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Anxiety Levels (anxiety + level)
Selected AbstractsThree Years of Italian Experience of an Educational Program for Parents of Young Children Affected by Atopic Dermatitis: Improving Knowledge Produces Lower Anxiety Levels in Parents of Children with Atopic DermatitisPEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Giampaolo Ricci M.D. As atopic dermatitis affects 10% of the pediatric population, pediatricians and dermatologists spend much time on the treatment of this disease, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. To improve the quality of life of children and families affected by atopic dermatitis we have offered an educational program to the parents of young children affected by the disease. The program consists of six meetings at weekly intervals involving a pediatric allergist, a dermatologist, and a psychologist. Our experience has been positive. This type of program may help to improve the quality of life of families with children affected by atopic dermatitis. Lower levels of anxiety were observed among parents at the end of the program. We believe that educational programs of this type, in association with conventional treatment, can be useful in the long term management of the disease. They may be considered to improve the quality of life of the family and children and to create more interaction and compliance between physicians, parents, and children. [source] A systematic review of intervention studies about anxiety in caregivers of people with dementiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2007Claudia Cooper Abstract Background There is considerable literature on managing depression, burden and psychological morbidity in caregivers of people with dementia (CG). Anxiety has been a relatively neglected outcome measure but may require specific interventions. Objective To synthesise evidence regarding interventions that reduce anxiety in CGs. Methods Twenty-four studies met our inclusion criteria. We rated the methodology of studies, and awarded grades of recommendation (GR) for each type of intervention according to Centre for Evidence Based Medicine guidelines, from A (highest level of evidence) to D. Results Anxiety level was the primary outcome measure in only one study and no studies were predicated on a power calculation for anxiety level. There was little evidence of efficacy for any intervention. The only RCT to report significantly reduced anxiety involved a CBT and relaxation-based intervention specifically devised to treat anxiety, and there was preliminary evidence (no randomised controlled trials) that caregiver groups involving yoga and relaxation without CBT were effective. There was grade B evidence that behavioural management, exercise therapies and respite were ineffective. Limitations Many interventions were heterogeneous, so there is some overlap between groups. Lack of evidence of efficacy is not evidence of lack of efficacy. Conclusions CBT and other therapies developed primarily to target depression did not effectively treat anxiety. Good RCTs are needed to specifically target anxiety which might include relaxation techniques. Some of the interventions focussed on reducing contact with the care recipients but caregivers may want to cope with caring and preliminary evidence suggests strategies to help CGs manage caring demands may be more effective. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Baseline cortisol measures and developmental pathways of anxiety in early adolescenceACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2009K. Greaves-Lord Objective:, This study investigated whether baseline cortisol measures predicted future anxiety, and compared cortisol values of groups with different developmental pathways of anxiety. Method:, Cortisol levels were assessed in 1768 individuals (10,12 years). Anxiety levels were assessed at the same age and 2 years later. Results:, Cortisol measures did not predict future anxiety levels. Individuals with persistent anxiety problems did not show higher morning cortisol levels than those with persistently low, decreasing, or increasing anxiety levels. Instead, individuals with persistently high anxiety levels showed significantly lower evening cortisol levels than all other individuals. Further, participants with increasing anxiety levels showed higher morning cortisol levels (area under the curve; AUC) than individuals with persistently low anxiety levels. Conclusion:, The extent to which the HPA-axis , by itself , plays a role in the aetiology of anxiety is questionable. Interactions of the HPA-axis with other biological or environmental factors may be more important. [source] The effect of fast reporting by amnio-PCR on anxiety levels in women with positive biochemical screening for Down syndrome , a randomized controlled trialPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 3 2002Wing Cheong Leung Abstract Objective To study the effect of fast reporting by polymerase chain reaction on amniotic fluid cells (amnio-PCR) on anxiety levels in women with positive biochemical screening for Down syndrome. Method Between May 2000 and April 2001, 60 screen-positive women were randomized before amniocentesis into either having (group A) or not having (group B) fast-reporting by amnio-PCR. Anxiety levels were measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory just prior to amniocentesis, three days (when PCR results were known to group A) and three weeks (when standard karyotype results were known to both groups) afterwards. Results Two women were excluded because in one woman amnio-PCR showed trisomy 21 and the other miscarried shortly after amniocentesis. The state-anxiety scores increased over the three-week period after being informed of the positive-screen result in both groups. The trait- and state-anxiety scores at all points did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions In contrast to the general belief, fast reporting by amnio-PCR did not alleviate anxiety in women who are screen-positive for Down syndrome. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fetal fibronectin test predicts delivery before 30 weeks of gestation in high risk women, but increases anxietyBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Andrew Shennan Objective To assess efficacy of cervico-vaginal fetal fibronectin as a predictor of spontaneous preterm birth in a high risk antenatal population, and to evaluate the psychological impact of fetal fibronectin testing. Design An observational study. Setting The antenatal clinic at a tertiary referral hospital. Population One hundred and forty-six pregnant women with known risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth. Methods Women designated as ,at risk' for preterm delivery by clinical history were screened for fetal fibronectin at 24 and again at 27 weeks of gestation. Anxiety levels were assessed by questionnaire and compared with anxiety levels of 206 low risk women also tested for fetal fibronectin. Fetal fibronectin results were disclosed to the woman and her clinician. Main outcome measures Maternal anxiety and efficacy of the 24-week fetal fibronectin test to predict delivery before 30, 34 and 37 weeks of gestation. Results Maternal anxiety was higher pretesting in those at high risk compared with low risk women undergoing the test. Among the high risk women, anxiety was raised to clinically significant levels in those receiving a positive fetal fibronectin screening test result. In all women, 5%, 9% and 21% delivered <30, <34 or <37 weeks of gestation, respectively. Nine percent (n= 13) tested positive for fetal fibronectin at 24 weeks. Predictive power for fetal fibronectin (24 weeks) was greatest for delivery <30 weeks of gestation, with a likelihood ratio of 15 for a positive test (6/13 positive women delivered before 30 weeks). Conclusions Fetal fibronectin was most efficient as a predictor of preterm spontaneous delivery <30 weeks of gestation, but was associated with high levels of anxiety. [source] Evaluation of knowledge and anxiety level of patients visiting the colorectal pelvic floor clinicCOLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 3 2006J. C. G. Coolen Abstract Objective, Discussing defaecating disorders is difficult for patients and many view anal physiology investigations (ultrasound, manometry, electromyography and pudendal nerve studies) as distasteful. This pilot study sought to assess whether present information sheets supplied to patients and the visit to the colorectal Pelvic Floor Clinic itself influenced patients' knowledge and anxiety. Patients and methods, Thirty Pelvic Floor Clinic patients from Auckland City Hospital were included. Each patient filled in a questionnaire before and after the clinic. This included objective questions about their knowledge of the structure and function of the pelvic floor and satisfaction with and understanding of the information sheet. Both visual analogue scale (VAS) and multiple choice questions (MCQ) were used. Their subjective and objective knowledge were compared. Anxiety was assessed on a visual analogue anxiety scale (VAAS). Results were expressed as VAS scores or percentage correct and relationships were tested using Fisher's Exact test and paired T -test. Results, Subjective knowledge increased in 93% of the patients. The doctor's explanation led to a greater increase in subjective knowledge than the information sheet (35/100 mm, P < 0.001 and 10/100 mm, P = 0.01, respectively). Subjective improvement in knowledge did not however, translate into an increase in objective knowledge (P = 0.63). The information sheet was read by 87% of the patients. The information sheet had reduced anxiety only in 23% of the patients and increased in 10%. Anxiety levels were not significantly influenced by the information sheet, but reduced significantly by the clinic visit in 87% of patients (P < 0.001). The mean anxiety level reduced from 44/100 to 12/100 after the clinic visit. Conclusion, Anxiety levels are high in those visiting the Pelvic Floor Clinic. It appears that it is the interaction with the doctor that has a profound influence on anxiety levels and subjective knowledge rather than written information. [source] A systematic review of intervention studies about anxiety in caregivers of people with dementiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2007Claudia Cooper Abstract Background There is considerable literature on managing depression, burden and psychological morbidity in caregivers of people with dementia (CG). Anxiety has been a relatively neglected outcome measure but may require specific interventions. Objective To synthesise evidence regarding interventions that reduce anxiety in CGs. Methods Twenty-four studies met our inclusion criteria. We rated the methodology of studies, and awarded grades of recommendation (GR) for each type of intervention according to Centre for Evidence Based Medicine guidelines, from A (highest level of evidence) to D. Results Anxiety level was the primary outcome measure in only one study and no studies were predicated on a power calculation for anxiety level. There was little evidence of efficacy for any intervention. The only RCT to report significantly reduced anxiety involved a CBT and relaxation-based intervention specifically devised to treat anxiety, and there was preliminary evidence (no randomised controlled trials) that caregiver groups involving yoga and relaxation without CBT were effective. There was grade B evidence that behavioural management, exercise therapies and respite were ineffective. Limitations Many interventions were heterogeneous, so there is some overlap between groups. Lack of evidence of efficacy is not evidence of lack of efficacy. Conclusions CBT and other therapies developed primarily to target depression did not effectively treat anxiety. Good RCTs are needed to specifically target anxiety which might include relaxation techniques. Some of the interventions focussed on reducing contact with the care recipients but caregivers may want to cope with caring and preliminary evidence suggests strategies to help CGs manage caring demands may be more effective. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Anxiety as a factor influencing satisfaction with emergency department care: perspectives of accompanying personsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 24 2009Anna Ekwall Aim., To measure levels of anxiety among people accompanying consumers to the emergency department and to explore how anxiety influences satisfaction with care. Background., When people seek treatment in an emergency department they are often accompanied by a next-of-kin, family member or friend. While the accompanying person plays a vital role in providing psycho-social support to consumers, little is known about how they perceive the quality of care. Learning more about how accompanying persons perceive care may inform the development of strategies to enhance communication processes between staff, consumers and accompanying persons. Design., A prospective cross-sectional survey design. Methods., Data were collected from a consecutive sample of accompanying persons at one Australian metropolitan teaching hospital. Of all eligible individuals approached, 128/153 (83·7%) returned completed questionnaires. The questionnaire comprised a series of open- and close-ended questions about perceptions of medical need, urgency and satisfaction with the overall visit. Anxiety was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A). Results., There was a significant association between the accompanying person's levels of anxiety and satisfaction at point of discharge. In the satisfied group, mean VAS-A scores were 17·4 (SD 17·5) compared to 42·9 (SD 26·6) in the not satisfied group (p = 0·011). Moreover, those participants who were not satisfied with the visit did not show a significant reduction in VAS-A scores from triage to point of discharge. Conclusion., The lower the level of anxiety reported by accompanying persons when leaving the emergency department, the more satisfied they are likely to be with their emergency department visit. Ultimately, well informed and confident accompanying persons are beneficial for ensuring quality patient support. Relevance to clinical practice., Asking accompanying persons about their anxiety level before discharge gives them the opportunity to pose clarifying questions and is, therefore, an effective way of improving their satisfaction with the emergency department visit. [source] Relationships between partner's support during labour and maternal outcomesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2000MPhil, Wan Yim Ip BN ,,The objective of this study was to measure the relationship between women's ratings of partners' participation during labour and maternal outcomes as measured by anxiety level, pain perception, dosage of pain-relieving drug used and length of labour. ,,A convenience sample of 45 primigravid women was selected from the postpartum unit of a public hospital in Hong Kong. They were all first-time Chinese mothers, aged 18 or over, who had attended antenatal classes and had their partners present during labour. ,,The State Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure maternal anxiety during labour. Labour pain was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale. A series of scales were developed to measure partners' participation during labour. ,,Women's ratings of partners' practical support were significantly lower than their ratings of partners' emotional support. There were no significant associations between level of emotional support and maternal outcome measures. However, perceived practical support was positively related to the dosage of pain-relieving drug used and total length of labour. Positive relationships between the duration of partners' presence and women's ratings of perceived support provided by partners during labour were also found. [source] Breastfeeding duration and postpartum psychological adjustment: Role of maternal attachment stylesJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 6 2008pek Akman Aim: Depressive and anxiety symptoms are common in new mothers. The aim of this study is to explore the link between postpartum psychological adjustment and feeding preferences of the mothers. Methods: Sixty mothers and newborns were enrolled in this prospective, longitudinal study. Maternal depressive symptoms were screened by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and maternal anxiety level was assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at 1 month postpartum. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was used for the assessment of maternal social support. The Adult Attachment Scale was used to determine the attachment style of the mother. Infants were examined and evaluated at 1 and 4 months of life. Results: All mothers started breastfeeding their infants postpartum; 91% and 68.1% continued exclusive breastfeeding at 1 and 4 months, respectively. The first-month median EPDS score of mothers who breastfeed at the fourth month was statistically significantly lower than those who were not breastfeeding (6 and 12, respectively) (P = 0001). The first-month median EPDS score of mothers with secure attachment was lower than the median score of mothers with insecure attachment (5 and 9, respectively) (P < 0001). Exclusive breastfeeding rate was not statistically different among mothers with secure and insecure attachment styles. The median state and trait anxiety scores and social support scores of mothers were not different between groups according to breastfeeding status. Conclusions: This study has shown an association between higher EPDS scores and breastfeeding cessation by 4 months after delivery. [source] Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and Dental Anxiety in Outpatients Attending Public Oral Health Clinics in South AfricaJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2007Steffen Mickenautsch BDS Abstract Objectives: This study was undertaken to test the hypotheses that using the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) approach results in lower patient anxiety and that lower anxiety leads to higher restoration/extraction ratios. Methods: The test group of dental operators (n=9) was trained in ART. The control group (n=11) was not, and did not apply ART. The Short Form of the Dental Subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-SF) and Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) were used to assess patient anxiety after ART (test group) and after traditional restorations (control group). The restoration/extraction ratio calculated for primary (children) and permanent dentitions (adults) per operator was based on 12-month treatment statistics. Dental anxiety assessments were analysed using ANOVA. Differences were compared using the t -test and corrected for confounding factors (ANCOVA). The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to measure the correlation between dental anxiety levels and restoration/extraction ratios. Results: The mean CFSS-SF score for test-group children was statistically significantly lower than for the control-group children. The mean DAS score for test-group adults was statistically significant lower than the control. No significant correlation was observed between dental anxiety level and restoration/extraction ratio per operator for both dentitions in both groups. Conclusion: The first hypothesis was accepted; the second, rejected. Although dental anxiety scores were lower both in child and in adult patients treated by ART than in those who received traditional restorative treatments, this positive effect had not resulted in higher restoration/extraction ratios. [source] Psychometric testing of the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire,RESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 5 2009Maureen I. Heaman Abstract Pregnant women's perception of risk may influence their health behaviors during pregnancy; however, no validated instrument exists to measure those perceptions. The purpose of this study was to refine a new instrument, the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire (PPRQ), and conduct psychometric assessment of the final 9-item version. Reliability and validity were assessed using a sample of 199 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a two-factor solution. Evidence of construct validity was demonstrated using the known-groups technique and through convergent validity. Ratings of pregnancy risk correlated with state anxiety level, providing evidence of concurrent validity. The PPRQ had high internal consistency reliability and excellent test,retest reliability. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:493,503, 2009 [source] Bias in attending to emotional facial expressions: Anxiety and visual search efficiencyAPPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Eriko Matsumoto There has been much controversy around the relationship between anxiety and attentional processing of threat-related information. The purpose of this study was to examine how threatening facial expressions affect attentional processing, according to the level of trait anxiety. Through visual search tasks, two different components of attentional bias to threat were investigated: engagement and disengagement of attention from an angry face. Two main results were found. First, reaction times (RTs) were slower in detecting the absence of a discrepant face in the all angry-display conditions rather than other expression conditions; however, there was no difference between anxiety groups. Second, the difference in search efficiency for the angry versus happy target was significant within the high-anxiety group but not within the low-anxiety group. The results suggest that the detection process for angry faces is more efficient for highly anxious people. On the other hand, the time to disengage attention from angry faces was not associated with anxiety level. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Subjective memory decline in healthy community-dwelling elders.ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2010What does this complain mean? Balash Y, Mordechovich M, Shabtai H, Merims D, Giladi N. Subjective memory decline in healthy community-dwelling elders. What does this complain mean? Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 121: 194,197. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard. Objectives,,, Subjective feelings of memory decline are fairly common among the elderly. The causes of this are heterogeneous, and may be related to both affective and cognitive disorders. We attempted to explore the associations between subjective and cognitive measures. Materials and Methods,,, Healthy subjects were studied. They completed questionnaires regarding memory difficulties and lifestyle habits, the Geriatric Depression scale (GDS), and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Cognitive functions were tested using the Mini-Mental State Exam and supplemented with NeuroTrax, a computerized neurophysiological battery. Univariate logistic regression model was applied to estimate odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals of associations. Results,,, Of 341 consecutive non-depressed subjects, 257 participants (75.4%) reported subjective memory decline (SMD). Subjects with and without SMD did not differ in age, gender, education, marital status, employment and life-style. Subjects with SMD had elevated GDS scores (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.003,1.29), white anxiety level showed a tendency to be increased (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.99,1.06). Comparison of cognitive performance has not revealed differences in cognitive domains between subjects with and without SMD. Conclusions,,, SMD in healthy elderly people is associated with sub-clinical depression even among those without objectively measured cognitive decline. [source] Evaluation of knowledge and anxiety level of patients visiting the colorectal pelvic floor clinicCOLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 3 2006J. C. G. Coolen Abstract Objective, Discussing defaecating disorders is difficult for patients and many view anal physiology investigations (ultrasound, manometry, electromyography and pudendal nerve studies) as distasteful. This pilot study sought to assess whether present information sheets supplied to patients and the visit to the colorectal Pelvic Floor Clinic itself influenced patients' knowledge and anxiety. Patients and methods, Thirty Pelvic Floor Clinic patients from Auckland City Hospital were included. Each patient filled in a questionnaire before and after the clinic. This included objective questions about their knowledge of the structure and function of the pelvic floor and satisfaction with and understanding of the information sheet. Both visual analogue scale (VAS) and multiple choice questions (MCQ) were used. Their subjective and objective knowledge were compared. Anxiety was assessed on a visual analogue anxiety scale (VAAS). Results were expressed as VAS scores or percentage correct and relationships were tested using Fisher's Exact test and paired T -test. Results, Subjective knowledge increased in 93% of the patients. The doctor's explanation led to a greater increase in subjective knowledge than the information sheet (35/100 mm, P < 0.001 and 10/100 mm, P = 0.01, respectively). Subjective improvement in knowledge did not however, translate into an increase in objective knowledge (P = 0.63). The information sheet was read by 87% of the patients. The information sheet had reduced anxiety only in 23% of the patients and increased in 10%. Anxiety levels were not significantly influenced by the information sheet, but reduced significantly by the clinic visit in 87% of patients (P < 0.001). The mean anxiety level reduced from 44/100 to 12/100 after the clinic visit. Conclusion, Anxiety levels are high in those visiting the Pelvic Floor Clinic. It appears that it is the interaction with the doctor that has a profound influence on anxiety levels and subjective knowledge rather than written information. [source] Baseline cortisol measures and developmental pathways of anxiety in early adolescenceACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2009K. Greaves-Lord Objective:, This study investigated whether baseline cortisol measures predicted future anxiety, and compared cortisol values of groups with different developmental pathways of anxiety. Method:, Cortisol levels were assessed in 1768 individuals (10,12 years). Anxiety levels were assessed at the same age and 2 years later. Results:, Cortisol measures did not predict future anxiety levels. Individuals with persistent anxiety problems did not show higher morning cortisol levels than those with persistently low, decreasing, or increasing anxiety levels. Instead, individuals with persistently high anxiety levels showed significantly lower evening cortisol levels than all other individuals. Further, participants with increasing anxiety levels showed higher morning cortisol levels (area under the curve; AUC) than individuals with persistently low anxiety levels. Conclusion:, The extent to which the HPA-axis , by itself , plays a role in the aetiology of anxiety is questionable. Interactions of the HPA-axis with other biological or environmental factors may be more important. [source] Bright light therapy for seasonal affective disorder in Israel (latitude 32.6°N): a single case placebo-controlled studyACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2006L. Moscovici Introduction:, We describe a patient diagnosed as having seasonal affective disorder (SAD, winter depression), an unlikely condition in Israel (latitude 32.6°N), a country with relatively minor daylight photoperiodic changes between seasons. Method:, Case report. Results:, A 46-year-old woman with a clinical picture of depression (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria for ,major depression with seasonal pattern') reacted positively to 3 weeks of daily bright light therapy of 10 000 lux/wide spectrum. She was asked to wear dark sunglasses during placebo sessions to accommodate an A-B-C single-case-design. The intervention resulted in an improvement of 74,80% in the Hamilton anxiety and depression scales (clinician-rated) and the Beck depression inventory, similar to results obtained in high latitude regions. The depression and anxiety levels returned close to baseline levels following 1 week of the placebo intervention. Conclusion:, Seasonal affective disorder is apparently not limited to certain latitudes. The effect of light therapy was short-lived after discontinuation of the treatment, with rapid relapse occurring in the placebo phase. [source] Early weaning decreases play-fighting behavior during the postweaning developmental period of wistar ratsDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Michito Shimozuru Abstract We examined the influence of early weaning on the development of play-fighting behaviors and anxiety status in Wistar rats. Pups were divided into two groups, those weaned at postnatal day (PD) 16 (early-weaned group) and those weaned at PD30 (normally weaned group), and were housed in pairs of the same sex. Playful interactions were measured for each pair once a week from 4 to 7 weeks of age. Thereafter, during early adulthood, all the rats were subjected to the elevated plus-maze test. The frequencies of pinning and playful attack were less in the early-weaned group than in the normally weaned group. In the elevated plus-maze test, rat pups in the early-weaned group had higher anxiety levels. The results showed that deprivation of mother,pup interactions during the preweaning period decreases affiliative interactions between cage mates, including play-fighting behaviors during the postweaning developmental period, and increases anxiety levels during early adulthood. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 343,350, 2007. [source] Perception of, and anxiety levels induced by, laser treatment in patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 10 2006A multicentre study Abstract Aims To investigate how laser treatment is perceived, in terms of anxiety and awareness, by diabetic patients attending four centres in Northern Italy with specific interest and expertise in diabetic retinopathy, where work settings and flow are organized differently. Methods The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Family Apgar-List of Threatening Experiences (FA-LTE), State-Trait Anxiety Inventories 1 and 2 (STAI-1 and STAI-2) questionnaires were completed by 259 patients, 131 waiting for laser treatment and 128 control subejcts awaiting non-intervention visits. Open questions were also asked on whether patients had ever heard the word ,laser' and whether they could describe laser treatment. Results High scores were detected by HADS, STAI-1 and STAI-2 among patients waiting for photocoagulation. Anxiety was greater in women and people with poor schooling. After controlling for centres, gender, previous laser treatment and schooling, HADS and STAI-1 remained significantly lower among persons waiting for non-intervention visits. Having received photocoagulation previously did not modify anxiety. Anxiety was lower in those centres where facilities and resources were more patient-oriented. Most patients could neither describe photocoagulation nor explain why they were about to receive it, but had a negative perception and some described it with words evoking cruelty and pain. Conclusions These data suggest that laser treatment is experienced as an event that causes anxiety. Preoperative education and counselling may help to reduce fear and patients' avoidance of treatment. [source] Mathematics anxiety in secondary students in EnglandDYSLEXIA, Issue 1 2009Steve Chinn Abstract Whatever the changes that are made to the mathematics curriculum in England, there will always remain a problem with mathematics anxiety. Maths anxiety is rarely facilitative. This study examined aspects of mathematics in secondary schools and how students rated them as sources of anxiety. Over 2000 students in independent and mainstream schools in England completed a 20-item questionnaire designed to investigate maths anxiety levels. The same questionnaire was given to over 440 dyslexic males in specialist schools within the same age range. The results showed that examinations and tests create high levels of anxiety in approximately 4% of students. The results suggest that certain aspects and topics in the maths curriculum, such as long division, cause similar levels of anxiety for students in all year groups in secondary schools. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Patients' subjective symptoms, quality of life and intake of food during the recovery period 3 and 12 months after upper gastrointestinal surgeryEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 1 2007U. OLSSON rnt, phd student Few studies describe patients' quality of life and their experienced symptoms during the recovery period after having undergone upper gastrointestinal surgery at 3 and 12 months. The aims of this study were to explore patients' quality of life and symptoms preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months following upper gastrointestinal surgery and to describe and compare patients' experiences of appetite, food intake, weight changes, tiredness and sleeping patterns. A descriptive and comparative quantitative design was used. Three instruments were used: the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Eating Dysfunction Scale. A questionnaire was used to investigate symptoms such as mood, appetite, sleep, activities and well-being. Twenty-four patients were included in the study. The major results were that anxiety levels and global health status decreased and that patients felt more disappointed after 12 months compared with after 3 months. Four patients at 3 months after surgery and eight patients at 12 months regained their weight compared with the situation before surgery. The contribution of nursing care activities focusing on the importance of food intake and the patients' current and historical medical records in relation to their health status should continue to be examined and researched over a longer period of time. [source] Sex differences in anxiety, sensorimotor gating and expression of the ,4 subunit of the GABAA receptor in the amygdala after progesterone withdrawalEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 3 2003M. Gulinello Abstract In a progesterone withdrawal (PWD) model of premenstrual anxiety, we have previously demonstrated that increased hippocampal expression of the ,4 subunit of the GABAA receptor (GABAA -R) is closely associated with higher anxiety levels in the elevated plus maze. However, several studies indicate that sex differences in regulation of the GABAA -R in specific brain regions may be an important factor in the observed gender differences in mood disorders. Thus, we investigated possible sex differences in GABAA -R subunit expression and anxiety during PWD. To this end, we utilized the acoustic startle response (ASR) to assess anxiety levels in male and female rats undergoing PWD as the ASR is also applicable to the assessment of human anxiety responses. We also investigated GABAA -R ,4 subunit expression in the amygdala, as the amygdala directly regulates the primary startle circuit. Female rats exhibited a greater ASR during PWD than controls, indicating higher levels of anxiety and arousal. In contrast, male rats undergoing PWD did not demonstrate an increased ASR. The sex differences in the ASR were paralleled by sex differences in the expression of the GABAA -R ,4 subunit in the amygdala such that ,4 subunit expression was up-regulated in females during PWD whereas ,4 levels in males undergoing PWD were not altered relative to controls. These findings might have implications regarding gender differences in human mood disorders and the aetiology of premenstrual anxiety. [source] Exploring Daily Grading as a Form of Assessment in a College-Level Japanese Language ClassroomFOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 1 2002Seonghee Choi ABSTRACT: Methods of evaluation affect learning in multiple and varied ways. The current distinction between testing and assessment invokes issues about which alternatives for evaluation are available and how they are applied in language classrooms. To explore a daily grading system as a form of assessment, this study surveyed 16 teachers and 90 students in college-level Japanese language classrooms where daily grading is practiced. The results showed that both teachers and students had positive beliefs about daily grading. It was also found that students had moderate anxiety levels when their performances were graded daily. In addition, the study revealed several areas of concern about daily grading. To use daily grading successfully as a language-learning assessment tool, appropriate and ongoing teacher training is recommended. [source] Kangaroo mother care and mother-premature infant dyadic interactionINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2006Maria Anna Tallandini The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological impact of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on mother-infant bonding in cases of premature delivery. Examined variables were mother-infant relationships, maternal anxiety levels, and infant interactive signals. The KMC method requires that babies be undressed and held upright between their mother's breasts for a minimum of 1 hr a day, from birth until they are discharged from hospital. The present study examined 40 premature infants and their mothers, with 21 dyads experiencing KMC and 19 receiving traditional care (TC). Maternal emotional stress was assessed with the Parent Stress Index-Short Form questionnaire (Abidin, 1990), and mother-newborn interactive style was assessed with the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (Barnard, 1975). Results revealed a better mother-infant interactive style, a significant decrease in maternal emotional stress, and better infant ability to make requests and respond to parental interactive style in the KMC group. [source] A challenging intervention with maternal anxiety: Babies requiring surgical correction of a congenital anomaly after missed prenatal diagnosisINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 6 2003Lucia Aite The objective of this study is to assess the impact on maternal anxiety of a short-term intervention in a particularly stressful situation, such as a surgical anomaly diagnosed only at birth after repeated negative prenatal ultrasounds. The patients were 30 mothers of babies requiring surgical correction of a congenital anomaly who were randomly assigned to an intervention (N = 16) or control (N = 14) group. The intervention group received standard care plus short-term intervention that included weekly meetings with the psychologist and weekly team meetings. The control group received only standard care available on the Neonatal Surgery Unit. The main outcome measure was maternal anxiety levels, assessed at birth and on discharge with the Spielberger State,Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI,S). Statistical comparisons were made, and no significant differences were found at birth in the STAI,S scores of the two groups. At discharge, the intervention group exhibited a much lower STAI,S score than the group without short-term intervention. The authors concluded that psychological counseling for parents of newborn babies has been shown to be helpful. However, the impact of such assistance was shown to be particularly beneficial for parents facing the emotional stress of their children requiring unexpected surgical corrections of congenital anomalies at birth. Therefore, the presence of a psychologist, as part of the standard care of newborns requiring surgical correction, is recommended. ©2003 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [source] Depression and anxiety in patients with Behçet's disease compared with that in patients with psoriasisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Ender Taner MD Background, Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, episodic disease with an often devastating course. The aim of this study was to evaluate the depression and anxiety levels in patients with BD and to compare them with those in patients with psoriasis. Methods, Patients were collected from the Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. One hundred and twelve patients with BD and 95 patients with psoriasis were enrolled in the study. Patients were evaluated by Beck's depression inventory (BDI), Beck's anxiety inventory (BAI), automatic thoughts questionnaire (ATQ), and Beck's hopelessness scale (BHS). Results, The group with BD had higher scores for BDI, BAI, ATQ, and BHS than the group with psoriasis (P < 0.05). Almost one-half of the patients with BD had depression. BAI only was higher in the younger BD group than in the corresponding psoriasis group, whereas all test scores were higher in the older BD group than in the corresponding psoriasis group. There was a strong correlation between the duration of BD and BDI, ATQ, and BHS scores, which was not observed in the psoriasis patients. BD increased the depression risk four-fold in this sample, and BD with a duration of over 3 years increased the depression risk 12-fold. Conclusions, In the present study, BD patients had higher levels of psychopathology than did psoriasis patients in terms of psychologic test scores. The duration of illness affected the severity of the psychiatric symptoms in the BD group, but not in the psoriasis group. The duration of illness was a major risk factor for the development of depression in BD. These findings indicate the need for early recognition of psychiatric symptoms in patients with BD. [source] Caregiving burden and psychiatric morbidity in spouses of persons with mild cognitive impairmentINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 6 2005Linda Garand Abstract Background While the deleterious psychosocial and mental health effects of dementia caregiving are firmly established, very little is known about the burdens or psychiatric outcomes of providing care to a spouse with less severe cognitive impairment, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We characterized the nature and level of caregiver burden and psychiatric morbidity in spouses of persons diagnosed with MCI. Methods Interview assessments were completed on a cohort of 27 spouses of persons with a recent diagnosis of MCI. Patient medical records were reviewed to collect information regarding the MCI patient's medical history. Results Respondents endorsed elevated levels of both task-related responsibilities and subjective caregiver burden. Depression and anxiety symptom levels also showed some elevations. Measures of caregiver burden were significantly associated with depression and anxiety levels. In particular, even after controlling for demographic risk factors for distress, nursing task burden was correlated with elevated depressive symptoms, and greater lifestyle constraints were correlated with higher anxiety levels. Conclusions Although caregiver burden and psychiatric morbidity levels were lower than those typically observed in family dementia caregiving samples, our findings suggest that MCI caregivers have already begun to experience distress in association with elevated caregiving burden. These individuals may be ideal targets for selective preventive interventions to maximize their psychological well-being as caregiving burdens related to their spouses' cognitive impairment increase. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nursing staff anxiety versus smoking habitsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 3 2001Athanassios Tselebis RN, MSc(Psych) The aim of this study was to assess smoking habits versus anxiety levels of 114 female nurses. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (STAI, Questions 21,40) was used. Current smokers (n = 52) had the highest levels of anxiety (STAI score: mean ± SD, 43.04 ± 8.48) compared to non-smokers (n = 30), and ex-smokers (n = 32) (38.94 ± 6.45 and 36.56 ± 6.62, respectively; P < 0.02). Differences in STAI scores were greater between non-smokers and ex-smokers (P < 0.01), while the STAI scores of current smokers were positively correlated with their per day quota of cigarettes (Pearson's: +0.65; P < 0.002). We concluded that even in people who are well-acquainted with the ill-effects of nicotine abuse, smoking habits persist and are correlated with levels of anxiety. Apparently the (perceived) stress-relieving effects of nicotine outweigh anxiety of nursing staff. Preventive programs, if based exclusively on information on the effects of smoking on health, seem to be ineffective. Alternatively, techniques aimed at the relief of anxiety may yield better results. [source] The role of self-esteem and anxiety in decision making for self versus others in relationshipsJOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING, Issue 2 2005Laura D. Wray Abstract Previous research has documented a tendency for people to make more risk-seeking decisions for others than for themselves in relationship scenarios. Two experiments investigated whether this self,other difference is moderated by participants' self-esteem and anxiety levels. In Experiment 1, lower self-esteem and higher anxiety levels were associated with more risk-averse choices for personal decisions but not for decisions for others. Therefore, participants with lower self-esteem/higher anxiety showed greater self,other differences in comparison to participants with higher self-esteem/lower anxiety levels. Experiment 2 demonstrated that this effect was largely mediated by participants' expectations of success and feelings about potential negative outcomes. These results are discussed in the context of "threats to the self," with a central role played by anxiety and self-esteem threats in personal decision making but not in decision making for others. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training in reducing anxiety in patients with acute schizophreniaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 15 2009Wen-Chun Chen Aim and objectives., The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training on anxiety in patients with acute schizophrenia. Background., Many empirical studies have found progressive muscle relaxation training beneficial in reducing the psychological effects of anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation training is also effective in reducing the distress symptoms associated with the symptomatology of schizophrenia. Design., An experimental randomised controlled trial using repeated measures. Method., The study was designed to examine the effects of progressive muscle relaxation training on patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Study participants were acute psychiatric inpatients in Taiwan. Eighteen patients were block randomised and then assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group received progressive muscle relaxation training and the control group received a placebo intervention. Results from the Beck anxiety inventory were compared between groups as a pretest before intervention, on day 11 of intervention and one week post-test after the intervention was completed. Changes in finger temperature were measured throughout the experiment. Results., The degree of anxiety improvement was significantly higher in the progressive muscle relaxation training group than in the control group after progressive muscle relaxation training intervention (p < 0·0001) and at follow-up (p = 0·0446; the mean BAI score fell from 16·4 pretest to ,5·8 post-test. After adjusting for the change in patient finger temperature, the mean change in temperature was significantly different between the two patient groups. The average body temperature increased significantly after applying the progressive muscle relaxation training to patients with schizophrenia. Conclusion., This study demonstrated that progressive muscle relaxation training can effectively alleviate anxiety in patients with schizophrenia. Relevance to clinical practice., Progressive muscle relaxation training is potentially an effective nursing intervention in the reduction of anxiety in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, depending on the quality of their mental status at the time of intervention. Progressive muscle relaxation training is a useful intervention as it is proven to reduce anxiety levels across a spectrum of psychiatric disorders. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||