Search

Depression can be explained by certain behavioural patterns, especially low levels of environmental rewards; it is generally accompanied by infrequent goal-directed behaviour, increased depressed mood, and anhedonia. However, no research has statistically examined the mediating effect of environmental rewards on the relation between goal-directed behaviour and the symptoms of depressed mood or anhedonia. This study sought to determine whether such a mediating effect of environmental rewards is present in cross-sectional study. The participants included 101 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorders. Data were collected through three questionnaires measuring depression and behavioural patterns that maintain depression: the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS), and the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale-Short Form (BADS-SF). Mediation analysis was conducted using depressed mood and anhedonia as dependent variables, environmental rewards as the mediating variable, and goal-directed behaviour as the independent variable. Environmental rewards significantly mediated the relationship between goal-directed behaviour and anhedonia but not that between goal-directed behaviour and depressed mood. No significant relationships were found among depressed mood, goal-directed behaviour and environmental rewards. From these results, we conclude that low levels of environmental rewards accompanied by infrequent goal-directed behaviour can lead to increased anhedonia but not depressed mood., Author(s): Shuntaro Aoki [sup.1] [sup.2] , Satomi Doi [sup.3] , Satoshi Horiuchi [sup.4] , Koki Takagaki [sup.5] , Asaka Kawamura [sup.6] , Reiji Umeno [sup.7] , Masahiko Fujita [sup.8] , [...]

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: 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. Key words: social anxiety disorder (SAD), safety behaviour, avoidance behaviour, anxiety, negative belief

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]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.09.006 Byline: Nina Heinrichs (a), Ronald M. Rapee (b), Lynn A. Alden (c), Susan Bogels (d), Stefan G. Hofmann (e), Kyung Ja Oh (f), Yuji Sakano (g) Keywords: Culture; Anxiety; Norms; Behavior; Blushing 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. Author Affiliation: (a) Institute of Psychology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 12a, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany (b) Macquarie University, Australia (c) University of British Columbia, Canada (d) University of Maastricht, The Netherlands (e) Boston University, USA (f) Yonsei University, Korea (g) Waseda University, Japan Article History: Received 12 April 2005; Revised 10 August 2005; Accepted 6 September 2005

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.

The Italian form of the Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule (ARSS-I) was administered to (N = 648) high school boys and girls from northern and central Italy. Their responses were factor analyzed using a principal component, VARIMAX rotation procedure (SAS Institute, Inc., 1990). The 10 interpretable factors from the Italian data were compared and contrasted to factor analytic results from Holmes (1991, 1994) studies using American and Japanese students. Additionally, the Italian data analyses includes an examination by gender using t tests for each of the ARSS-I items and an ANOVA for age and age-gender effects on responses to the ARSS-I.

Factor-analyzed correlations among items of the Japanese Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule by Japanese high school students (N = 939) and college students (N = 500) were compared to investigate the changes in reinforcers between mid- and late adolescence, gender differences, and the specific groupings of reinforcers which suggest certain interventions for either or both groups of adolescents. The factor analysis yielded ten interpretable factors in both groups. These factors were similar and did not suggest a dramatic shift in reinforcers between mid- and late adolescence. Items related to heterosexual activities and antisocial behaviors were rated as more pleasurable by males and items related to interpersonal relationships and academic activities were rated as more pleasurable by females. Since both groups of students attach high reinforcement value to interpersonal interaction with peers and family members, interventions focusing on social skills development might be popular and well attended.

Background: This study evaluated the efficacy of a single instillation of pirarubicin with a short retention time for preventing intravesical recurrence of low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Patients and Methods: We analyzed 165 patients with low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who underwent transurethral surgery. Single instillation of pirarubicin with 15-min retention time immediate after surgery was performed in 47 (28%) patients. The other patients (118, 72%) were treated without instillation therapy. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival. Results: Median overall follow-up was 50 (range=6-134) months. Recurrence-free survival at 1 and 5 years was 91% and 72%, and 79% and 54% in the group treated with pirarubicin, and that treated with surgery alone, respectively (p=0.031). Cox’s hazard analysis revealed lack of instillation and larger tumor size (>10 mm) as significant factors for risk of recurrence. No adverse events regarding intravesical chemotherapy were observed. Conclusion: Pirarubicin instillation with 15-min retention time can prevent intravesical recurrence of low-risk bladder tumors. [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]

Three completed studies with the Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule are reviewed and further studies are discussed.

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]

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]

Self-focused attention is considered to be a cognitive characteristic of depression. However, some articles report that self-focused attention is also related to anxiety. This study examines the differential relationships of self-focused attention to depression and anxiety. The Preoccupation Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory T-Form were administered to 454 undergraduate students. The results showed a partial correlation between self-focused attention and anxiety that was significant while controlling for depression, but the partial correlation between self-focused attention and depression was not significant while controlling for anxiety. In addition, the results of an analysis of covariance structure revealed that self-focused attention was related to anxiety, and the relationship between self-focused attention and depression was due to the mediating effect of anxiety. Therefore, it was suggested that self-focused attention appears to be a significant component of cognitive operations for anxiety, but not for depression. [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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

The patient was a 71-year-old male whose chief complaint was a scrotum mass. The mass had gradually increased in size without any associated symptoms. The physical examination revealed a pedunculated, radish brown, and elastic soft tumor (4. 5×3. 5×3. 0 cm) in the right scrotum. Blood chemical analysis of HbA1c and squamous carcinoma antigen were 8. 3% and 38. 4 ng/ml (≦1. 5), respectively. This tumor was successfully treated with surgical resection. Histopathological examination showed condyloma acuminatum without malignant findings. Giant condyloma acuminatum commonly affects the genital and perianal areas. An immunocompromised state generally exists in the background of the patients.