 parents and children aged 9-12 years. Confirmatory factor analysis on 568 parents and children supported that the SCAS-P had a 6-factor structure. The scale showed satisfactory internal consistency and good convergent validity. A MANOVA indicated no significant gender or age differences except for the obsessive-compulsive disorder subscale. Among Japanese children, the most prevalent symptoms within the parental report were items related to fear of the dark and of insects/spiders. Finally, we observed very low correlations between parental and child reports of anxiety symptoms; the relationships between child and parental reports were rather poor among Japanese children. We briefly discuss the utility of the SCAS-P as a screening instrument assessing parental reports of anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The present study examined the effect of irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS), cognitive appraisal of IBS, and anxiety sensitivity on anticipatory anxiety ( AA) and agoraphobia ( AG) in patients with panic disorder ( PD). Methods We examined 244 PD patients who completed a set of questionnaires that included the Rome II Modular Questionnaire to assess the presence of IBS, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index ( ASI), the Cognitive Appraisal Rating Scale ( CARS; assessing the cognitive appraisal of abdominal symptoms in four dimensions: commitment, appraisal of effect, appraisal of threat, and controllability), and items about the severity of AA and AG. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to diagnose AG and PD. Results After excluding individuals with possible organic gastrointestinal diseases by using 'red flag items,' valid data were obtained from 174 participants, including 110 PD patients without IBS ( PD/ IBS[-]) and 64 with IBS ( PD/ IBS[+]). The PD/ IBS[+] group had higher AA and higher comorbidity with AG than the PD/ IBS[-] group. In the PD/ IBS[+] group, the controllability score of CARS was significantly correlated with AA and ASI. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant effect of ASI but not of controllability on AA in PD/ IBS[+] subjects. Conclusion This study suggested that the presence of IBS may be related to agoraphobia and anticipatory anxiety in PD patients. Cognitive appraisal could be partly related to anticipatory anxiety in PD patients with IBS with anxiety sensitivity mediating this correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: We examined the rate of bipolar I (BPD-I) and bipolar II disorders (BPD-II) in panic disorder (PD) patients, and compared clinical and psychological variables between PD patients with and without bipolar disorders (BPD). Methods: Participants were 649 Japanese patients with PD (215 men and 434 women, 38.49±10.40 years) at outpatient clinics for anxiety disorders. Constructive interviews using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) were conducted to confirm the diagnosis of PD, agoraphobia, and BPD, as well as the presence and severity of suicide risk in each subject. Clinical records were also reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of PD and BPD. Participants then completed several questionnaires, including the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait scale, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and the Revised Neuroticism-Extraversion- Openness Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). Results: We found that 22.34% of the PD patients had BPD (BPD-I: 5.24%, BPD-II: 17.10%). PD patients with BPD-I showed higher prevalence and severity of suicide risk, trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and neuroticism, and lower agreeableness (subscales of the NEO-PI-R) than those with BPD-II and those without BPD. Limitation: First, we could not investigate the order of the onset of PD and BPD. Second, BPD patients without PD were not studied as another control group for PD patients with BPD. Conclusion: PD patients had high prevalence of BPD. Both PD patients with BPD-I and those with BPD-II had high severity of suicide risk, trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, and agreeableness, though these characteristics were more prominent in patients with BPD-I. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many studies have reported that behavioral activation is an effective intervention for depression. The behavioral activation model is based on several formulations. For example, depressive mood leads to avoidant behaviors, avoidance negatively affects social contacts, decreased socialization lessens opportunities for positive reinforcement, and a decrease in positive reinforcement results in more depressive mood. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among avoidant behavior, social contact, frequency of positive reinforcement, and depressive mood by using structural equation modeling to assess support for aspects of this behavioral activation model. Participants were 630 Japanese undergraduate students and vocational school students. Results provided preliminary support for the model. Treating both avoidance and activating behavior might contribute to decreased impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of video feedback and nonnegative feedback from other people were examined as possibly ameliorating distorted appraisals of bodily sensations, as well as subjective and physiological anxiety in socially anxious individuals. Nonnegative feedback from a confederate emphasized the absence of negative outcomes (e.g., did not seem to tremble) rather than the presence of positive out- comes (e.g., looked calm). Socially anxious students were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which received video and social feedback (n = 12), or the control group (n = 13). Participants were asked to give a videotaped speech twice. After the first speech, the experimental group watched the videotape of their speech and received feedback from a confederate, whereas the control group watched the video of another person's speech. The intervention improved distorted appraisal of bodily sensations and anticipatory anxiety for the experimental group. However, there were no differential effects on anxiety between the groups during speeches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study's purpose was to develop a task-specific self-efficacy scale for maternal oral care (SESMO) with reliability and validity. Methods: A draft scale consisting of 36 items was designed and tested on 119 mothers at a dental clinic. Item analysis was performed to improve its accuracy by reducing the number of items. Internal consistency and test and retest stability were investigated. Concurrent validity was tested by examining associations of the SESMO score with the: general self-efficacy scale (GSES) score; number of decayed teeth; and frequency of tooth-brushing for children. Construct validity was examined by comparing the SESMO scores between mothers of children with caries at initial visit (Group 1) and those continuing regular dental checkups (Group 2). Results: The item analysis selected 16 items for the SESMO. Alpha coefficient of the SESMO was 0.82. Significant correlation was observed between tests and retests (r=0.74). There were significant associations between the SESMO score and GSES score (r=039); number of decayed teeth (r=-033); and frequency of brushing children's teeth (r=0.66). Group 2 had a significantly higher SESMO score than Group I (P<.001). Conclusions: The SESMO showed high reliability and validity. This scale might endure with research applications in pediatric dental practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether high socially anxious individuals interpret other people’s ambiguous behavior in a more negative or threatening manner in comparison to low socially anxious individuals, after controlling for the effects of depression. High and low socially anxious participants ( N = 31) gave a speech. During the speech, a confederate performed ambiguous behaviors. After the speech, participants were asked to answer questions about their interpretation of the confederate’s behaviors using open-ended questions and rating scales. The results showed that the high socially anxious participants interpreted the confederate’s ambiguous behavior in a more negative and threatening manner as measured by the rating scales, and in a less neutral manner as measured by the open-ended responses in comparison to the low socially anxious participants. After controlling for the effects of depression, the effects of social anxiety on the threat rating score remained significant. These results suggest that social anxiety is partially related to threatening interpretations of other’s ambiguous behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Safety behaviour plays an important role in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder (SAD). SAD patients engage in various safety behaviours in social situations in order to decrease the risk of negative evaluations from others. Aims: The present study examined the effect of safety behaviour on the maintenance of anxiety and negative belief in SAD by using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Methods: Participants were a healthy group (442) and a SAD group (46) who met the SAD criteria for DSM-IV and who had high scores of SAD symptoms. In the assumed maintenance model, independence variables were safety and avoidance behaviour and dependence variables were anxiety and negative belief. Results: This result showed that the SAD group significantly has more high scores than the healthy group in all scales of anxiety, negative belief and avoidance behaviour, expect for safety behaviour. The result of the multiple-group procedure indicated that safety behaviour contributes more strongly to anxiety and negative belief in the SAD group than in the healthy group. Conclusions: It is speculated that the SAD group have a stronger link between safety behaviour and negative belief than the healthy group, whereas frequency of the use of safety behaviour is equivalent between two groups. These results support the findings of previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a meta-analysis using 20 randomised controlled studies of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. The mean pre-post effect size was d = 0.94, which was maintained at follow-up. The mean effect size when comparing the CBT and control group was d = 0.61. Within the CBT group, the mean effect size of university clinics ( d = 0.77) was larger than that of other clinics ( d = 0.37). The difference in effect sizes was hardly noticeable when comparing CBT with family or parents and CBT with child only ( d = 0.03). Further studies are required to examine the effectiveness of family CBT versus child CBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the communication style preferences of Japanese patients when receiving bad news, examines the factor structure of the measure for patients' preferences (MPP) in a Japanese population, and explores variables that may be associated with patients' communication style preferences. Five hundred twenty-nine cancer outpatients completed several psychosocial measures including the Japanese version of the MPP (MPP-J), the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MAC), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The patients desired detailed information and a supportive environment when receiving bad news. The MPP-J demonstrated a 5-factor structure: support, facilitation, medical information, clear explanation, and encouraging question-asking. Regression analyses indicated that a female gender, the fighting spirit and anxious preoccupation dimensions of the MAC were positively associated with all 5 MPP-J factors. In conclusion, Japanese cancer patients' preferences for communication when receiving bad news differ somewhat from those of American patients. Japanese physicians should encourage patients to ask questions and should consider the demographic (e.g. gender), medical (disease status) and psychosocial characteristics (fighting spirit and anxious preoccupation) of patients when delivering bad news. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand patients' preferences regarding the disclosure of bad news is important in the clinical oncology setting. The aim of this study was to clarify descriptively the preferences of cancer patients. Five hundred and twenty-nine Japanese cancer outpatients were surveyed regarding their preferences regarding the disclosure of bad news, and several psychosocial and medical demographic variables were analyzed. In a descriptive analysis, more than 90% of the patients strongly preferred to discuss their current medical condition and treatment options with their physician and to have their physicians take the feelings of their family into consideration as well. While half of the patients preferred to receive information regarding their life expectancy, 30% preferred not to receive it. Multiple regression analyses indicated the preferences showing interindividual variations were associated with the level of education and the mental adjustment to cancer scores. A factor analysis revealed four preferences factors: method of disclosure of the bad news, provision of emotional support, provision of additional information, and setting. These four factors had good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93-0.77). Providing emotional support, including the desire for the physician to show consideration for the patient's family, and understanding an individual's communication preferences may be useful for promoting patient–physician communication. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several neuroanatomical hypotheses of panic disorder have been proposed focusing on the significant role of the amygdala and PAG-related “panic neurocircuitry.” Although cognitive–behavioral therapy is effective in patients with panic disorder, its therapeutic mechanism of action in the brain remains unclear. The present study was performed to investigate regional brain glucose metabolic changes associated with successful completion of cognitive–behavioral therapy in panic disorder patients. The regional glucose utilization in patients with panic disorder was compared before and after cognitive–behavioral therapy using positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose. In 11 of 12 patients who showed improvement after cognitive–behavioral therapy, decreased glucose utilization was detected in the right hippocampus, left anterior cingulate, left cerebellum, and pons, whereas increased glucose utilization was seen in the bilateral medial prefrontal cortices. Significant correlations were found between the percent change relative to the pretreatment value of glucose utilization in the left medial prefrontal cortex and those of anxiety and agoraphobia-related subscale of the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, and between that of the midbrain and that of the number of panic attacks during the 4 weeks before each scan in all 12 patients. The completion of successful cognitive–behavioral therapy involved not only reduction of the baseline hyperactivity in several brain areas but also adaptive metabolic changes of the bilateral medial prefrontal cortices in panic disorder patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cultural considerations in social anxiety are a rarely investigated topic although it seems likely that differences between countries in social norms may relate to the extent of social anxiety. The present study investigated individuals’ personal and perceived cultural norms and their relation to social anxiety and fear of blushing. A total of 909 participants from eight countries completed vignettes describing social situations and evaluated the social acceptability of the behavior of the main actor both from their own, personal perspective as well as from a cultural viewpoint. Personal and cultural norms showed somewhat different patterns in comparison between types of countries (individualistic/collectivistic). According to reported cultural norms, collectivistic countries were more accepting toward socially reticent and withdrawn behaviors than was the case in individualistic countries. In contrast, there was no difference between individualistic and collectivistic countries on individuals’ personal perspectives regarding socially withdrawn behavior. Collectivistic countries also reported greater levels of social anxiety and more fear of blushing than individualistic countries. Significant positive relations occurred between the extent to which attention-avoiding behaviors are accepted in a culture and the level of social anxiety or fear of blushing symptoms. These results provide initial evidence that social anxiety may be related to different cultural norms across countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Despite a recent increase in the attention given to improving communication when disclosing bad news to cancer patients, understanding of good patient–physician communication is still lacking in Japan. The aim of the present study is to describe attributes of good communication with patients receiving bad news about cancer in Japan. Methods: Forty-nine participants, including 42 cancer patients and seven oncologists, were requested to undergo an in-depth interview, and the data obtained were qualitatively analyzed. Results: Seventy-one attributes of good communication with patients receiving bad news about cancer were obtained from 619 opinions, and classified into four domains. (1) Setting: a private room and sufficient time. (2) Information given: impact on daily activities and alternative therapy. (3) Method of disclosure: facilitation of patient understanding. (4) Emotional support: encouragement and allowing expression of emotions. Conclusions: The four domains of good patient–physician communication in Japan are apparently similar to those in Western countries. The domain involving information given and method of disclosure in previous Western studies was further divided into two domains in the present study. Japanese physicians should perhaps pay careful attention to these issues when disclosing bad news about cancer. There are some cultural differences related to the details of communication attributes (e.g. using euphemisms and showing consideration for the patient's family). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three patients suffered from renal pelvic, ureteral and bladder cancers that were treated with both standard surgical treatments and two adjuvant cycles of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Metastases of interaortocaval lymph nodes were detected in all patients between 9 and 33 months from the surgery for primary lesions. All patients received three cycles of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). The chemotherapy achieved partial response (62–98%). Two patients with viable cancer cells died with hepatic metastases; the first 15 months and the second 25 months from the date of diagnosis of distant lymph node metastasis. The third patient, who had no viable cancer cells, remains alive and disease-free 36 months later. Therefore, RPLND after chemotherapy provides prognostic information that helps to define patients who might benefit from additional systemic chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have suggested that there is frontal dysfunction in subjects with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We investigated the relationship between alterations of the hemodynamic response of the prefrontal cortex during a cognitive task (verbal fluency task; VFT) and memory function measured using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R). The subjects were victims of the Tokyo Subway Sarin attack with (n=8) or without (n=26) PTSD. Hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex was measured using a 24-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system. Subjects with PTSD had a significantly smaller response of oxygenated hemoglobin and total hemoglobin during the VFT compared with those without PTSD, although there was no significant difference in performance on the VFT. Subjects with PTSD had significantly lower scores on attention and concentration in the WMS-R, which was positively correlated with the increase of total hemoglobin during the VFT. The ‘frontal dysfunction’ observed in subjects with PTSD may be a secondary phenomenon to reduced attentional capacity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract To develop a noninvasive method for psychophysiological assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 34 victims of the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack in 1995 including 8 diagnosed as PTSD and 12 controls were examined by a multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system. Hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex was monitored during the presentation of trauma-related and control stimuli by video images. Skin conductance response (SCR) was also examined. Oxygenated hemoglobin significantly increased during the trauma-related image in the victims with or without PTSD. Deoxygenated hemoglobin significantly decreased only in victims with PTSD. No significant alteration was found in controls. Significantly enhanced SCR was also observed in the victims with PTSD during trauma-related stimuli. The findings suggest that measurement of cerebral hemodynamic response by NIRS is useful for psychophysiological assessment of PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase of patients with eating disorders in Japan has made necessary the reliable and valid measurement of psychological factors in eating disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Eating Disorder Inventory. 766 females without eating disorders and 139 female patients with eating disorders responded to the Eating Attitude Test and the Eating Disorder Inventory. Principal factor extraction with promax rotation isolated 9 interpretable factors with satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach alpha range = .74-.90). Compared with controls, patients scored significantly higher on all factors after minimizing the influence of Body Mass Index. There were strong correlations among factor scores and scores on the Eating Attitudes Test, particularly among patients. These results indicate the Eating Disorder Inventory as showing psychometrically sound internal consistency and concurrent validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the use of the Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule (ARSS-I) which was conducted among adolescents in Italy, to determine the types of behavioral patterns which prevailed among these children. Comparison of results attained among Italian adolescents to that of American and Japanese; Results attained in survey; Factors which attributed to results attained.

Abstract: This study aims to clarify the validity of the brief screening measure of depression in Japan. It was the single-item interview "Are you depressed?" that provided a reliable and remarkable accurate screen in North America. The study was conducted on 282 participants receiving radiotherapy for cancer. The criterion diagnosis were given by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-(SCID). On the basis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) aanlyses, we compared the results obtained using single-item interview with major and minor depressive disorders defined by DSM-TR and calculated the sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio (LR). The result of the present study indicated a sensitivity of 42% (95% CI 22–61%) and a specificity of 86% (95% CI 82–91%), and LR of 3.1. In conclusion, single-item interview "Are you depressed?" did not have sufficient sensitivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The mouth of a LapSac was opened horizontally using a guidewire and, thereafter, the kidney was moved onto the center of the mouth. Forceps lifted the mouth and the specimen entered into the sack automatically under its own weight. Use of this technique facilitated kidney entrapment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]