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This study examined the factor structure of the English version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS; French version: M. H. Freeston, J. Rheaume, H. Letarte, M. J. Dugas, & R. Ladouceur, 1994; English version: K. Buhr & M. J. Dugas, 2002) using a substantially larger sample than has been used in previous studies. Nonclinical undergraduate students and adults from the community (M age = 23.74 years, SD = 6.36; 73.0% female and 27.0% male) who participated in 16 studies in the Anxiety Disorders Laboratory at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada were randomly assigned to 2 datasets. Exploratory factor analysis with the 1st sample (n = 1,230) identified 2 factors: the beliefs that "uncertainty has negative behavioral and self-referent implications" and that "uncertainty is unfair and spoils everything." This 2-factor structure provided a good fit to the data (Bentler-Bonett normed fit index = 0.96, comparative fit index = 0.97, standardized root-mean residual = 0.05, root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.07) upon confirmatory factor analysis with the 2nd sample (n = 1,221). Both factors showed similarly high correlations with pathological worry, and Factor 1 showed stronger correlations with generalized anxiety disorder analogue status, trait anxiety, somatic anxiety, and depressive symptomatology. (Contains 5 tables.)

The main goal of this study was to examine the effect of written exposure on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)-related symptoms in high worriers. Thirty nonclinical high worriers were randomly assigned to either a written exposure condition or a control writing condition. Self-report measures were used to assess worry, GAD somatic symptoms, depression, and intolerance of uncertainty at four time points during the study. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), the authors found that all symptoms (i.e., worry, GAD somatic symptoms, and depression) significantly decreased over time in the written exposure group (although GAD somatic symptoms also decreased in the control group). Moreover, consistent with previous findings that intolerance of uncertainty preceded changes in worry over the course of treatment, intolerance of uncertainty scores predicted subsequent scores on all symptom measures in the experimental group. In contrast, worry and depression scores predicted subsequent intolerance of uncertainty scores in the control group. Writing Instructions are appended. (Contains 2 tables, 3 figures and 1 note.)

Offers techniques to make book reports a more meaningful experience for students. Suggests guidelines for book selections and for what the students should look for in their reading. Lists alternatives to traditional book reports that allow an evaluative approach to reading and provide an opportunity for creativity and critical thought. (DK)

OBJECTIVES:Previous studies have demonstrated that stress is associated with increased disease activity in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The association between perceived stress and gastrointestinal inflammation is not well described.METHODS:Participants were recruited from a population-based registry of individuals with known IBD. Symptomatic disease activity was assessed using validated clinical indices: the Manitoba IBD Index (MIBDI) and Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) for Crohn's disease (CD), and Powell Tuck Index (PTI) for ulcerative colitis (UC). Perceived stress was measured using Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS). Intestinal inflammation was determined through measurement of fecal calprotectin (FCAL), with a level exceeding 250 μg/g indicating significant inflammation. Logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between intestinal inflammation, perceived stress, and disease activity.RESULTS:Of the 478 participants with completed surveys and stool samples, perceived stress was associated with symptomatic activity (MIBDI) for both CD and UC (1.07 per 1-point increase on the CPSS, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.10 and 1.03-1.11, respectively). There was no significant association between perceived stress and intestinal inflammation for either CD or UC. Active symptoms (MIBDI ≤3) were associated with intestinal inflammation in UC (odds ratio (OR) 3.94, 95% CI 1.65-9.43), but not in CD (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.51-1.88).CONCLUSIONS:Symptomatic disease activity was unrelated to intestinal inflammation in CD and only weakly associated in UC. Although there was a strong relationship between perceived stress and gastrointestinal symptoms, perceived stress was unrelated to concurrent intestinal inflammation. Longitudinal investigation is required to determine the directionality of the relationship between perceived stress, inflammation, and symptoms in IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study served to replicate and extend our previously obtained hierarchical model of the relationships among general anxiety vulnerabilities, specific anxiety vulnerabilities and specific anxiety manifestations including panic symptoms, health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and worry. Questionnaires assessing these variables, as well as positive affectivity and depressiveness, were administered to 125 outpatients seeking treatment for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder. The results, using a clinical sample, were highly consistent with the hierarchical model obtained in the previous study using a student sample. A more elaborate model, based on published theoretical and empirical evidence, was identified and tested, and similar results were obtained. Negative affectivity had expected direct positive effects on all of the specific anxiety and depression manifestations, with the exception of health anxiety, which showed a negative relationship, and OCD symptoms, which showed no relationship. Positive affectivity was found to be a specific risk factor for depression, while intolerance of uncertainty was found to be a specific risk factor for worry and depression. Finally, anxiety sensitivity appears to be a significant risk factor for panic and health anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a placebo run-in phase, in which placebo responders are withdrawn from a study before random assignment to treatment condition, has been criticized as favoring the active treatment in clinical trials. We compared the effect size of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (in the treatment of depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]) that include a placebo run-in phase with those that do not, using a meta-analytic approach. This study differed from earlier meta-analytic studies in that it considered only SSRIs and included only studies using continuous measures of depression, allowing for a more refined assessment of effect size. An extensive literature search identified 43 datasets published between 1980 and 2000 comparing placebo with SSRI and using a continuous measure of depression (usually the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale). We included only studies of at least 6 weeks' duration focusing on treatment for primary acute major depression in adults 18–65 years of age. Studies focusing on depression in specific medical illnesses were not included. Analysis of efficacy was based on 3,047 subjects treated with an SSRI antidepressant and 3,740 subjects treated with a placebo. There was no statistically significant difference in effect size between the clinical trials that had a placebo run-in phase followed by withdrawal of placebo responders and those trials that did not. Despite the lack of a statistically significant difference between studies of withdrawing early placebo responders and those not using this procedure, this approach is likely to continue to be used widely because it produces large absolute effect sizes. It is recommended that future studies clearly describe these procedures and report the number of subjects dropped from the study for early placebo response and other reasons. Depression and Anxiety 19:10–19, 2004. 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated a theoretical hierarchical relationship among the general anxiety vulnerability variable of neuroticism, the specific vulnerability variables of anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty, and variables reflecting specific anxiety foci including panic symptoms, health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and generalized anxiety/worry. Questionnaires assessing these variables were administered to a non-clinical sample of 91 first-year psychology students (64.8% women). Path analysis results were highly consistent with the hypothesized hierarchical model. Neuroticism was found to have a significant direct effect on both anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty. Both neuroticism and anxiety sensitivity had direct significant effects on panic symptoms, neuroticism and intolerance of uncertainty both made significant direct contributions to the prediction of worry, and neuroticism made a significant direct contribution to the prediction of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Contrary to the hypothesized model, anxiety sensitivity but not neuroticism uniquely predicted health anxiety. The results of this study provide initial empirical evidence for a hierarchical relationship among general and specific vulnerabilities, and specific anxiety manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]