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MDMA/ecstasy use and psilocybin use are associated with lowered odds of psychological distress and suicidal thoughts in a sample of US adults.
Jones, GM, Nock, MK
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England). 2022;(1):46-56
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and rates within the United States have risen over the past two decades. Hence, there is a critical need for novel tools to treat suicidal ideation and related mental health conditions. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)/ecstasy and classic psychedelics may be two such tools. AIMS The aim of this study was to assess non-causal associations between MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelic use and psychological distress and suicide risk. METHODS In this study, we examined the aforementioned associations among 484,732 adult participants in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2019). RESULTS Lifetime MDMA/ecstasy use was associated with reduced odds of past year suicidal thinking (10% reduced odds; odds ratio (OR) = 0.90; 95% confidence interval, CI = (0.84-0.97); p < 0.01) and past year suicidal planning (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = (0.78-0.99); p < 0.05). Furthermore, lifetime psilocybin use was associated with reduced odds of past month psychological distress (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = (0.73-0.84); p < 0.001) and past year suicidal thinking (OR = 0.90; 95% CI = (0.83-0.96); p < 0.01). Finally, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was associated with increased odds of past year suicidal thinking (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = (1.00-1.15); p < 0.05). CONCLUSION MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin use are associated with reduced odds of suicidal thinking and related outcomes-though experimental studies are needed to determine whether these associations are causal. These findings call for more research into the efficacy of MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelics for treating psychological distress and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and for updated drug legislation that allows for further investigation into these substances.
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Gender differences in the experienced emotional intensity of experimentally induced memories of negative scenes.
Staugaard, SR, Berntsen, D
Psychological research. 2021;(4):1732-1747
Abstract
It is well documented that women have an increased risk of emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Such disorders are typically characterized by intrusive memories and rumination of past events, but findings are mixed as to whether women have enhanced access to memories of emotional events. Some studies have found that women, compared with men, report more frequent and more intense memories of emotionally stressful events, whereas other studies have failed to replicate this effect. These conflicting findings may reflect the use of different memory sampling techniques (e.g., retrospective vs. experimental data) and limited control for factors associated with both gender and emotional memory. The purpose of the present study was to investigate gender differences in memory for emotionally negative events, using three different sampling methods, while at the same time controlling for parameters that might co-vary with gender. Consistent with some previous studies, we found that women and men did not differ in their frequencies of emotionally negative involuntary memories. However, women rated their memories as more intense and arousing than men did, and women also reported higher increases in state anxiety after retrieval. Female gender accounted for unique variance in the emotional intensity and subjective arousal associated with negative memories, when controlling for other theoretically derived variables. The findings provide evidence that female gender is associated with a stronger emotional response to memories of negative events, but not that women remember such events more frequently than men do.
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[Possible Gender Difference in Anti-stress Effect of β-Cryptoxanthin].
Unno, K, Noda, S, Kawasaki, Y, Iguchi, K, Yamada, H
Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. 2016;(9):1255-62
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Abstract
Beta-cryptoxanthin [β-CRX, (3R)-β, β-caroten-3-ol] is a provitamin A and a potent antioxidant that is abundant in Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshiu MARC.), which is the most popular fruit in Japan. The anti-stress effect of β-CRX on humans was evaluated in fifth-year university students during both routine daily life at the university and at pharmacy practice. The study design was a double-blind group comparison and participants (n=20; female 12, male 8) were randomly assigned to β-CRX-rich orange juice or placebo (β-CRX was removed from orange juice) groups. β-CRX or placebo juice (125 mL, once a day, after breakfast) were consumed from 10 d prior to the pharmacy practice and continued for 10 d into the practice period. To assess participants' anxiety, the state-trait anxiety inventory test was carried out before the pharmacy practice. Salivary α-amylase activity (sAA) was measured as a marker of sympathetic nervous system activity. In the placebo-group, sAA in the evening (post-practice sAA) tended to be higher than sAA in the morning (pre-practice sAA) during both routine daily life at the university and during pharmacy practice. In the β-CRX-group, the increase of post-practice sAA was suppressed in females. These results suggested that β-CRX has an anti-stress effect, at least, in females.
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[New possibilities of pharmacotherapy in cardiovascular patients with mental disorders].
Medvedev, VE, Frolova, VI, Epifanov, AV
Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2014;(9):30-7
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the efficacy and tolerability of the drugs pantogam active and phenotropil in mild neurotic, somatoform, stress-induced and depressive disorders developed in patients with cardiovascular diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS The effect of pantogam active was assessed in an open study. The main group of patients (n=35) treated with phenotropil during 12 weeks was compared to the comparison group (n=35). Patient's status was evaluated using psychometric (CGI, HDRS etc) and adverse effect scales. RESULTS AND СONCLUSION Statistically significant results demonstrated the advantages of pantogam active has advantage on a number of values. The treatment effect of pantogam active gradually increased while the effect (in particular anxiolytic one) of phenotropil decreased after 4-8 weeks of treatment. The tolerability of both drugs was satisfactory.
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Examining the efficacy of a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction (Brief MBSR) program on psychological health.
Bergen-Cico, D, Possemato, K, Cheon, S
Journal of American college health : J of ACH. 2013;(6):348-60
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to examine potential psychological health benefits of participating in a brief (5-week) mindfulness-based stress reduction (brief MBSR) program integrated into an academic course. PARTICIPANTS Participants were 119 undergraduate students (treatment: n = 72; control: n = 47) enrolled in elective academic courses on addictive behaviors, between January 2010 and May 2012. METHODS This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design comparing changes in psychological health between brief MBSR treatment and parallel control groups. Baseline and follow-up data were collected synchronously across semesters for both groups. RESULTS Analysis of covariance revealed significant improvements in psychological health, measured by mindfulness (Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale: p ≤ .001; Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Scale: p ≤ .001) and self-compassion (Self-compassion Scale: p ≤ .001), among brief MBSR participants compared with the parallel control cohort. Significant reductions in trait anxiety were not evident. CONCLUSIONS Brief MBSR programs can improve psychological health; however, longer MBSR programs may be needed to improve psychological distress, such as trait anxiety.
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Active and passive distraction in children undergoing wound dressings.
Nilsson, S, Enskär, K, Hallqvist, C, Kokinsky, E
Journal of pediatric nursing. 2013;(2):158-66
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test how distraction influences pain, distress and anxiety in children during wound care. Sixty participants aged 5-12 years were randomized to three groups: serious gaming, the use of lollipops and a control group. Self-reported pain, distress, anxiety and observed pain behaviour were recorded in conjunction with wound care. Serious gaming, an active distraction, reduced the observed pain behaviour and self-reported distress compared with the other groups. A sense of control and engagement in the distraction, together, may be the explanation for the different pain behaviours when children use serious gaming.
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Thermal defense of extremely low gestational age newborns during resuscitation: exothermic mattresses vs polyethylene wrap.
Simon, P, Dannaway, D, Bright, B, Krous, L, Wlodaver, A, Burks, B, Thi, C, Milam, J, Escobedo, M
Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association. 2011;(1):33-7
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of thermal warming mattresses compared with wrapping in a polyethylene sheet during resuscitation in extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs) in preventing admission hypothermia in the neonatal intensive care unit. STUDY DESIGN Patients delivered between 24 and 28 weeks gestation and ≤1250 g were eligible for this prospective, randomized study. In the delivery room, the resuscitation team opened a sealed opaque envelope for treatment group assignment to either the wrap or the sodium acetate mattress group. Resuscitation followed protocols recommended by the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. The primary outcome for this study was comparison of axillary temperatures recorded at the time of neonatal intensive care unit admission between the two groups. RESULT Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. The mattress group's mean admission temperature was 36.5±0.67, whereas the plastic wrap group's was 36.1±0.66 (P=0.0445). CONCLUSION Thermal mattresses improved admission temperature for ELGANs over plastic wrap. Although both plastic wrap and thermal mattresses improve the thermal status of ELGANs, all current interventions fall short of truly protecting all these vulnerable patients from thermal stress.
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Health survey instrument development through a community-based participatory research approach: Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) and Brazilian immigrants in Greater Boston.
Tajik, M, Galvão, HM, Eduardo Siqueira, C
Journal of immigrant and minority health. 2010;(3):390-7
Abstract
Brazilians are among the fastest growing segment of immigrant populations in several states of the United States. Culturally appropriate and validated health survey instruments do not exist to adequately assess the health needs of this population. Through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, a cross-cultural pilot project was conducted to develop and test a culturally-adapted Brazilian Portuguese-version of the health-promoting lifestyle profile II (HPLP-II) instrument with a convenience sample of 60 bilingual and bicultural Brazilian immigrants using a combined quasi experimental and focus group design. The project evaluated HPLP-II instrument's psychometric properties of equivalency, reliability, and score distribution in Portuguese and English. This pilot test supports equivalency, consistency, and reliability of the English and culturally-adapted Brazilian Portuguese versions of the instrument. CBPR is an effective approach in health instrument development. This instrument is an important first step in designing other appropriate instruments to explore health conditions of Brazilian immigrants in the U.S.
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Effects of audio relaxation programs for blood pressure reduction in older adults.
Tang, HY, Harms, V, Speck, SM, Vezeau, T, Jesurum, JT
European journal of cardiovascular nursing. 2009;(5):329-36
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress management is one element of the lifestyle modification that is recommended for blood pressure control. Reduction in sympathetic arousal may be achieved through a series of audio relaxation training. AIMS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of two audio relaxation programs for blood pressure reduction in older adults. METHODS This clinical randomized study consists of 12-sessions of intervention, with one-month and three-month follow up measures. 41 older adults were randomly assigned to either listening to a 12-minute audio relaxation program or a 12-minute Mozart andante. At each session, blood pressures were recorded. RESULTS For both groups, the reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures after the 12-session intervention training was statistically and clinically significant. The reduction in systolic blood pressure was greater in the audio relaxation group than the Mozart group. The adherence to the program at one-month and three-month was 54% and 66% respectively. The blood pressure at one-month and three-month were not significantly different than the initial measurement. CONCLUSIONS Significant blood pressure reduction can be achieved through a brief 12-minute audio relaxation program with older adults. Guided relaxation may be more effective in lowering blood pressure than plain music.
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[Should psychological events be considered cancer risk factors?].
Schraub, S, Sancho-Garnier, H, Velten, M
Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publique. 2009;(2):113-23
Abstract
BACKGROUND The possibility that life events, personality or depression can be considered risk factors for cancer has been of great interest among the lay public and doctors. METHODS A critical review of different publications of meta-analyses, case-control studies and cohort studies investigating a possible relation between the onset of cancer and life events, personality disorders or depression is presented. Many studies have methodological limitations with possible bias, which may explain controversial results. We selected 32 studies from which conclusions can be drawn with the least amount of bias. RESULTS Eighteen out of 32 publications whose methodology permits unbiased interpretation show no link between psychological factors and the risk of cancer. Six publications show a significant link only in one or several subgroups and four surveys, three of which were published by the same author, show an inverse relation in gynecological cancers. As for life events and breast cancer, the results are slightly in favor of a positive relation in four studies; four others showed no relation and one argues in favor of an inverse risk, which means a protective effect for this cancer. For life events and other cancers, studies show no relation, with the possible exception of cancers in women where endogenous estrogens can play a role (colon and endometrial cancers), where there is an inverse relation. No studies showed a significant relation between personality features and the risk of cancer. The studies of a possible relation between depression and cancer are controversial and no conclusion can be drawn. CONCLUSION It cannot be confidently concluded that life events, personality features or depression play a role in the onset of cancer.