The role of emotion regulation and alexithymia in the relationship between sleep and social functioning

Poor sleep quality has been tied to worse social functioning outcomes, including greater loneliness, fewer social interactions, and lower social integration. While the relationship between sleep quality and social functioning has been investigated, other factors likely play a role in this complex relationship. Specifically, alexithymia and the use of different emotion regulation strategies may serve as moderators in the relationship between sleep and social functioning. Alexithymia and emotion regulation strategies are both related to sleep quality and social functioning. Yet, the impact of these emotional processes on the relationship between sleep and social functioning remains unexplored. Data for this study came from the Pittsburgh Cold Study 3. A social functioning composite score was created by combining measures of loneliness, social network size, social participation, and demonstrated social support. Results showed subjective sleep quality, but not objective sleep quality, was significantly related to our social functioning composite. Further, the use of reappraisal significantly moderated the relationship between subjective sleep quality and the social functioning composite. For participants who were high in use of reappraisal, worse sleep quality was related to worse scores on the social functioning composite; for participants low in the use of reappraisal, this relationship was nonsignificant. Results suggest that the use of reappraisal may be an important factor to consider in the relationship between sleep and social functioning. Future work should extend these findings to include a sample of individuals with diagnoses relevant to emotion regulation difficulties and alexithymia, namely borderline personality and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Results of matching valve and root repair to aortic valve and root pathology

ObjectiveFor patients with aortic root pathology and aortic valve regurgitation, aortic valve replacement is problematic because no durable bioprosthesis exists, and mechanical valves require lifetime anticoagulation. This study sought to assess outcomes of combined aortic valve and root repair, including comparison with matched bioprosthesis aortic valve replacement.MethodsFrom November 1990 to January 2005, 366 patients underwent modified David reimplantation (n = 72), root remodeling (n = 72), or valve repair with sinotubular junction tailoring (n = 222). Active follow-up was 99% complete, with a mean of 5.6 ± 4.0 years (maximum 17 years); follow-up for vital status averaged 8.5 ± 3.6 years (maximum 19 years). Propensity-adjusted models were developed for fair comparison of outcomes.ResultsThirty-day and 5-, 10-, and 15-year survivals were 98%, 86%, 74%, and 58%, respectively, similar to that of the US matched population and better than that after bioprosthesis aortic valve replacement. Propensity-score–adjusted survival was similar across procedures (P > .3). Freedom from reoperation at 30 days and 5 and 10 years was 99%, 92%, and 89%, respectively, and was similar across procedures (P > .3) after propensity-score adjustment. Patients with tricuspid aortic valves were more likely to be free of reoperation than those with bicuspid valves at 10 years (93% vs 77%, P = .002), equivalent to bioprosthesis aortic valve replacement and superior after 12 years. Bioprostheses increasingly deteriorated after 7 years, and hazard functions for reoperation crossed at 7 years.ConclusionsValve preservation (rather than replacement) and matching root procedures have excellent early and long-term results, with increasing survival benefit at 7 years and fewer reoperations by 12 years. We recommend this procedure for experienced surgical teams

Measuring Empathy In Groups With High Schizotypy: Psychometric Evaluation of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index

Empathy is integral for interpersonal interactions and formation and maintenance of a strong social network. There is wide agreement that empathy is a multidimensional construct, and it is commonly measured with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The IRI is used widely across healthy and clinical populations, yet insufficient evidence exists on whether the IRI is appropriate for use in groups characterized by high levels of schizotypy. This study sought to examine the factor structure and psychometric characteristics of the IRI when used in a sample of participants with high schizotypy. Nine hundred forty-one undergraduates completed the IRI; 218 met criteria for high schizotypy. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test eight a priori factor structures, and scores from the best fitting model were correlated with relevant measures. Of the eight models tested, a two-factor model including the Perspective-Taking and Empathic Concern subscales evidenced the best fit. The original four-factor structure did not meet criteria for adequate fit in our sample. IRI subscale scores correlated with emotional intelligence. Results suggest that a two-factor structure of the IRI is the strongest path forward for use in high schizotypy samples. This approach, in addition to being psychometrically sound, has the added benefit of being a more brief and targeted assessment that aligns well with contemporary models of empathy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved

Activism In the Digital Age: The Link Betwee Social Media Engagement With Black Lives Matter-Relevant Content and Mental Health

Study Objectives:: This study aimed to estimate the 12-month prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders among veterans with and without serious mental illnesses (SMI) in VA health record data in 2019. We also examined diagnosed sleep disorders across a 9-year period and explored associations with demographic and health factors. Methods:: This study used health record data from VISN 4 of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from 2011-2019. SMI diagnoses included schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum diagnoses as well as major depression with psychosis. Sleep diagnoses included insomnias, hypersomnias, sleep-related breathing disorders, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders. Demographic and health-related factors were also collected from the record. Results:: In 2019, 21.8% of veterans with SMI were diagnosed with a sleep disorder. This is a significantly higher proportion than for veterans without SMI, 15.1% of whom were diagnosed with a sleep disorder. Sleep disorder rates were highest in veterans with a chart diagnosis of major depression with psychosis. From 2011 to 2019, the overall prevalence of sleep disorders in veterans with SMI more than doubled (10.2% to 21.8%), suggesting improvements in the detection and diagnosis of sleep concerns for this group. Conclusions:: Our findings suggest that identification and diagnosis of sleep disorders for veterans with SMI has improved over the past decade, though diagnoses still likely underrepresent actual prevalence of clinically relevant sleep concerns. Sleep concerns may be at particularly high risk of going untreated in veterans with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Promoting Affect Regulation Among Individuals Experiencing Psychosis In Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT)

Theorists have suggested that individuals experiencing psychosis have significant affective dysregulation, and that expressions of psychosis may in fact serve as one form of expression of painful affect. As such, therapeutic approaches to work with individuals experiencing psychosis may incorporate therapist actions targeted to promote affect regulation in clients. Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT) is an integrative approach to psychotherapy that incorporates eight elements to target metacognition among individuals experiencing psychosis. MERIT has been shown to promote improvement in metacognition for persons with psychosis, but little has been done within this framework to explore the therapists’ role in promoting affect regulation among individuals experiencing psychosis. This paper discusses how therapist actions related to each of the eight components of MERIT may promote affect regulation in the therapeutic context. Case examples are given to illustrate the application of this approach. Common challenges faced among therapists, limitations, and future directions are also discussed

Sleep Disorders In Veterans With Serious Mental Illnesses: Prevalence In VA Health Record Data

Study Objectives:: This study aimed to estimate the 12-month prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders among veterans with and without serious mental illnesses (SMI) in VA health record data in 2019. We also examined diagnosed sleep disorders across a 9-year period and explored associations with demographic and health factors. Methods:: This study used health record data from VISN 4 of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from 2011-2019. SMI diagnoses included schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum diagnoses as well as major depression with psychosis. Sleep diagnoses included insomnias, hypersomnias, sleep-related breathing disorders, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders. Demographic and health-related factors were also collected from the record. Results:: In 2019, 21.8% of veterans with SMI were diagnosed with a sleep disorder. This is a significantly higher proportion than for veterans without SMI, 15.1% of whom were diagnosed with a sleep disorder. Sleep disorder rates were highest in veterans with a chart diagnosis of major depression with psychosis. From 2011 to 2019, the overall prevalence of sleep disorders in veterans with SMI more than doubled (10.2% to 21.8%), suggesting improvements in the detection and diagnosis of sleep concerns for this group. Conclusions:: Our findings suggest that identification and diagnosis of sleep disorders for veterans with SMI has improved over the past decade, though diagnoses still likely underrepresent actual prevalence of clinically relevant sleep concerns. Sleep concerns may be at particularly high risk of going untreated in veterans with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Functional Outcomes From Psychotherapy for People With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Meta-Analysis

People with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience a wide array of symptoms, often accompanied by significant functional and quality of life impairments. Evidence-based psychotherapies are effective for alleviating symptoms in this group, but functional outcomes following psychotherapy are understudied. This study aimed to synthesize existing work on functional outcomes of psychotherapy to conduct a meta-analytic investigation examining whether people with PTSD experience significant improvements in functioning and quality of life following a course of psychotherapy. A literature search was conducted for studies reporting results of randomized clinical trials of psychotherapies for people diagnosed with PTSD that included a functional or quality of life outcome measured at pre- and post-intervention. Both between-groups and within-groups analyses were conducted using a random effects model. Fifty-six independent samples were included. Results suggest that, on average, people with PTSD experience significant, moderate improvement in functional outcomes after a course of psychotherapy. Taken together, this meta-analysis represents a substantial advance in our understanding of functional outcomes of psychotherapy for people with PTSD. Findings suggest that psychotherapy is one vehicle through which functional outcomes may be improved for this group, though notably to a lesser degree than symptom improvement

Lattice light-sheet microscopy: Imaging molecules to embryos at high spatiotemporal resolution

Although fluorescence microscopy provides a crucial window into the physiology of living specimens, many biological processes are too fragile, are too small, or occur too rapidly to see clearly with existing tools. We crafted ultrathin light sheets from two-dimensional optical lattices that allowed us to image three-dimensional (3D) dynamics for hundreds of volumes, often at subsecond intervals, at the diffraction limit and beyond. We applied this to systems spanning four orders of magnitude in space and time, including the diffusion of single transcription factor molecules in stem cell spheroids, the dynamic instability of mitotic microtubules, the immunological synapse, neutrophil motility in a 3D matrix, and embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. The results provide a visceral reminder of the beauty and the complexity of living systems