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Background Mindfulness-based interventions have proven efficacy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but the neurobiological mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects is unknown. As mindfulness meditation cultivates attention to the present-moment and bodily sensations, neural functions related to interoception (i.e., central processes of bodily signals) might be such a mechanism. Methods We conducted a clinical trial in which veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to receive an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention (n = 47) or an active control intervention (present-centered group therapy; PCGT; n = 51). We assessed pre- and post-intervention PTSD symptoms and electroencephalography (EEG) measures of neural outcomes, including spontaneous brain activity, cognitive task-related brain responses, and interoceptive brain responses (heartbeat-evoked brain responses [HEBR]). We conducted statistical causal mediation analyses using treatment type as a predictor, and pre- and post-intervention measures of symptom severity as treatment response, and the neural outcomes as mediators. Results Compared to controls, the MBSR group had greater improvements in PTSD symptoms and increases in spontaneous alpha (8-13 Hz) power, task-related frontal theta power (4-7 Hz in 140-220 ms post-stimulus), and frontal theta HEBR (3-5 Hz and 265-336 ms post-R-peak). The mediation analysis using latent difference score modeling revealed that only changes in frontal theta HEBR mediated the MBSR treatment effect. Conclusions Mindfulness meditation improves brain functions of attentional control and resting brain states reflective of internally oriented relaxation. However, interoceptive neural functions enhanced by MBSR appear to be a primary cerebral mechanism that improves symptoms of PTSD.

Previous studies have shown that eye activities, including blinks, can indicate the psychological state of an individual. However, almost all previous studies analyzing blinks merely concentrated on traditional descriptive statistics, which are unable to reflect their dynamic processes. Furthermore, the states of non-blink (opening the eyes) and blink alternate with each other, forming a physiological cycle. If we only investigate blinks alone, it may be inadequate to describe how blinking works. Therefore, we attempted to recognize the affective state (“relaxation” vs. “stress”) of an individual through the dynamics of blink and non-blink cyclicity (BNBC), as one example, to illustrate this method. First, the “Stroop Test” was employed for emotion elicitation. Then, features were extracted from a categorical time series (0: nonblink;1: blink), which was recorded by the eye-tracking system. Finally, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values were obtained via eight commonly used classifiers. The results show that, compared with the traditional approaches for blink analysis, BNBC exhibits more compelling proficiency to detect stress. In summation, BNBC can be considered a new type of psychophysiological measure, which could be widely applied in psychology, medicine, and engineering.

To investigate the efficacy of resistance exercise on symptoms of vestibular migraine (VM) among migraine patients, a total of 385 VM patients were recruited, among whom 312 were eligible to participate in the current study. Patients were randomly allocated into either resistance exercise or relaxation control groups, and received respective interventions two times per week for 12 weeks. Patients were followed up at two and four months, respectively, to evaluate treatment effects. Primary outcomes included Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the number of vertiginous attacks in the previous week and Vertigo Severity Scale (VSS). Secondary endpoints included depression and anxiety symptoms, which were measured using the scores of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), were also assessed. Resistance exercise was slightly more pronounced in alleviating VM symptoms than relaxation control at two-month follow-up. While at four-month follow-up, the extents of the symptom attenuation were obviously better in the resistance exercise group than the relaxation control, in terms of VSS and DHI scores, as well as BDI and BAI scores. Serum levels of both TNF-α and IFN-γ were also significantly lower in patients in the resistance group than those in the relaxation control group. Our study favors an exercise-oriented treatment scheme in rehabilitating therapy for patients suffering from VM, and sheds light on the molecular mechanism potentially involving TNF-α and IFN-γ related inflammation pathways.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.Purpose: We investigated the correlation between T2 relaxation times and clinical symptoms in patients with cervical radiculopathy caused by cervical disk herniation.Overview of Literature: There are currently no imaging modalities that can assess the affected cervical nerve roots quantitatively.Methods: A total of 14 patients with unilateral radicular symptoms and five healthy subjects were subjected to simultaneous apparent T2 mapping and neurography with nerve-sheath signal increased with inked rest-tissue rapid acquisition of relaxation enhancement signaling (SHINKEI-Quant) using a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score for neck pain and upper arm pain was used to evaluate clinical symptoms. T2 relaxation times of the cervical dorsal root ganglia of the brachial plexus were measured bilaterally from C4 to C8 in patients with radicular symptoms and from C5 to C8 in healthy controls. The T2 ratio was calculated as the affected side to unaffected side.Results: When comparing nerve roots bilaterally at each spinal level, no significant differences in T2 relaxation times were found between patients and healthy subjects. However, T2 relaxation times of nerve roots in the patients with unilateral radicular symptoms were significantly prolonged on the involved side compared with the uninvolved side (p

OBJECTIVE Previous studies have suggested the use of 1.0 g/kg of 20% mannitol at the time of skin incision during neurosurgery in order to improve brain relaxation. However, the incidence of brain swelling upon dural opening is still high with this dose. In the present study, the authors sought to determine a better timing for mannitol infusion. METHODS One hundred patients with midline shift who were undergoing elective supratentorial tumor resection were randomly assigned to receive early (immediately after anesthesia induction) or routine (at the time of skin incision) administration of 1.0 g/kg body weight of 20% mannitol. The primary outcome was the 4-point brain relaxation score (BRS) immediately after dural opening (1, perfectly relaxed; 2, satisfactorily relaxed; 3, firm brain; and 4, bulging brain). The secondary outcomes included subdural intracranial pressure (ICP) measured immediately before dural opening; serum osmolality and osmole gap (OG) measured immediately before mannitol infusion (T0) and at the time of dural opening (TD); changes in serum electrolytes, lactate, and hemodynamic parameters at T0 and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes thereafter; and fluid balance at TD. RESULTS The time from the start of mannitol administration to dural opening was significantly longer in the early administration group than in the routine administration group (median 66 [IQR 55–75] vs 40 [IQR 38–45] minutes, p < 0.001). The BRS (score 1/2/3/4, n = 14/26/9/1 vs 3/25/18/4, p = 0.001) was better and the subdural ICP (median 5 [IQR 3–6] vs 7 [IQR 5–10] mm Hg, p < 0.001) was significantly lower in the early administration group than in the routine administration group. Serum osmolality and OG increased significantly at TD compared to levels at T0 in both groups (all p < 0.001). Intergroup comparison showed that serum osmolality and OG at TD were significantly higher in the routine administration group (p < 0.001 and = 0.002, respectively). Patients who had received early administration of mannitol had more urine output (p = 0.001) and less positive fluid balance (p < 0.001) at TD. Hemodynamic parameters, serum lactate concentrations, and incidences of electrolyte disturbances were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Prolonging the time interval between the start of mannitol infusion and dural incision from approximately 40 to 66 minutes can improve brain relaxation and decrease subdural ICP in elective supratentorial tumor resection.

Один із алгоритмів Data Mining — дерево класифікації і регресії — використаний для аналізу результатів психоемоційного навантажувального тестування з метою діагностики функціональної реактивності кровообігу пацієнта. Використаний алгоритм дозволив визначити 5 типів гемодинамічної реакції на психоемоційний стрес, у тому числі 3 відомі — нормальну, гіперреактивну і гіпертензивну, а також дві додаткові — гіпертензивну релаксацію при нормальній реакції на стрес і атипову — з відсутністю підвищення артеріального тиску у відповідь на стрес. Комп’ютерний алгоритм оцінки навантажувальної реакції і запропонована класифікація функціональної реактивності кровообігу дозволяють спростити аналіз та об’єктивізувати виявлення функціональних регуляторних порушень гемодинаміки, характерних для артеріальної гіпертензії, а також інших, що потребують клінічної інтерпретації.

Background To date, no studies have used hypnosis to examine and manage the potential emotional causes of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the scientific field; therefore, we decided to compare the effectiveness of hypnoanalysis and guided imagery for determining and manage these emotional causes. Methods Fifteen participants with severe MS were included and assigned into 2 groups: hypnoanalysis and guided imagery. In the hypnoanalysis group, the participants underwent 10 hypnotic sessions to understand events related to the cause of the disease, which were restructured (the events were modified by adding the psychological resources that each involved person needed); in addition, other techniques were used to investigate the causes and solutions according to the participants’ unconscious. The guided imagery group received 10 group sessions of body relaxation and guided imagery, which were recorded for practice at home. Outcome measures, namely, disability (the Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), quality of life (QoL, measured with the SF-36) and number of relapses, were evaluated 4 months previous the intervention, at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 months later. Results Hypnoanalysis revealed that stressful events and psychoemotional maladaptive patterns acted as causal, detonating, or aggravating factors of disease, and psychoemotional changes were the most frequent and varied solutions. No changes were observed in disability between the two groups. The guided imagery group showed an improvement in 2 subscales of QoL when compared with the hypnoanalysis group (which disappeared at the follow-up); this difference is probably due to the increased number of sessions and probably due to psychoemotional maladaptive patterns being more frequently mentioned than difficult circumstances in life and/or unsolved past events. However, the techniques used in hypnoanalysis were effective in understanding the potential emotional causes of MS, which showed high intra- and inter-participant consistency. Conclusions The daily use of guided imagery overcame the restructuring of negative past events to improve QoL in patients with MS. Trial registration ACTRN12618002024224 (retrospectively registered)

The human bladder maintains a cycle of filling, storing, and micturating throughout an individual's lifespan. The cycle relies on the ability of the bladder to expand without increasing the intravesical pressure, which is only possible with the controlled relaxation of well-complaint muscles and the congruously organized construction of the bladder wall. A competent bladder outlet, which functions in a synchronous fashion with the bladder, is also necessary for this cycle to be completed successfully without deterioration. In this paper, we aimed to review the contemporary physiological findings on bladder physiology and examine the effects of amino acids on clinical conditions affecting the bladder, with special emphasis on the available therapeutic evidence and possible future roles of the amino acids in the treatment of the bladder-related disorders.

Emotional experience and emotion regulation (ER) are associated with mental and physical health. Although different psychological interventions focusing directly or indirectly on ER have been developed in this domain, a manual-based intervention relying on an empirical emotional processing (EP) model that refers to an integration of cognitive, behavioral, and experiential approaches and techniques is still needed. This study aims to investigate the effects of an intervention working on several dimensions of EP based on the Openness to Emotions (OE) model, examined with 102 healthy participants assigned to treatment or control conditions. The participants in the treatment condition, compared with those in the control group (CG), significantly increased their abilities to cognitively represent and regulate their affective states and achieved greater functional equilibrium of the EP components. Furthermore, in a subgroup of 35 participants, those in the treatment condition learned to use the strategies “acceptation of the situation” and “mental relaxation” to regulate negative affect more frequently. They also perceived “mental relaxation” to be more effective compared to the waiting list’ participants. They also reported significantly less difficulty in controlling their impulses and accessing strategies to regulate emotional states. Further research is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of this intervention program in larger samples with diverse mental and physical health characteristics.

The lusitropic effect of quercetin was examined on isolated ventricular myocardial tissue preparations from normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The time required for 90% relaxation of the myocardium, which was prolonged in the diabetic mice, was shortened by quercetin in both normal and diabetic myocardia. This effect of quercetin was completely inhibited by cyclopiazonic acid but not by SEA0400. These results indicated that quercetin accelerates myocardial relaxation through activation of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase.

Patients with chronic pain and/or spasticity who have an intrathecal targeted drug delivery (TDD) pump require frequent needle access procedures to refill the pump's medication reservoir. Some patients find the access procedure painful and/or anxiety provoking. The purpose of this study was to determine if a nursing intervention of providing a distraction with a music relaxation video during the pump access procedure would reduce patients' pain and state anxiety.In this longitudinal, pre-test post-test, quasi-experimental design, patients watched a 13-minute calming music video while the nurse performed the needle access procedure. Data collection instruments included a combination of researcher-developed questionnaires, the DefenseVeterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS), and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Pain and anxiety were measured pre- and post-pump refill procedures at baseline with no intervention (T1) and at two subsequent pump refills with the music video intervention (T2 and T3).The sample consisted of 31 adults with chronic pain (n = 28) or spasticity (n = 3). All participants had an implanted pump for at least six months. Specialty trained nurses refilled the participants' pump in their home. The findings support the use of a music video as an effective intervention for reducing participants' perception of pain and anxiety during the pump refill procedure. Neither pre-test pain nor pre-test anxiety scores differed across time. Post-test mean pain scores decreased consistently across time (T1 = 5.55, T2 = 4.42, T3 = 4.23; P = .002). Post-test anxiety scores showed a significant decrease (P.05) between T1 (M = 37.87) and T2 (M = 30.94) which was not sustained at T3 (M = 35.68, P = .284). Overall, the majority of participants indicated liking the music video intervention. They also expressed interest in using the intervention for future refill procedures or other stressful situations.The music video was effective in producing a sustained reduction over time of participants' pain during the pump refill procedures; it was most effective in initially reducing participants' state anxiety at the initial intervention visit; however, it did not demonstrate a progressively sustained effect. Participants' opinions about the music video experience were positive.

PurposeThe solitary consumption market has grown in the hospitality industry. However, research on the behavior of solitary consumers and differences between solitary consumers of different nationalities is rare. The relationships between solo dining motivations and customer satisfaction were investigated for consumers in Taiwan and the United States.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted among Taiwanese and American consumers; 628 valid questionnaires were retrieved. Structural equation modeling was performed to test the hypotheses.FindingsSignificant differences were observed between Taiwanese and American consumer motivations. Higher solo dining motivation was positively associated with customer satisfaction; in particular, “escape and relaxation” and “enjoyment” were both positively associated with customer satisfaction. American consumers had a stronger relationship between motivation for social interaction and customer satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsOnly solo diners in Taiwan and the United States were investigated. The results might not be generalizable to solo diners in other regions.Originality/valueThe study's findings on the associations between solo dining motivations and consumption experience contribute to food consumption research. Furthermore, the results enable an understanding of differences in the motivations and behaviors of solitary consumers in different countries.

Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) is a facet-specific climate for psychological health and safety which constitutes an important organizational resource for creating a conducive work environment. The process to regain/restore energy expended at work, known as "recovery," also plays a pivotal role for individuals; however, this process, together with PSC, remains largely underexplored. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the role of PSC in enhancing the moderating role of individuals' psychological detachment and relaxation during weekends on the relationship between daily job demands in Week 1 and daily emotional exhaustion in Week 2. Data from a shortitudinal study of 178 teachers (in total, 534 diaries) in Terengganu, Malaysia, over two consecutive weeks, were operationalized at the individual level and daily level using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) software. The analysis showed that the daily experience of job demands in the prior week led to an increment of emotional exhaustion in the following week. Interestingly, the interaction role of PSC*psychological detachment and PSC*relaxation moderated the relationship between daily job demands and daily emotional exhaustion. Overall, this study highlights the importance of individual off-job recovery time and that building good PSC at work is fundamental in compensating for the adverse relationships between job demands and its consequences.

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether mento-physical exercises can decrease mental fatigue during shift work.‏. Methods Research subjects including the control-room staff of an urban-train system were chosen randomly, for whom mental fatigue was assessed before and after rest-breaks for control and experimental groups. A new protocol was applied in the experimental group, including breathing exercises, isometric and isotonic exercises, and progressive relaxation during the inter-shift break. A designed questionnaire and the Stroop test were used to evaluate fatigue and reaction time, respectively. Results Pre and post-test results showed that mental, visual, and physical fatigue and reaction time decreased by 14.48%, 49.22%, 26.85%, and 8.35% in the control group and 36.42%, 48.48%, 76.37%, and 20.56% in the experimental group, respectively. Conclusions At 5% α level, the Student's t test showed that mento-physical exercises effectively decreased mental and physical fatigue as well as reaction time in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Actual resource replenishment, a defining part of the stress-recovery process, has hardly been studied. We address this gap in the literature within the context of work breaks to determine which resources are replenished relative to a pre-stressor baseline. Guided by conservation of resources theory and the effort-recovery model, we explored how two different break activities promoted recovery by looking at their effects on recovery experiences (relaxation, psychological detachment), psychological resources (self-regulatory capacity, energy), and an indicator of insufficient recovery (fatigue). In a sample of 160 college students, we experimentally induced a state of resource depletion via mentally demanding tasks and randomly assigned people to a physical (stationary bike) or relaxation (progressive muscle relaxation) recovery break activity. The relaxation activity resulted in higher psychological detachment and relaxation experiences, the physical activity resulted in higher energy levels, and there were no differences between the break activities for self-regulatory capacity or fatigue. Overall, post-break resource levels improved following recovery break activities. Energy levels returned to baseline (replenishment); self-regulatory capacity and fatigue improved beyond baseline (accumulation). These resource replenishment and accumulation findings further the development of recovery theory and help employees select a work break activity that better meets their resource-related needs.

Background Exercise therapy is considered preferential treatment for patellar tendinopathy (PT). However, there is conflicting evidence for structural patellar tendon adaptation in response to exercise therapy and its association with symptoms is weak. Purpose To assess the association between 1) T2 * relaxation times and symptom severity; 2) baseline T2 * and clinical outcome; and 3) longitudinal T2 * changes and clinical outcome in athletes with PT performing exercise therapy. Study type Randomized controlled clinical trial. Subjects Seventy-six athletes (18-35 years) with clinically diagnosed and ultrasound-confirmed PT. Field strength/sequence 3D gradient echo sequence (3.0 T). Assessment Patients were enrolled in a randomized trial of progressive tendon-loading exercises (PTLE) versus eccentric exercise therapy (EET). Symptoms were assessed using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment (VISA-P) questionnaire. 3D-Ultrashort echo time (UTE)-MRI was acquired at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. Voxel-wise T2 * relaxation times were quantified using mono-exponential and bi-exponential models. T2 * analysis was performed in three patellar tendon tissue compartments representing: aligned collagen, degenerative tissue, and interface. Statistical tests Adjusted general linear, mixed-linear models, and generalized estimating equations. Results We included 76 patients with PT (58 men, mean age 24 ± 4 years); 38 in the PTLE-group and 38 in the EET-group, of which 57 subjects remained eligible for analysis. T2 * relaxation times were significantly associated with VISA-P in degenerative and interface tissues of the patellar tendon. No association was found between baseline T2 * and VISA-P after 24 weeks (P > 0.29). The estimated mean T2 * in degenerative tissue decreased from 14 msec (95%CI: 12-16) at baseline to 13 msec (95%CI: 11-15) at 12 weeks and to 13 msec (95%CI: 10-15) at 24 weeks. The significant decrease in T2 * from baseline to 24 weeks was associated with improved clinical outcome. Data conclusion Tissue-specific T2 * relaxation times, identified with 3D-UTE-MRI, decreased significantly in athletes with patellar tendinopathy performing exercise therapy and this decrease was associated with improved clinical outcome. Evidence level 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 4.

Schizencephaly is an extremely rare developmental birth defect or malformation characterized by abnormal clefts in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain, extending from the cortex to the ventricles, which may be unilateral or bilateral. This case report describes the general characteristics of a psychological home care program, reporting the main theoretical and technical elements in a 12-years-old case of type II Schizencephaly. The aims of the psychological home treatment were acceptance of the new treatment reality, a reduction in aggression and anxiety, and psychological support for the patient and family. In the psychological home care, patient’s awareness of illness was developed, along with family orientation, psychoeducation, relaxation techniques, and cognitive distraction. It can be observed that a significant improvement in the affective and emotional state was achieved within the patient’s clinical framework.

The present research featured the effect of mindfulness-based techniques on the development of reflexivity in patients with victim mentality. Mindfulness techniques include such practices as breathing exercises, meditation, progressive relaxation, journaling, visualization, etc. They are believed to develop reflexivity, as well as various useful personal and social responsibility skills. The study was based on O. O. Andronnikova’s methods for studying the victim behavior and the methods for determining reflexivity level by A. V. Karpov and V. V. Ponomarev. The survey (N=208) involved respondents aged 18–23 (145 women, 63 men). Tests revealed 52 subjects with victim mindset. They were divided into experimental (N=25) and control (N=27) groups. The participants attended group sessions of mindfulness-based practices once a week for six months. Based on the results of Mann-Whitney U-criterion and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the therapy proved efficient in differentiating the inner world of the participants and improving their conscious functioning in society in the time continuum. The mindfulness techniques promoted the development of reflexivity in patients with victim mentality and decreased self-harming behavior (p=0.045) and aggression (p=0.033).

Background There is a lack of research and consensus with respect to long-term effective treatments for trauma-affected refugees. The purpose of this follow-up study of a randomised clinical trial was to investigate the effectiveness of Stress Management (SM) versus Cognitive Restructuring (CR) in treating trauma-affected refugees, six and 18 months post-treatment, respectively. Methods From a total of 126 refugees with PTSD, the intention-to-treat sample in the original trial, 74 patients were present at the six-month follow-up (SM; n = 37, CR; n = 37) and 34 patients at the 18-month follow-up (SM; n = 14, CR; n = 20). During the trial, the patients had been offered a total of 16 psychotherapy sessions and 10 sessions with a medical doctor. Results Mixed regression analyses at six and 18-month follow-up showed a non-significant small reduction in PTSD symptoms at both follow-up points with no significant between-group differences between the two psychotherapeutic interventions. Statistically significant between-group treatment effects were, however, observed with the patients receiving SM having significantly reduced symptoms of somatisation measured by the Symptom Checklist (β = 0.40), depression (β = 0.29) and anxiety (β = 0.37) (measured by the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety ratings) at 18 months post-treatment compared to the CR group. Limitations Limitations to the present study include the dropout rate at follow-up(s). Conclusions The findings suggest that the consolidation of coping strategies including relaxation, attention-diversion and behavioural activation in SM appears to be more beneficial than CR in reducing long-term somatisation, depression and anxiety symptoms for this population.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) program and also Autogenic Relaxation (AGR) on improving mood in high jump beginners. The design in this study is a pretest-posttest control group design, which is a design that has a pretest before being given treatment. The participants used were high jump beginner athletes with an average age of 17-20 years. The total participants were 38 people. Then they are randomized and divided into 2 groups (PMR and AGR). A total of 20 samples were in the PMR group and 18 samples were in the AGR group. The results of the study are based on the calculation of independent samples test. It is known that the value of Sig (2-tailed) is 0.000 0.05. So, it can be concluded that the variance of the N-Gain data (%) for the PMR and AGR groups is the same (no difference). It was further explained that the value of the independent samples test of significance (Sig) (2-tailed) was 0.000 or

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the sleep and dreams of many individuals. Some have experienced improvements, while others have had more complaints. The changes to daily life such as working from home and spending more time indoors in confinement may have disturbed the circadian rhythms of some individuals. There were many reports of a shift towards a later bedtime during the pandemic, with several studies showing that in general, females experienced worse sleep than males, including more nighttime awakenings and nightmares. Increased dream and nightmare frequency during the pandemic has been shown in multiple studies. It has been postulated that because dreams are often guided by the dominant emotional state, that dreams and nightmares related to pandemic themes are a result of specific stressors related to COVID-19. Those experiencing unwanted sleep disturbances and nightmares could stand to benefit from mindfulness and relaxation practices that can ease stress and anxiety before bedtime. Striving to maintain a regular sleep schedule and enhance exposure to daylight–particularly during the first half of the day–may also be helpful.

Objective Examine the effects of a relaxation course with a mindfulness meditation component in a two-group pre-test and post-test non-randomized study design. Participants Participants included 219 undergraduate students (experimental group: n = 103; control group: n = 116), 18-43 years old. Methods Completion of measures of stress, resilience, coping and mindfulness at the beginning and end of the intervention. Results The independent sample t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in stress and maladaptive coping, and an increase in resilience in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion Benefits were observed following the intervention by positively impacting factors associated with increased functioning in life. Classroom-based interventions could be considered beneficial for students.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) allowed for an increase in methadone take-home doses for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in March 2020.To evaluate the effects of the SAMSHA exemption on methadone adherence and OUD-related outcomes.A convenience sample of 183 clients (58% female) were recruited from a methadone clinic in the fall of 2019 for a cross-sectional survey. Survey data was linked to clinical records, including urine drug testing (UDT) results for methadone and emergency department (ED) visits at the local hospital. Participants were on stable methadone dosing for 9 months prior to and following March 2020. Methadone adherence was assessed by UDTs; OUD-related outcomes were assessed by overdose events and ED visits. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between change in take-home methadone doses and outcomes.Mean take-home doses increased nearly 200% (11.4 doses/30 days pre-COVID-19 vs. 22.3 post-SAMHSA exemption). ED visits dropped from 74 (40.4%) pre-COVID-19 to 56 (30.6%) post-SAMHSA exemption (Despite a near-doubling of take-home methadone doses during the COVID-19 exemption period, the increase in take-home doses was not associated with negative treatment outcomes in methadone-adherent clients.

OBJECTIVE: Disturbances in emotional processes are commonly reported in patients with a somatic symptom disorder (SSD). Although emotions usually occur in social interactions, little is known about interpersonal emotion dynamics of SSD patients during their actual emotional encounters. This study examined physiological coherence (linkage) between SSD patients and their partners, and in healthy couples during their emotional interactions. Secondarily, we explored group-level relationships between participants' and their partners' subjective affect. METHODS: Twenty-nine romantic couples (16 healthy and 13 SSD patient-couples) underwent a dyadic conversation task with neutral and anger-eliciting topics followed by a guided relaxation. Partners' cutaneous facial temperature was recorded simultaneously by functional infrared thermal imaging. Immediately after each condition, participants reported on their pain intensity, self-affect, and perceived partner-affect. RESULTS: Emotional conditions and having a partner with an SSD significantly affected coherence amplitude on the forehead (F(2,54) = 4.95, p = .011) and nose tip temperature (F(2,54) = 3.75, p = .030). From baseline to anger condition, coherence amplitude significantly increased in the patient-couples, whereas it decreased in the healthy couples. Correlation changes between partners' subjective affect comparably accompanied the changes in physiological coherence in healthy and patient-couples. CONCLUSIONS: Inability to reduce emotional interdependence in sympathetic activity and subjective affect during a mutual conflict observed in SSD patient-couples seems to capture emotion co-dysregulation. Interventions should frame patients' emotional experiences as embodied and social. Functional infrared thermal imaging confirms to be an ecological and reliable method for examining autonomic changes in interpersonal contexts.Registration Page: https://osf.io/8eyjr. ispartof: Psychosomatic Medicine vol:84 issue:2 pages:188-198 ispartof: location:United States status: published

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the upper limb stretch reflex in wrestlers. METHODS Ten wrestlers and 11 control subjects participated in the study. The experiment was divided into two sessions. In the extension perturbation session, participants either relaxed or flexed the elbow when they felt a perturbation (abrupt elbow extension induced by a dynamometer). This was done 30 times by each subject for both sessions. In the flexion perturbation session, participants also relaxed or extended the elbow when they felt a perturbation (abrupt elbow flexion). During the tasks, the stretch reflex was monitored by recording the surface electromyographic (EMG) activities of the right biceps and triceps brachii. The EMG reflex components were divided into three periods based on the time after the perturbation: M1=20 - 50ms, M2=50 - 80ms, and M3=80 - 100ms. The averaged background EMG activity just before the disturbance was subtracted from the EMG activity in each period. The resultant value was integrated to obtain reflex magnitudes of M1 - M3. RESULT For the triceps brachii, in the relaxation task, the wrestler group showed a significantly smaller value for M2 than did the control group. In the extension task, the wrestler group showed a significantly larger value for M3 than did the control group. There was no difference in M1 between the two groups. For the biceps brachii, there was no significant difference between any reflex components. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that high level wrestlers have specific characteristics of the long latency stretch reflex in the triceps brachii that are modulated in a situation-specific manner.

Objective: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was dismantled into four modules of three sessions each: cognitive restructuring (Think), behavioral activation (Act), problem solving (Solve) and relaxation (Relax). We investigated the modules’ relative effectiveness in indicated depression prevention for adolescents and examined variations in sequencing of these modules. Method: We performed a pragmatic cluster-randomized microtrial with four parallel conditions: (1) Think-Act-Relax-Solve (n = 14 clusters, n = 81 participants); (2) Act-Think-Relax-Solve (n = 13, n = 69); (3) Solve-Act-Think-Relax (n = 13, n = 77); and (4) Relax-Solve-Act-Think (n = 12, n = 55). The sample consisted of 282 Dutch adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms (Mage = 13.8; 55.7% girls, 92.9% Dutch). In total 52 treatment groups were randomized as a cluster. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after each module and at 6-month follow-up with depressive symptoms as primary outcome. Results: None of the modules (Think, Act, Solve, Relax) was associated with a significant decrease in depressive symptoms after three sessions and no significant differences in effectiveness were found between the modules. All sequences of modules were associated with a significant decrease in depressive symptoms at post-intervention, except the sequence Relax-Solve-Act-Think. At 6-month follow-up, all sequences showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms. No significant differences in effectiveness were found between the sequences at post-intervention and 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Regardless of the CBT technique provided, one module of three sessions may not be sufficient to reduce depressive symptoms. The sequence in which the CBT components cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, problem solving and relaxation are offered, does not appear to significantly influence outcomes at post- intervention or 6-month follow-up. Abbreviations: CDI-2:F: Children’s Depression Inventory-2 Full-length version; CDI-2:S: Children’s Depression Inventory-2 Short version; STARr: Solve, Think, Act, Relax and repeat.

Background: Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is the most common type of pain confined in the posterior aspect of neck, also known as nonspecific or simple neck pain affecting two thirds of the general population at some time in their lives. Prevalence: Neck pain is most common muscular skeletal condition affecting up to 70% of individual and 5% to 10% of adults having a disabling neck pain problem. Neck pain is more common in women than men. The prevalence of neck pain in the general population has been reported to be 15% for men and 23% for women. Objectives of the Study: To find out the effect of Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) along with Deep Neck Flexor (DNF) exercises in reducing pain and disability and improving ROM in patient with sub-acute mechanical neck pain. To find out the effect of Deep Neck Flexor exercise alone in reducing pain and disability and improving ROM in patient with sub-acute mechanical neck pain. To compare whether Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) along with Deep Neck Flexor exercises or Deep Neck Flexor exercises alone are effective in reducing pain and disability and improving ROM in patient with sub-acute mechanical neck pain Methods: Study included 30 patients with lateral epicondylitis between ages 30-50 years. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group-A and Group-B. Group A (n = 15) was treated using Cyriax physiotherapy, group B (n = 15) was treated with movement with mobilization. Patients were treated for 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures are NPRS (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) and DASH (The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand). Results: The results of the study indicate that there were highly statistically significant improvement in functional disability on NDI, cervical lateral flexion(Right & Left), rotation (Right & Left) ROM and reduction in pain on VAS in Group-A as compared to Group-B. There was no significant difference observed when the groups were compared for cervical flexion and extension ROM. Conclusion: From the result it is concluded that Post isometric relaxation with DNF exercise is effective in mechanical neck pain. Key words: Mechanical neck pain (MNP), Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR), Deep Neck Flexor (DNF) exercise.

Virtual reality (VR) is receiving widespread attention as a delivery tool for exposure therapies. The advantage offered by VR over traditional technology is a greater sense of presence and immersion, which magnifies user effects and enhances the effectiveness of exposure-based interventions. The current study systematically examined the basic factors involved in generating presence in VR as compared to standard technology, namely (1) system-driven factors that are exclusive to VR devices while controlling general factors such as field of view and image quality; (2) media-driven factors of the virtual environment eliciting motivational salience through different levels of arousal and valence (relaxing, exciting and fear evoking stimuli); and (3) the effects of presence on magnifying affective response. Participants (N = 14) watched 3 different emotionally salient videos (1 × fear evoking, 1 × relaxing and 1 × exciting) in both viewing modes (VR and Projector). Subjective scores of user experience were collected as well as objective EEG markers of presence (frontal alpha power, theta/beta ratio). Subjective and objective presence was significantly greater in the VR condition. There was no difference in subjective or objective presence for stimulus type, suggesting presence is not moderated by arousal, but may be reliant on activation of motivational systems. Finally, presence did not magnify feelings of relaxation or excitement, but did significantly magnify users’ experience of fear when viewing fear evoking stimuli. This is in line with previous literature showing strong links between presence and generation of fear, which is vital in the efficacy of exposure therapies.

Sectiocaesarea is an artificial childbirth, ie the fetus is born through an intact abdominal wall and uterine incision that is still intact with the requirement, that the uterus is intact and the fetus weighs above 500 gr.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hand-held relaxation techniques on anxiety reduction in caesarean sectio patients in the midwifery room of Kepahiang Regional Hospital in 2019.The design of this study used the pre-experimental method, with the One Group Pretest-Posttest design approach. The population used in this study was about 80 women giving birth with caesarean section from March to May 2019 in Kepahiang District Hospital. Samples were taken using 45 accidental sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis, data normality test and bivariate analysis using Wilcoxon sign rank test.The results of the study were obtained from 45 patients before hand held finger relaxation that experienced mild anxiety by 22 respondents (48.9%), moderate anxiety by 11 respondents (24.4%) and severe anxiety by 12 respondents (26.7%), after they were performed there are 10 respondents (22.2%) not hand worried, 27 respondents (60.0%) have mild anxiety and 8 respondents (17.8%) have severe anxiety, there is an influence between finger grip relaxation with pre-operative patient anxiety cesarean section.It is expected to provide input to Kepahiang Regional Hospital regarding the effect of hand-held relaxation techniques on reducing anxiety in patients with Preoperative Caesarea in the Midwifery Room of Kepahiang Regional Hospital in 2019

Background To mitigate the psychological burdens of COVID-19 for frontline clinicians (FCs), we adapted an existing evidence-based resiliency program, Stress Management and Resilience Training Relaxation Response Program (SMART-3RP), for FCs. This analysis explores moderators of stress coping to determine which subgroups of FCs benefited most from SMART-3RP. Methods 102 FCs from Mass General Brigham hospitals engaged in the adapted SMART-3RP. Assessments were completed at group entry (Week 0) and completion (Week 4). The primary outcome was stress coping, and we examined 15 possible baseline moderators. We fit linear mixed effects regression models and assessed potential baseline moderators using a likelihood ratio test. We report model-based estimates and confidence intervals for each moderator-by-time interaction (i.e., differential effect), where positive/negative values indicate more/less improvement in average perceived stress coping. Results Stress coping improved from Week 0 to Week 4 (mean improvement [95% CI] = 0.9 [0.6 to 1.2]). FCs with higher anxiety (differential effect [95% CI] = 0.3 [0.1 to 0.4]), depression (0.4 [0.2 to 0.6]), and loneliness (0.4 [0.1 to 0.6]), but lower levels of mindfulness (CAMS-Rfocus: 1.0 [0.4 to 1.6]; CAMS-Raccept: 1.3 [0.7 to 2.0]) and self-compassion (0.4, [0.1 to 0.8]) at baseline experienced greater benefits in perceived stress coping from the SMART-3RP. Baseline health uncertainty along with sociodemographic and work characteristics did not moderate stress coping. Discussion Results highlight particular sub-populations of FCs that may benefit more from a stress management intervention, especially during emergency responses (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic).

Pregnancy and childbirth are physiological processes that every woman will go through. The intensity of pain experienced by women during labor varies, but it can be exacerbated by fear, tension, and anxiety. Hypnosis techniques have been proposed as a means of overcoming anxiety and fear. Compared to women who receive relaxation training or supportive counselling, hypnosis reduces pain intensity, shortens delivery time, and reduces the number of women who stay in the hospital for more than two days after their baby is born. Yoga during pregnancy, like hypnosis, has been shown to reduce pain intensity during the first stage of labor. This research aimed to see how prenatal hypnosis and prenatal yoga affected labor pain in women giving birth at the Independent Practice of Midwife Meli Rosita Palembang. This study employs an experimental research design with a Static Group Comparison strategy. The sample in this study consisted of 60 pregnant women divided into two groups: those who received hypnosis and prenatal yoga interventions and those who did not. Questionnaires, checklists, and tutorials on implementing prenatal hypnosis and prenatal yoga were used as instruments. Prenatal hypnosis and prenatal yoga significantly affected labor pain in Maternal Maternity at Meli Rosita's Independent Midwife Practice (p-value 0.000). The intervention group had a pain scale average of 2.70, while the control group had a pain scale average of 4.33. As a result, a combination of prenatal hypnosis and prenatal yoga can alleviate labor pain.

Stress is a complex life occurrence essential for survival and goal achievement but can be damaging in excess. Because of the high prevalence of stress in North America, a safe supplement that effectively reduces stress is in demand. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of AlphaWave® l-Theanine on whole-scalp and frontal alpha power, midline theta power, and salivary cortisol in healthy, moderately stressed adults. This was a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study that consisted of two study periods with a 7-day washout. A single dose of AlphaWave® l-Theanine (200 mg) or placebo was administered. To induce stress, a mental arithmetic test (MAT) was administered before and after the dose. Electroencephalogram, salivary cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate, self-reported stress, adverse events, clinical chemistry, and hematology were assessed to evaluate efficacy and safety. Increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and self-reported stress and state anxiety indicated that participants experienced stress during the MAT. AlphaWave® l-Theanine led to a greater increase in frontal region and whole-scalp alpha power 3 h post-dose compared to placebo (p ≤ 0.050). Within groups, there were increases in alpha power, at 3 h with AlphaWave® l-Theanine, over the whole recording and during the eyes-open portions (p ≤ 0.048) of the alpha task. The changes in alpha wave activity are supported by greater decreases in salivary cortisol 1 h post-dose (p

Background. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) belongs to the most common inflammatory diseases of the joints, and the number of these patients is increasing everywhere causing enormous medical, social and economic damage. An important role in the pathogenesis of RA is given to the violations of the autonomic neural system (ANS) functions, whose condition is closely related to the rheological properties of the blood serum (RPBS). The purpose and objectives. To evaluate the correlation between «vegetative passport» of RA patients and autonomic dysfunction with RPBS at different variations of the disease. Materials and methods. We have examined 173 patients aged 18 to 79 years (on the average 46 years), among them 21 % were males and 79 % — females. The duration of disease manifestation was 10 years, type of RA seropositive for rheumatoid factor and citrulline antibodies was detected in 3/4 of cases, extraarticular (systemic) form of the disease was diagnosed in 37 % of cases. The surface indicators of the blood serum — viscosity, elasticity, tension, relaxation and viscoelasticity modulus — were determined using digital tensio­meter PAT2-Sinterface (Germany). Results. «Ve­getative passport» defines the integral clinical, laboratory and instrumental signs of RA, wherein the severity of autono­mic dysfunction is directly correlated with the rate of joint pathology progression, and in sympathicotonia — with the baseline parameters of rheumatoid factor in the blood and the degree of RA activity. Changes in RPBS are accompanied by an increase in the steady-state (static) surface tension, which are recorded in 70 % of cases. Integral state of interfacial activity, relaxation and viscoelastic characteristics of the blood determine the type of ANS and the presence of autonomic dysfunction in patients (patients with vagotonia are characterized by increase in viscoelastic modulus and decrease of surface tension, with sympathicotonia — by increase in surface tension and reduced surface viscosity). RPBS parameters are associated with the severity of autonomic disorders, and the surface viscosity index has a prognostic value. Conclusions. The development of autonomic dysfunction is correlated not only with the features of the course of articular syndrome and extraarticular RA symptoms, but also with the state of ANS, which is involved in RPBS disorders. In the future, the assessment of ANS state will be useful for subsequent timely rehabi­litation measures of the disease.

Objective: Effective interventions are needed to mitigate effects of stress and anxiety from conception and up to two years postpartum (the first 1000 days), but it is unclear what works, for what populations and at what time points. This review aimed to synthesise evidence from existing reviews of the effects of stress and anxiety interventions. Methods: A systematic review of systematic reviews was conducted. PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE and the Cochrane databases were searched (inception to January 2020). Reviews were eligible if they examined effects of interventions during the first 1000 days on women’s stress and/or anxiety. Extracted data were narratively synthesised. Review quality was assessed using existing recommendations including the AMSTAR tool. Results: Thirty-four reviews were eligible for inclusion; 21 demonstrated high methodological quality. Cognitive behavioural therapy demonstrates some beneficial effects for anxiety across the first 1000 days for general and at-risk populations. Support-based interventions demonstrate effects for stress and anxiety for at-risk mothers in the postpartum. Music, yoga and relaxation demonstrate some effects for stress and anxiety, but studies are limited by high risk of bias. Conclusion: Existing evidence is inconsistent. Cognitive behavioural therapy and support-based interventions demonstrate some benefits. Further methodologically and conceptually robust research is needed.