A Latent Factor Analysis of Working Memory Measures Using Large-Scale Data

Working memory (WM) is a key cognitive system that is strongly related to other cognitive domains and relevant for everyday life. However, the structure of WM is yet to be determined. A number of WM models have been put forth especially by factor analytical studies. In broad terms, these models vary by their emphasis on WM contents (e.g., visuospatial, verbal) vs. WM processes (e.g., maintenance, updating) as critical, dissociable elements. Here we conducted confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses on a broad set of WM tasks, half of them numerical-verbal and half of them visuospatial, representing four commonly used task paradigms: simple span, complex span, running memory, and n-back. The tasks were selected to allow the detection of both content-based (visuospatial, numerical-verbal) and process-based (maintenance, updating) divisions. The data were collected online which allowed the recruitment of a large and demographically diverse sample of adults (n = 711). Both factor analytical methods pointed to a clear division according to task content for all paradigms except n-back, while there was no indication for a process-based division. Besides the content-based division, confirmatory factor analyses supported a model that also included a general WM factor. The n-back tasks had the highest loadings on the general factor, suggesting that this factor reflected high-level cognitive resources such as executive functioning and fluid intelligence that are engaged with all WM tasks, and possibly even more so with the n-back. Together with earlier findings that indicate high variability of process-based WM divisions, we conclude that the most robust division of WM is along its contents (visuospatial vs. numerical-verbal), rather than along its hypothetical subprocesses

Vibrator-Assisted Start-Stop Exercises Improve Premature Ejaculation Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Premature ejaculation (PE) is associated with decreased quality of life, lower confidence and self-esteem, and higher levels of depression, anxiety, and interpersonal difficulties. Here we investigated the effectiveness of vibrator-assisted start–stop exercises for treatment of PE, and whether the treatment effect could be enhanced by an additional psychobehavioral intervention. Fifty participants with a mean age of 41.7 years were included and randomized into two treatment groups and a waiting list control group. Participants were instructed to perform start–stop exercises while stimulating the penis with a purpose-made vibrator, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Additionally, participants in one of the treatment groups received additional psychoeducation and performed mindfulness meditation-based body scan exercises three times a week. Data were gathered through online questionnaires before and after treatment, as well as 3 and 6 months after treatment. The interventions reduced PE symptoms with large effect sizes (partial η2 = .20 across the three groups, d [95% CI] = 1.05 [.27, 1.82] and 1.07 [.32, 1.82] for treatment groups compared to waiting list control group). The additional psychobehavioral intervention did not further reduce PE symptoms, but did decrease PE-associated negative symptoms such as levels of sexual distress, anxiety, and depression. No side effects were reported. Vibrator-assisted start–stop exercises can be offered as an adequate treatment option for PE.<br /

Data for "Vibrator-Assisted Start-Stop Exercises Improve Premature Ejaculation Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial"

Data from an intervention study for PE

Situationella faktorer i sexuellt utnyttjande av barn modererar effekten på hälsoriskbeteenden : en metaanalys

Sexuellt utnyttjande av barn har ett samband med en högre risk att uppvisa hälsoriskbeteenden, men det är oklart huruvida sambandet modereras av situationella faktorer såsom barnets ålder vid första utnyttjandet, mängden utnyttjande, användning av fysiskt våld, intra- eller extrafamiliär förövare och förekomst av penetration. För att undersöka detta genomfördes en metaanalys, där effekterna på hälsoriskbeteendena alkohol- och drogmissburk, stört ätbeteende och självskadebeteende undersöktes. Empiriska studier skrivna på engelska, som gav tillräckliga data gällande förhållandet mellan nämnda situationella faktorer och hälsoriskbeteenden inkluderades i metaanalysen. Litteratursökningen resulterade i 47 studier, med ett totalt sampel på 19555 individer som utnyttjats sexuellt före 18 års ålder. Små till medelstora modererande effekter hittades för användning av fysiskt våld (r = 0,252; 95 % CI [0,155; 0,345]), mängd (r = 0,107; 95 % CI [0,051; 0,162]) och penetration (r = 0,122; 95 % CI [0,075; 0,169]), där förekomsten av dessa variabler har ett samband med högre risk att uppvisa hälsoriskbeteenden. Effekten av användning av fysiskt våld var endast signifikant för självskadebeteenden. Effekten av mängd och penetration var signifikant för alkohol- och drogmissbruk och självskadebeteenden. Inga effekter hittades för barnets ålder vid första utnyttjandet eller intra- eller extrafamiliär förövare. I föreliggande studie understryks vikten av att ta situationella faktorer i beaktande vid forskning kring sexuellt utnyttjande av barn

Diagnosis, Etiology, and Psychobehavioral Treatment of Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE) is characterized by a pattern of involuntary ejaculation prior to, upon, or shortly after penetration leading to personal or interpersonal distress. Some definitions add a time limit of about 1 minute following penetration. Around 25% of the male population report ejaculating before they wish to do so, while about 4% are estimated to meet current diagnostic criteria. PE has been associated with anxiety, depression, low selfesteem, sexual distress, interpersonal difficulties and a decreased quality of life. Little is known of what causes PE. Many possible etiological factors have been explored, however, none have as of yet been replicated and confirmed in large scale studies. The first-line treatment for PE today is pharmacological, namely using selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, sometimes combined with sexological therapy. Study I aimed at clarifying the temporal stability of PE symptoms. Two longitudinal samples were used: a population-based sample followed six years, and a sample of patients previously diagnosed with PE, who were untreated at the time of the study, followed three years. In the population-based sample, less than half of those who reported ejaculation latency times (ELT) of less than 1 minute at the first data collection also reported it six years later. In this sample, 47% reported having experienced a change in ELT between the two measurement points. In the clinical sample, only 5 out of 16 men reported ELTs of less than 1 minute at both time points. In the clinical sample, 63% reported having experienced a change in ELT between the two measurement points. Study II aimed at clarifying the direction of causality between PE symptoms on the one hand, and anxiety, depression, and sexual distress on the other. In a longitudinal, population-based sample followed six years, bivariate analyses revealed that PE and sexual distress were mutually positively correlated acorss time. Also across time, PE was positively correlated with future anxiety, and depression was positively correlated with future PE. Correlation coefficients were small to moderate. However, when fitting structural equation models to the data, no associations were found across time between PE and the other variables. Study III explored associations between PE and the lifestyle factors alcohol use, physical exercise, and body-mass index. Cross-sectional population-based and clinical samples were used. The most consistent finding was a negative association between PE and physical exercise. While the effect size was small, the negative association was robust, since it was observed when comparing the clinical sample to both the whole population-based sample and to an agematched subsample, as well as within samples and in multivariate analyses of all study variables. Study IV aimed at developing more effective psychobehavioral treatment protocols for PE. Fifty PE patients were randomized into three groups: 1) a treatment regime consisting of vibrator-assisted start-stop exercises 2) vibrator-assisted start-stop exercises, and additional psychoeducation and exercises aimed to improve the patient’s awareness and utilization of physiological cues related to sexual arousal, or 3) waiting-list control group. Both treatment groups improved with large effect sizes after treatment compared to the control group. The treatment groups did not differ on the PE outcome measure at any time. However, the second group also improved on most secondary outcome measures, including anxiety and sexual distress, indicating a favorable outcome for the group receiving additional intervention. In conclusion, PE symptoms might not be quite as stable over time as previously thought. I suggest that the current cutoff for ELT for PE diagnosis at 1 minute is unnecessarily strict. Increasing the temporal criterion to approximately 2–4 minutes would reduce false negatives, while the criteria for distress and control reduce the risk of false positives. Furthermore, results from the present studies showed no indication that anxiety and depression would be major etiological factors in PE. Hence, these should probably not be targeted in most cases in attempts to improve PE. On the other hand, increased physical exercise may be a promising intervention for PE in some men, and should be further investigated in future studies. Vibrator-assisted start-stop exercises are supported by replicated evidence suggesting that they are viable treatment options for PE

Premature Ejaculation Symptoms Are Associated with Sexual Excitability: Empirical Support for the Hyperarousability Model

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual complaint among men, but its etiology is poorly understood. Previous studies on the dual control model of sexuality has revealed that propensities for sexual excitation and inhibition can contribute to sexual dysfunctions, but few studies have included a measure of premature ejaculation. We sought to explore whether PE is associated with sexual excitation or inhibition. We applied structural equation models to data from a large population-based sample of Finnish adult men. The analyses supported a four-factor solution for the sexual inhibition/sexual excitation short-form scale. The clearest result was that increased symptoms of PE were associated with a greater propensity for sexual excitation (β = 151, p &lt; 001, n = 2953). Importantly, this excitation was intrapersonal, as opposed to stemming from social activities. The results imply that men with PE may have stronger and more rapid reactions to sexual stimuli, which in turn may lead to ejaculating earlier than desired

No Evidence for Long-Term Causal Associations Between Symptoms of Premature Ejaculation and Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Sexual Distress in a Large, Population-Based Longitudinal Sample

Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common male sexual complaints, but its etiology is unclear. Psychological problems, such as symptoms of anxiety and depression, have traditionally been seen as causal or maintaining etiological components of PE, and previous cross-sectional studies have found weak positive associations between them. The aim of the present study was to test possible causal pathways over time between PE and symptoms of the psychological problems anxiety, depression, and sexual distress. A sample of 985 male Finnish twins and brothers of twins completed a questionnaire in 2006 and 2012. Significant bivariate correlations were found both within and across time between PE and the psychological problems. When fitting structural equation models to test hypothesized causal pathways, symptoms of anxiety and sexual distress at the first measurement time point did not predict future PE. Likewise, PE symptoms at the first measurement did not predict increments or decrements in anxiety, sexual distress, or depression later on. These null findings regarding hypothesized associations may partly be explained by the relatively long time between measurements, or that the measures possibly did not capture the aspects of anxiety that are related to PE.</p

A 2-week high-intensity interval training intervention improves ejaculation control among men with premature ejaculation

BACKGROUND: Premature ejaculation (PE), which leads to substantial distress in men and their partners, is a common male sexual dysfunction worldwide. However, there is still a lack of effective treatments without side effects.OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on PE symptoms.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 92 Chinese men aged 18-36 to complete the experiment. There were 22 (13 in the control group; 9 in the HIIT group) men diagnosed with PE and 70 (41 in the control group; 29 in the HIIT group) men with normal ejaculatory function. In the HIIT group, participants completed HIIT exercises every morning for 14 days. Participants also completed surveys inquiring about demographic information, erectile function, PE symptoms, body image (including sexual body image), physical activity, and sexual desire. The heart rate was measured before and after each HIIT. In the control group, participants were instructed not to do HIIT, but other procedures were the same as in the HIIT group.RESULTS: Results indicated that the HIIT intervention alleviated PE symptoms in men with PE. In addition, in the HIIT group, men with PE who had a higher heart-rate increase during the HIIT intervention reported the greatest overall decrements in PE symptoms. In men with normal ejaculatory function, HIIT did not decrease PE symptoms. In addition, increments in the heart rate during the intervention were associated with more pronounced PE symptoms post-intervention in this group. Analyses of secondary outcome measures suggested that the HIIT intervention improved general and sexual body image satisfaction of men with PE compared to before the intervention.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In summary, HIIT intervention may reduce PE symptoms in men with PE. The heart-rate increase during the intervention may be a key factor influencing the effect of the HIIT intervention on PE symptoms.</p