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To synthesise and critically review the association between sleep bruxism (SB) and stress symptoms in adults. A systematic review was performed. The search was completed using seven primary electronic databases in addition to a grey literature search. Two reviewers blindly selected studies based on pre‐defined eligibility criteria. Risk of bias of the included articles was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross‐Sectional Studies. RevMan 5.4 was used to perform the meta‐analysis. The quality of evidence was evaluated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Ten studies were included for qualitative analysis, of which three were included for quantitative analysis. Three studies were evaluated to have low risk of bias, and seven were assessed with moderate risk of bias. Quality of evidence was classified as very low for all outcomes. Individuals with SB were found to have higher levels of some self‐reported stress symptoms as assessed through questionnaires with a mean difference of 4.59 (95% CI 0.26‐8.92). Biomarkers like epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, adrenaline, dopamine, noradrenaline and prolidase enzyme levels also showed a positive association with SB. Although some associations were identified between probable SB and self‐reported stress symptoms and biomarkers of stress in adults, given that the quality of evidence was found to be very low, caution should be exercised in interpreting these results. These findings suggest that additional and better designed studies are warranted in order to clarify the link between SB and stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have reported associations between psychological stress and semen quality, but most have been performed on selected populations using different stress measures. Thus, it is uncertain which stress scale best quantifies the effects of stress on testicular function. Objective: To study the association between three different measures of stress and testicular function in young men. Material and Methods: In total, 1362 men (median age 19 years) delivered semen and blood samples. They also answered a questionnaire including information from three stress scales: Stress Symptoms, Stressful Life Events and Perceived Stress. Various statistical analyses for associations between stress and testicular function (semen quality and reproductive hormones) were performed. Results: Perceived Stress was negatively associated with sperm concentration, total count and motility and positively associated with serum FSH. Men with the highest scores (>30 points) had 38% (95% CI 3‐84%) lower sperm concentration, 42% (95% CI 5‐91%) lower total count and 22% (95% CI 2‐32%) lower proportion of motile spermatozoa than men with the lowest scores (0‐10 points). For the stress symptoms score, men with highest scores (>95th percentile vs. lower) had lower sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility and serum Inhibin‐B/FSH‐ratio. Although men with highest stress levels were characterized by an unhealthier lifestyle, adjusting for lifestyle factors did not attenuate results suggesting that the associations between stress and testicular function were not mediated by lifestyle. Stressful Life Events were not associated with testicular function. Discussion and Conclusion: The linear association between Perceived Stress and semen parameters and lack of dose‐response association for the other two stress scales indicated that perceived stress was the most sensitive marker of stress affecting semen quality in young men. The lack of associations between Stressful Life Events and testis function confirmed that the perception of stressful events rather than the stressful event per se matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses critically the focus on stress symptoms when treating traumatized refugees. It describes common challenges that practitioners meet, when working with extreme trauma. It suggests three concepts that might help to understand the complicated dynamics of severe traumatization. These concepts deal as well with the nature of post-traumatic problems as with the way they might be treated. A clinical case is used to exemplify and discuss the concepts. Finally the article offers some thoughts on the special dynamics of the situation of refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on emotional disclosure should test the effects of different disclosure methods and whether symptoms are affected differently than post-traumatic growth. We randomized 214 participants with unresolved stressful experiences to four disclosure conditions (written, private spoken, talking to a passive listener, talking to an active facilitator) or two control conditions. All groups had one 30-minute session. After 6 weeks, disclosure groups reported more post-traumatic growth than controls, and disclosure conditions were similar in this effect. All groups decreased in stress symptoms (intrusions, avoidance, psychological and physical symptoms), but disclosure did not differ from control. We conclude that 30 minutes of disclosure leads to post-traumatic growth but not necessarily symptom reduction, and various disclosure methods have similar effects. Research on the effects of disclosure should focus on the benefits of growth as well as symptom reduction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 00:1-15, 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]