Why are linguistic features and PTSD symptoms related? An analysis of cognitive reappraisal and rumination

In research about narratives of trauma, some linguistic features are associated with worse symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Past studies do not empirically look at the reasons behind these associations. This study examined the mechanisms of two commonly discovered findings in trauma narrative research: cognitive processing language (CPL) associating with fewer PTSD symptoms, and self-referential language (SRL) associating with more PTSD symptoms. There were 185 participants recruited from two parent studies who each wrote a narrative about their most traumatic event, which was analyzed using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software (LIWC). I hypothesized the reason for the association between CPL and lower PTSD symptoms was trait cognitive reappraisal (reevaluating negative thoughts/beliefs), and the association between SRL and higher PTSD symptoms was trait rumination (thinking deeply on negative feelings). I also analyzed other linguistic dimensions as predictor variables of PTSD symptoms (e.g. sensory language and death language). All analyses conducted were linear regressions. There was an insignificant effect for all dimensions, for CPL in the opposite direction as to what was hypothesized, ß = .44, t(157) = 1.82, p > .01, SRL in the same direction as to what was hypothesized, ß = .10, t(157) = 1.21, p > .01, sensory language ß = -.00, t(157) = -.03, p > .01, and death language ß = -.02, t(157) = -.27, p > .01. Results imply that SRL may not be a replacement for ruminatory symptoms as prior research originally theorized

The effectiveness of interventions to change six health behaviours: a review of reviews

Background: Several World Health Organisation reports over recent years have highlighted the high incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer. Contributory factors include unhealthy diets, alcohol and tobacco use and sedentary lifestyles. This paper reports the findings of a review of reviews of behavioural change interventions to reduce unhealthy behaviours or promote healthy behaviours. We included six different health-related behaviours in the review: healthy eating, physical exercise, smoking, alcohol misuse, sexual risk taking (in young people) and illicit drug use. We excluded reviews which focussed on pharmacological treatments or those which required intensive treatments (e. g. for drug or alcohol dependency). Methods: The Cochrane Library, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and several Ovid databases were searched for systematic reviews of interventions for the six behaviours (updated search 2008). Two reviewers applied the inclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the quality of the reviews. The results were discussed in a narrative synthesis. Results: We included 103 reviews published between 1995 and 2008. The focus of interventions varied, but those targeting specific individuals were generally designed to change an existing behaviour (e. g. cigarette smoking, alcohol misuse), whilst those aimed at the general population or groups such as school children were designed to promote positive behaviours (e. g. healthy eating). Almost 50% (n = 48) of the reviews focussed on smoking (either prevention or cessation). Interventions that were most effective across a range of health behaviours included physician advice or individual counselling, and workplace- and school-based activities. Mass media campaigns and legislative interventions also showed small to moderate effects in changing health behaviours. Generally, the evidence related to short-term effects rather than sustained/longer-term impact and there was a relative lack of evidence on how best to address inequalities. Conclusions: Despite limitations of the review of reviews approach, it is encouraging that there are interventions that are effective in achieving behavioural change. Further emphasis in both primary studies and secondary analysis (e.g. systematic reviews) should be placed on assessing the differential effectiveness of interventions across different population subgroups to ensure that health inequalities are addressed.</p

Aboriginal mothers in prison in Australia: a study of social, emotional and physical wellbeing

© 2019 The Authors Objective: To describe the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of Aboriginal mothers in prison. Methods: Cross-sectional survey, including a Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (5-item version) administered to Aboriginal women who self-identified as mothers. Results: Seventy-seven Aboriginal mothers in New South Wales (NSW) and 84 in Western Australia (WA) participated in the study. Eighty-three per cent (n=59) of mothers in NSW were in prison for drug-related offences, 64.8% (n=46) of mothers in WA were in prison for offences committed under the influence of alcohol. Sixty-eight per cent (n=52) of mothers in NSW and 35% (n=28) of mothers in WA reported mental health problems. Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) component scores of SF-12 varied for mothers in NSW and WA. Mothers in NSW experienced poorer health and functioning than mothers in WA (NSW: PCS 49.5, MCS 40.6; WA: PCS 54.4, MCS 48.3) and high levels of psychological distress (NSW: 13.1; WA 10.1). Conclusions: Aboriginal mothers in prison have significant health needs associated with physical and mental health, and psychological distress. Implications for public health: Adoption of social and emotional wellbeing as an explanatory framework for culturally secure healthcare in prison is essential to improving health outcomes of Aboriginal mothers in prison in Australia

Racism as a determinant of health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite a growing body of epidemiological evidence in recent years documenting the health impacts of racism, the cumulative evidence base has yet to be synthesized in a comprehensive meta-analysis focused specifically on racism as a determinant of health. This meta-analysis reviewed the literature focusing on the relationship between reported racism and mental and physical health outcomes. Data from 293 studies reported in 333 articles published between 1983 and 2013, and conducted predominately in the U.S., were analysed using random effects models and mean weighted effect sizes. Racism was associated with poorer mental health (negative mental health: r = -.23, 95% CI [-.24,-.21], k = 227; positive mental health: r = -.13, 95% CI [-.16,-.10], k = 113), including depression, anxiety, psychological stress and various other outcomes. Racism was also associated with poorer general health (r = -.13 (95% CI [-.18,-.09], k = 30), and poorer physical health (r = -.09, 95% CI [-.12,-.06], k = 50). Moderation effects were found for some outcomes with regard to study and exposure characteristics. Effect sizes of racism on mental health were stronger in cross-sectional compared with longitudinal data and in non-representative samples compared with representative samples. Age, sex, birthplace and education level did not moderate the effects of racism on health. Ethnicity significantly moderated the effect of racism on negative mental health and physical health: the association between racism and negative mental health was significantly stronger for Asian American and Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants, and the association between racism and physical health was significantly stronger for Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants.<br /

Imaging findings in noncraniofacial childhood rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood. This paper is focuses on imaging for diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of noncraniofacial RMS

Effects of progesterone nuclear receptor on dopaminergic nuclei involved in social aggression in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Aggression is tightly controlled by hormonal and neural regulation in all social animals. Although extensive effort has been invested in studying the neuroendocrine bases of aggressive behavior, our knowledge of the role progesterone plays in regulating aggression remains poorly understood. This is because most research investigating progesterone function has been limited to female ovulation and reproduction. Recently, we demonstrated that progesterone nuclear receptor knockout (Pgr KO) male zebrafish display heightened aggression toward conspecifics compared to wildtype (WT) cohorts. However, the neurophysiological bases underlying this observation remained unknown. Here we examined morphological differences of brain nuclei associated in social aggression between Pgr KO and WT male zebrafish using the Tg(dat:EGFP) transgenic line. Progesterone and dopaminergic systems are tightly intertwined and Pgr is known to be expressed widely in hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons. We hypothesized that heightened aggression will be manifested morphologically in differences in the number of dopaminergic neurons in hypothalamic brain nuclei implicated in social regulation. To test this hypothesis, we measured the number of dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT) expressing neurons in the telencephalon and lateral recess (nuclei associated with aggression) and the pre-optic area and pretectum (nuclei associated with submissiveness). Results of confocal microscopy and automated quantification suggest a reduced number of DAT positive cells in the lateral recess of Pgr KO animals compared to control WTs\; while the number of cells in the telencephalon was higher in Pgr KO compared to WTs. Finally, results show no differences in the number of neurons in the preoptic area or pretectum between Pgr KO vs. WTs. Our results highlight the importance of Pgr in inducing morphological plasticity of brain nuclei associated in social aggression