The Effects of Temperament and Character on Symptoms of Depression in a Chinese Nonclinical Population

Objective. To examine the relations between personality traits and syndromes of depression in a nonclinical Chinese population. Method. We recruited 469 nonclinical participants in China. They completed the Chinese version temperament and character inventory (TCI) and self-rating depression scale (SDS). A structural equation model was used to rate the relation between seven TCI scales and the three SDS subscale scores (based on Shafer's meta-analysis of the SDS items factor analyses). This was based on the assumption that the three depression subscales would be predicted by the temperament and character subscales, whereas the character subscales would be predicted by the temperament subscales. Results. The positive symptoms scores were predicted by low self-directedness (SD), cooperativeness (C), reward dependence (RD), and persistence (P) as well as older age. The negative symptoms scores were predicted only by an older age. The somatic symptoms scores were predicted by high SD. Conclusion. Syndromes of depression are differentially associated with temperament and character patterns. It was mainly the positive symptoms scores that were predicted by the TCI scores. The effects of harm avoidance (HA) on the positive symptoms scores could be mediated by low SD and C

Lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) serves as an endothelial receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGE)

AbstractAdvanced glycation end products (AGE) are known to serve as ligands for the scavenger receptors such as SR-A, CD36 and SR-BI. In the current study, we examined whether AGE is recognized by lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1). Cellular binding experiments revealed that AGE-bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) showed the specific binding to CHO cells overexpressing bovine LOX-1 (BLOX-1), which was effectively suppressed by an anti-BLOX-1 antibody. Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells also showed the specific binding for AGE-BSA, which was suppressed by 67% by the anti-BLOX-1 antibody. Thus, LOX-1 is identified as a novel endothelial receptor for AGE

個々のタイプの児童虐待が後のパーソナリティ病理と抑うつ感情に及ぼす影響

　Based on the facts that child abuse rarely exists in isolation from one or more of the other child abuse subcategories, a depressive affect at some particular point includes both reactively provoked one and persistent one, and depressive affect and borderline personality organization are inseparable, this study explored the influence of each child abuse subcategory on later development of borderline personality organization, as well as on persistent depressive affect, examining whether the causality between some particular child abuse subcategory and depression is direct or indirect, i.e. mediated by borderline personality pathology. Three hundred four Japanese university students were the target for analysis. Questionnaire surveys were conducted over a six-week period on three occasions. Structural equation modeling was used for the statistical analysis. Self-Rating Depressive Scale (SDS), Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), and Child Abuse and Trauma Scale (CATS) were used for assessing depressive affects, borderline personality organization, and past experience of child abuse, respectively. “Neglect and Emotional Abuse” had a deteriorating effect on children’s later mental health. “Sexual Abuse” and “Authoritarianism” had indirect influence via borderline personality organization. Although “Physical Punishment and Scolding” and “Marital Disharmony” per se did not have a significant negative impact on later mental health, it should be noted that they are frequently accompanied by “Neglect and Emotional Abuse.

The Inventory of Personality Organisation: its psychometric properties among student and clinical populations in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Inventory of Personality Organisation (IPO) is a self-report measure that reflects personality traits, as theorised by Kernberg.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In study 1, the Japanese version of the IPO was distributed to a population of Japanese university students (N = 701). The students were randomly divided into two groups. The factor structure derived from an exploratory factor analysis among one subsample was tested using a confirmatory factor structure among another subsample. In study 2, the factor-driven subscales of the IPO were correlated with other variables that would function as external criteria to validate the scale in a combined population of the students used in study 1 and psychiatric outpatients (N = 177).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In study 1 the five-factor structure presented by the original authors was replicated in exploratory factor analyses in one subgroup of students. However, this was through reduction of the number of items (the number of the primary items was reduced from 57 to 24 whereas the number of the additional items was reduced from 26 to 13) due to low endorsement frequencies as well as low factor loadings on a designated factor. The new factor structure was endorsed by a confirmatory factor analysis in the other student subgroup. In study 2 the new five subscales of the Japanese IPO were likely to be correlated with younger age, more personality psychopathology (borderline and narcissistic), more dysphoric mood, less psychological well-being, more insecure adult attachment style, lower self-efficacy, and more frequent history of childhood adversity. The IPO scores were found to predict the increase in suicidal ideation in a week's time in a longitudinal follow-up.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although losing more than 40% of the original items, the Japanese IPO may be a reliable and valid measure of Kernberg's personality organisation for Japanese populations.</p

Reasons for Increased Caesarean Section Rate in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study among Vietnamese Mothers and Health Care Professionals.

The Caesarean section rate in urban Vietnam is 43% in 2014, which is more than twice the recommended rate (10%-15%) by the World Health Organization. This qualitative study aims to identify the perceptions of pregnant mothers and health care professionals on the medical and social factors related to the increased Caesarean section rate in Vietnam. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among pregnant mothers and healthcare professionals at two public hospitals in Nha Trang city. A content analysis was adopted in order to identify social and medical factors. As a result, 29 pregnant women and 19 health care professionals were invited to participate in the qualitative interviews. Private interviews were conducted with 10 women who wished to have a Caesarean section, and the others participated in focus group interviews. The main themes of the social factors were 'request for Caesarean section,' 'mental strain of obstetricians,' and 'decision-making process.' To conclude, this qualitative study suggests that there were unnecessary caesarean sections without a clear medical indication, which were requested by women and family members. Psychological fear occurred among women and family, and doctors were the main determinants for driving the requests for Caesarean section, which implies that education and emotional encouragement is necessary by midwives. In addition, a multi-faced approach including a mandatory reporting system in clinical fields and involving family members in antenatal education is important

High energy electron observation by Polar Patrol Balloon flight in Antarctica

We accomplished a balloon observation of the high-energy cosmic-ray electrons in 10-1000GeV to reveal the origin and the acceleration mechanism. The observation was carried out for 13 days at an average altitude of 35km by the Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) around Antarctica in January 2004. The detector is an imaging calorimeter composed of scintillating-fiber belts and plastic scintillation counters sandwiched between lead plates. The geometrical factor is about 600cm^2sr, and the total thickness of lead absorber is 9 radiation lengths. The performance of the detector has been confirmed by a test flight at the Sanriku Balloon Center and by an accelerator beam test using the CERN-SPS (Super Proton Synchrotron at CERN). The new telemetry system using the Iridium satellite, the power system supplied by solar panels and the automatic flight level control operated successfully during the flight. We collected 5.7×10^3 events over 100GeV, and selected the electron candidates by a preliminary data analysis of the shower images. We report here an outline of both detector and observation, and the first result of the electron energy spectrum over 100GeV obtained by an electronic counter

Factor structure of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Japanese psychiatric outpatient and student populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a common screening instrument excluding somatic symptoms of depression and anxiety, but previous studies have reported inconsistencies of its factor structure. The construct validity of the Japanese version of the HADS has yet to be reported. To examine the factor structure of the HADS in a Japanese population is needed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted in the combined data of 408 psychiatric outpatients and 1069 undergraduate students. The data pool was randomly split in half for a cross validation. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on one half of the data, and the fitness of the plausible model was examined in the other half of the data using a confirmatory factor analysis. Simultaneous multi-group analyses between the subgroups (outpatients vs. students, and men vs. women) were subsequently conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A two-factor model where items 6 and 7 had dual loadings was supported. These factors were interpreted as reflecting anxiety and depression. Item 10 showed low contributions to both of the factors. Simultaneous multi-group analyses indicated a factor pattern stability across the subgroups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Japanese version of HADS indicated good factorial validity in our samples. However, ambiguous wording of item 7 should be clarified in future revisions.</p

The Relationship between Individual Difference in Repressive Stles and Grief Reaction Coping Behaviors, and Onset of Pathological Grief, Anxiety and Mood Disorders after Child Loss

We examined the relationship between parental repressive styles, grief reaction/post-bereavement coping behavior and psychiatric symptoms in parents who had lost young children, In Study I, we administered a set of questionnaires to a sample of 177 parents who had experienced bereavement of children within the past several years in order to inquire about grief response, coping behavior, repressive styles, and social support .After controlling for sex, age, income, and self esteem, 1) subjects who had high anxiety (sensitizer and repressive-anxiety) showed stronger grief response whereas those with low anxiety (repressor and low-anxiety) showed weak response; 2) repressors were more likely to accept death and resolute grief after the loss than others; 3) those who had higher anxiety were more likely to ruminate after death; and 4) sensitizers were less likely to satisfy perceived social support. In Study II we interviewed 60 bereaved parents using a semi-structured diagnostic interview schedule to yield diagnoses of the parents based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV). Parents with repressive-anxiety were more likely to manifest pathological grief and those parents recognized as sensitizers were more likely to have an onset of DSM-IV Major Depression or Social Phobia after the child\u27s death.抑圧様式と悲嘆反応、死別後の対処行動、精神症状との関連性について検討した。研究Iでは幼い子どもと死別した親177名を対象に悲嘆反応、対処行動、抑圧様式、ソーシャルサポートを測定した。性別、年齢、収入などを統制し分析した結果、①不安水準の高い sensitizer, repressive Anxiety 各群では悲嘆反応が強心不安水準の低い repressor, low-anxiety各群では悲嘆反応が弱い、②repressor群では悲嘆がすでに解決したことと認知し、死別体験を肯定的に捉える傾向が強い、③不安水準が高いと死別後に内的に考え込む対処を多く行う、④sensitizer群では知覚されたソーシャルサポートに対する満足度が低い傾向にあった。研究IIでは60名に半構造化面接を行い、死別後に罹患した精神疾患の診断を行った。その結果，⑤病的悲嘆はrepressive- anxiety傾向と，⑥大うつ病性障害や社会恐怖はsensitization傾向とそれぞれ関連することが示された

The Measurement of Grief and Coping after Loss of a Child

We administered Grief Response Scale (GRS), Japanese translation of "Core Bereavement Items," and a set of newly developed coping　behavior items (Scale for Coping with　Bereavement; SCB) to 48 fathers and 127　mothers who experienced the loss of a child within several years. Although a confirmatory factor analysis of GRS did not support the original seven-factor model byBurnett et al., an exploratory factor analysis yielded four factors: lmage and sorrow, Sense of presence， Non-resolution and conflict, and Resolution of grief. Grief reaction was significantly greater in mothers than in fathers. An exploratory factor analysis of SCB produced five factors: Distraction, Ruminative response, A cceptance and overcome, Support-seeking behavior, and Religious activity and existential meaning. As compared to fathers, mothers ruminated, sought support from others, and had religious activity more frequently. These results suggest that different aspects of grief were related with coping with bereavement after controlling for age, sex, income, and level of manifest anxiety