Fiabilidad, validez factorial y datos normativos de la versión española del inventario abreviado de reacciones interpersonales (SIRI) de Grossarth-Maticek y Eysenck

Eysenck and Grossarth-Maticek’s model states that some of their personality types are predisposed to specific illnesses (Types 1 and 5 to cancer, and Type 2 to coronary heart disease), whereas others are preserved (Type 4) or not predisposed (Types 3 and 6). The aim of this study is to provide infor-mation as regards the reliability, factor validity and normative data of the Spanish version of Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck´s Short Interpersonal Reactions Inventory (SIRI) in a sample of uni-versity students (N=425). The results indicate that 1) internal consistency is adequate (0,88-0,75); 2) factor analysis suggests that this instrument measures four dimensions: Factor 1 compounded by Types 1 and 2 (psychosomatic risk), Factor 2 constituted by Types 3 and 6 (hysteria/psychopathy), Factor 3 configured by Type 5 (rationality) and Factor 4 defined by Type 4 (autonomy); and 3) distribu-tion of personality types is similar to that found in prior studies with samples of young subjects.El modelo de Eysenck y Grossarth-Maticek postula que algunos de sus tipos de personalidad están predispuestos a enfermedades específicas (tipos 1 y 5 al cáncer, y tipo 2 a la enfermedad coronaria), mientras otros están preservados (tipo 4) o no predispuestos (tipos 3 y 6). El objetivo de este estudio ha sido aportar datos sobre la fiabilidad, validez factorial y baremación de la versión española del Inventario abreviado de reacciones interpersonales de Grossarth-Maticek y Eysenck (SIRI) en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios (n = 425). Los resultados indican 1) la aceptable consistencia interna (0,88-0,75); 2) el análisis factorial efectuado sugiere que el instrumento mide cuatro dimensio-nes: un primer factor está formado por los tipos 1 y 2 (riesgo psicosomático), un segundo factor está constituido por los tipos 3 y 6 (histeria/psicopatía), el tercer factor está configurado por el tipo 5 (ra-cionalidad) y el cuarto factor está definido por el tipo 4 (autonomía); y 3) la distribución de los tipos de personalidad es similar a la encontrada en estudios previos con muestras de sujetos jóvenes

The outcome-representation learning model: impairments in decision-making in adolescents with excess weight

Impairments in decision-making have been suggested as a predisposing factor to obesity development. Individuals with excess weight display riskier decisions than normal weight people. Furthermore, adolescence is a period of life in which risky behavior may increase. We aimed to investigate decision making applying the Outcome-Representation-Learning (ORL) model to the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) in adolescents with excess weight. Twenty-nine excess weight and twenty-eight normal weight adolescents, classified according to their age-adjusted body mass index (BMI) percentile, participated in the study. Decision-making was measured using the IGT. A Bayesian computational ORL model was applied to assess reward learning, punishment learning, forgetfulness, win perseverance and deck perseverance. The IGT net score was lower in excess weight than normal weight adolescents (ß = 2.85; p <.027). Reward learning (95% HDI 0.011, 0.232]) was higher, while forgetfulness (95% HDI - 0.711, - 0.181]) and deck perseverance (95% HDI - 3.349, - 0.203]) were lower, in excess weight than normal weight adolescents. Excess weight adolescents seemed better at learning the most rewarding choices and showed a random strategy based on reward and novelty seeking. Consequently, excess weight adolescents made more disadvantageous selections, and performed worse in the IGT

Validation of an inventory for the measurement of perceived stress and coping strategies in cancer patients (ISEAC)

Objetivo: El objetivo de esta investigación es presentar un nuevo instrumento (ISEAC) de medida del nivel de estrés y las estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas en las situaciones estresantes específicas relacionadas con la enfermedad del cáncer. El ISEAC evalúa: a) las situaciones estresantes específicas ligadas a la enfermedad oncológica, b) el nivel de estrés o malestar emocional experimentado respecto a estas situaciones y c) las estrategias de afrontamiento que utiliza el paciente para cada una de estas situaciones. Método: La validez predictiva del instrumento se ha evaluado analizando la relación entre las puntuaciones del ISEAC y medidas de ansiedad y depresión (Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión) y calidad de vida (Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida SF-36). En el estudio participaron 78 pacientes oncológicos que fueron entrevistados individualmente. Resultados: Los resultados muestran que el área de mayor preocupación en los pacientes es la referida a la situación de emociones negativas (estado de ánimo irritable, apático y/o triste) y la preocupación por el malestar de los familiares. Las estrategias de afrontamiento más frecuentemente utilizadas son, por este orden, la distracción cognitiva, la evitación y la aceptación estoica de la enfermedad. Tanto la puntuación total en estrés como la derivada de las distintas situaciones estresantes se asocian positivamente a las puntuaciones en ansiedad y depresión y negativamente a la calidad de vida. En cuanto a las estrategias de afrontamiento, el estoicismo es el que se relaciona más negativamente con la calidad de vida, mientras que la redefinición de la situación se asocia negativamente a la depresión y positivamente a la función social. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que el ISEAC puede ser útil en la evaluación psicológica del paciente oncológico y, específicamente, en la detección de áreas concretas (tanto ligadas a situaciones estresantes o el modo de afrontarlas) con necesidad de intervención.Objective: The aim of this study is to present a new instrument (ISEAC) for the measurement of stress and coping strategies used in the specific stressful situations related to cancer. The ISEAC evaluates: a) the specific stressful situations related to the cancer disease, b) the level of stress-emotional discomfort experienced with regard to these situations, and c) the coping strategies that the patient uses for each of these situations. Methodology: The predictive validity of the instrument has been evaluated analyzing the relation between the punctuations of the ISEAC and measures of anxiety and depression (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and quality of life (Short-Form Health-Survey, SF-36). Seventy-eight cancer patients participated in the study and they were individually interviewed. Results: The results show that the area of greater worry in the patients is that related to the situation of negative emotions (irritable, apathetic, and/or sad state) and the worry about the discomfort produced by the patient’s illness in their relatives. The coping strategies more frequently used are, in this order, cognitive distraction, avoidance and the stoic acceptance of the disease. Both the total stress score as well as the stress in the specific different stressful situations are positively associated to anxiety and depression levels, but negatively related to quality of life indicators. As regards the coping strategies are concerned, stoicism is negatively related to quality of life, whereas the redefinition of the situation is negatively related to depression but positively associated to social functioning. Conclusions: The results suggest that the ISEAC can be useful in the psychological evaluation of the cancer patients and, specifically, in the detection of specifics areas (both related to stressful situations as with the way of coping) with need of intervention

A Case-Control Study of Cognitive Function in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Before and After Hemodialysis in Southern Spain

BACKGROUND: This single-center study aimed to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on modulation of thyroid hormone levels and cognition in the recovery stage of patients with cognitive dysfunction following stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy post-stroke patients who had cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to either the rTMS group or the control (sham) group. Both groups were administered basic treatment, with the rTMS group receiving rTMS (1 Hz, 90% MT, 1000 pulse/20 min, once a day for 5 days, for a total of 20 times), the stimulation site was the contralateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the sham group receiving sham stimulation which had the same stimulation parameters and site, except that the coil plane was placed perpendicular to the surface of the scalp. Cognitive function assessment and thyroid function tests were performed before and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) showed a positive correlation with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale score of stroke patients in the recovery phase. The post-treatment change in the scores of MoCA and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and scores of 3 cognitive domains (visuospatial function, memory, and attention), as well as serum T3, FT3, and TSH levels, were improved more significantly in the rTMS group, and T3 and FT3 levels significantly affected the MoCA scores within the reference range. CONCLUSIONS: Serum T3, FT3, and TSH levels of stroke patients in the recovery phase were positively correlated with MoCA score. rTMS increased T3, FT3, and TSH levels and also improved MoCA and MBI of patients in the recovery phase of stroke

Covariate effects of resting heart rate variability on affective ratings and startle reflex during cognitive reappraisal of negative emotions

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been widely studied in laboratory settings due to its clinical implications, primarily as a potential biomarker of emotion regulation (ER). Studies have reported that individuals with higher resting HRV show more distinct startle reflexes to negative stimuli as compared to those with lower HRV. These responses have been associated with better defense system function when managing the context demands. There is, however, a lack of empirical evidence on the association between resting HRV and eyeblinks during laboratory tasks using instructed ER. This study explored the influence of tonic HRV on voluntary cognitive reappraisal through subjective and startle responses measured during an independent ER task. In total, 122 healthy participants completed a task consisting of attempts to upregulate, downregulate, or react naturally to emotions prompted by unpleasant pictures. Tonic HRV was measured for 5 minutes before the experiment began. Current results did not support the idea that self-reported and eyeblink responses were influenced by resting HRV. These findings suggest that, irrespective of resting HRV, individuals may benefit from strategies such as reappraisal that are useful for managing negative emotions. Experimental studies should further explore the role of individual differences when using ER strategies during laboratory task

Habituation and sensitization of protective reflexes: dissociation between cardiac defense and eye-blink startle

We examined the habituation and recovery of two protective reflexes, cardiac defense and eye-blink startle, simultaneously elicited by a white noise of 500 ms as a function of the time interval between stimulus presentations. Participants were 90 volunteers (54 women) randomly distributed into 6 inter-trial interval (ITI) conditions. They all received three presentations of the stimulus with a time interval of 30 min between the first and third noise. The timing of the second noise was manipulated in six steps, using a between-group design, in order to increase the ITI between Trials I and 2 and symmetrically decrease the ITI between Trials 2 and 3. Cardiac defense showed fast habituation at the shortest ITI (2.5 min), but reduced habituation and increased recovery at the longest ITI (27.5 min). In contrast, eye-blink startle showed sensitization irrespective of the ITI. This pattern of findings highlights dissociations between protective reflexes when simultaneously examined. The results are discussed in the context of the cascade model of defense reactions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Autonomic changes induced by provocative motion in rats bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behavior: Paradoxical responses in LAB animals.

In humans, associations between anxiety and nausea (including motion-induced) are reported but the underlying mechanisms are not known. Hypothermia is proposed to be an index of nausea in rats. Utilising hypothermia and heart rate as outcome measures we investigated the response to provocative motion in rats selectively bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviors and in non-selected (NAB) rats to further elucidate the potential relationship between hypothermia and nausea-like state. Core temperature and electrocardiogram were monitored in each group (n=10 per group) using telemetry, with or without circular motion (40min; 0.75Hz) and vehicle or diazepam (2mg/kg, i.p.) pre-treatment. Heart rate and time- and frequency-domain parameters of heart rate variability were derived from the electrocardiogram. There was no baseline difference in core temperature between the three groups (mean 38.0±0.1°C), but HAB animals had a significantly lower resting heart rate (330±7bpm) compared to LAB (402±5bpm) and NAB (401±9bpm). Animals in all groups exhibited hypothermia during motion (HAB: 36.3±0.1°C; NAB: 36.4±0.1°C; LAB: 34.9±0.2°C) with the magnitude (area under the curve, AUC) of the response during 40-min motion being greater in LAB compared to NAB and HAB rats, and this was also the case for the motion-induced bradycardia. Diazepam had minimal effects on baseline temperature and heart rate in all groups, but significantly reduced the hypothermia response (AUC) to motion in all groups by ~30%. Breeding for extremes in anxiety-related behavior unexpectedly selects animals with low trait anxiety that have enhanced bradycardia and hypothermic responses to motion; consequently, this animal model appears to be not suitable for exploring relationships between anxiety and autonomic correlates of nausea. Thermal and cardiovascular responses to motion were little different between HAB and NAB rats indicating that either hypothermia is not an index of a nausea-like state in rats, or that the positive correlation between anxiety and nausea demonstrated in humans does not exist in rats. The mechanism underlying the enhanced physiological responses in LAB requires more detailed study and may provide a novel model to investigate factors modulating motion sensitivity

Acute Exposure to Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) has effects on the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram, consistent with vagal nerve stimulation

BACKGROUND: Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) is a telecommunications system widely used by police and emergency services around the world. The Stewart Report on mobile telephony and health raised questions about possible health effects associated with TETRA signals. This study investigates possible effects of TETRA signals on the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram in human volunteers. METHODS: Blinded randomized provocation study with a standardized TETRA signal or sham exposure. In the first of two experiments, police officers had a TETRA set placed first against the left temple and then the upper-left quadrant of the chest and the electroencephalogram was recorded during rest and active cognitive processing. In the second experiment, volunteers were subject to chest exposure of TETRA whilst their electroencephalogram and heart rate variability derived from the electrocardiogram were recorded. RESULTS: In the first experiment, we found that exposure to TETRA had consistent neurophysiological effects on the electroencephalogram, but only during chest exposure, in a pattern suggestive of vagal nerve stimulation. In the second experiment, we observed changes in heart rate variability during exposure to TETRA but the electroencephalogram effects were not replicated. CONCLUSIONS: Observed effects of exposure to TETRA signals on the electroencephalogram (first experiment) and electrocardiogram are consistent with vagal nerve stimulation in the chest by TETRA. However given the small effect on heart rate variability and the lack of consistency on the electroencephalogram, it seems unlikely that this will have a significant impact on health. Long-term monitoring of the health of the police force in relation to TETRA use is on-going

Major depressive disorder with melancholia displays robust alterations in resting state heart rate and its variability: implications for future morbidity and mortality

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased heart rate and reductions in its variability (HRV) – markers of future morbidity and mortality – yet prior studies have reported contradictory effects. We hypothesised that increases in heart rate and reductions in HRV would be more robust in melancholia relative to controls, than in patients with non-melancholia. Methods: A total of 72 patients with a primary diagnosis of MDD (age M: 36.26, SE: 1.34; 42 females) and 94 controls (age M: 35.69, SE: 1.16; 52 females) were included in this study. Heart rate and measures of its variability (HRV) were calculated from two 2-minute electrocardiogram recordings during resting state. Propensity score matching controlled imbalance on potential confounds between patients with melancholia (n=40) and non-melancholia (n=32) including age, gender, disorder severity and comorbid anxiety disorders. Results: MDD patients with melancholia displayed significantly increased heart rate and lower resting-state HRV (including the square root of the mean squared differences between successive N–N intervals, the absolute power of high frequency and standard deviation of the Poincaré plot perpendicular to the line of identity measures of HRV) relative to controls, findings associated with a moderate effect size (Cohens d’s = 0.56-0.58). Patients with melancholia also displayed an increased heart rate relative to those with non-melancholia (Cohen’s d = 0.20).Conclusion: MDD patients with melancholia – but not non-melancholia – display robust increases in heart rate and decreases in HRV. These findings may underpin a variety of behavioural impairments in patients with melancholia including somatic symptoms, cognitive impairment, reduced responsiveness to the environment, and over the longer-term, morbidity and mortality

ADARRI:a novel method to detect spurious R-peaks in the electrocardiogram for heart rate variability analysis in the intensive care unit

We developed a simple and fully automated method for detecting artifacts in the R-R interval (RRI) time series of the ECG that is tailored to the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. From ECG recordings of 50 adult ICU-subjects we selected 60 epochs with valid R-peak detections and 60 epochs containing artifacts leading to missed or false positive R-peak detections. Next, we calculated the absolute value of the difference between two adjacent RRIs (adRRI), and obtained the empirical probability distributions of adRRI values for valid R-peaks and artifacts. From these, we calculated an optimal threshold for separating adRRI values arising from artifact versus non-artefactual data. We compared the performance of our method with the methods of Berntson and Clifford on the same data. We identified 257,458 R-peak detections, of which 235,644 (91.5%) were true detections and 21,814 (8.5%) arose from artifacts. Our method showed superior performance for detecting artifacts with sensitivity 100%, specificity 99%, precision 99%, positive likelihood ratio of 100 and negative likelihood ratio <0.001 compared to Berntson’s and Clifford’s method with a sensitivity, specificity, precision and positive and negative likelihood ratio of 99%, 78%, 82%, 4.5, 0.013 for Berntson’s method and 55%, 98%, 96%, 27.5, 0.460 for Clifford’s method, respectively. A novel algorithm using a patient-independent threshold derived from the distribution of adRRI values in ICU ECG data identifies artifacts accurately, and outperforms two other methods in common use. Furthermore, the threshold was calculated based on real data from critically ill patients and the algorithm is easy to implement