Alcohol use and misuse: What are the contributions of occupation and work organization conditions?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This research examines the specific contribution of occupation and work organization conditions to alcohol use and misuse. It is based on a social-action model that takes into account agent personality, structures of daily life, and macro social structures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data come from a representative sample of 10,155 workers in Quebec, Canada. Multinomial regression models corrected for sample design effect have been used to predict low-risk and high-risk drinking compared to non-drinkers. The contribution of occupation and work organization conditions (skill used, decision authority, physical and psychological demands, hours worked, irregular work schedule, harassment, unionization, job insecurity, performance pay, prestige) have been adjusted for family situation, social network outside the workplace, and individual characteristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to non-qualified blue-collars, both low-risk and high-risk drinking are associated with qualified blue-collars, semi-qualified white-collars, and middle managers; high-risk drinking is associated with upper managers. For constraints-resources related to work organization conditions, only workplace harassment is an important determinant of both low-risk and high-risk drinking, but it is modestly moderated by occupation. Family situation, social support outside work, and personal characteristics of individuals are also associated with alcohol use and misuse. Non-work factors mediated/suppressed the role of occupation and work organization conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Occupation and workplace harassment are important factors associated with alcohol use and misuse. The results support the theoretical model conceptualizing alcohol use and misuse as being the product of stress caused by constraints and resources brought to bear simultaneously by agent personality, structures of daily life, and macro social structures. Occupational alcohol researchers must expand their theoretical perspectives to avoid erroneous conclusions about the specific role of the workplace.</p

eHealth cognitieve gedragstherapie voor patiënten met chronische somatische aandoeningen

-based cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with chronic somatic conditions Many patients with chronic somatic conditions regularly experience impairments in physical and psychological functioning in their daily life. A way to support these patients is to offer online programs based on cognitive behavioral therapy (Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy; ICBT). Although a substantial evidence base already exists regarding the effectiveness of ICBT in treating, for example, depressive symptoms, research on ICBT for chronic somatic conditions is still upcoming. In recent years, a growing number of randomized controlled trials were published that examined the effectiveness of ICBT in various chronic somatic conditions. To systematically and quantitatively evaluate the results of these studies, a metaanalysis was conducted, the results of which are discussed in this article. Results indicated that ICBT is also overall effective for chronic somatic conditions, with small to moderate effect sizes. Larger effects were occasionally found for disease-specific outcomes such as disease symptoms and disease-specific quality of life. A longer treatment duration was found to be marginally related to a larger decrease in depressive symptoms. In addition to the results of the meta-analysis, this article provides an overview of the recent literature regarding several clinically relevant ICBT topics: cost-effectiveness, guided ICBT interventions versus self-help, the role of treatment duration, and optimal design and implementation of eHealth interventions.FSW - Self-regulation models for health behavior and psychopathology - ou

High Fat and Sugar Consumption During Ad Libitum Intake Predicts Weight Gain

OBJECTIVE: To determine how macronutrients accompanying foods with high energy density (EnDen) affect energy intake and weight gain. METHODS: A total of 214 subjects (130 males, BMI: 32 +/- 7 kg/m(2) ) ate ad libitum for 3 days. Food intake was expressed as the mean daily intake (in kilocalories) and the percentage of weight-maintaining energy needs (%WMEN). EnDen was expressed as the ratio of intake (in kilocalories) to food weight (in grams). Food choices were expressed as absolute and percent intake (kilocalories), categorized as high in fat (HF; >/= 45% kcal) or low in fat (LF; /= 30% kcal), high in simple sugars (HSS; >/= 30% kcal), or high in protein (HP; >/= 13% kcal). Follow-up weights were available from 99 subjects (65 males, range: 6 months to 11 years). RESULTS: EnDen was associated with BMI (r = 0.28, P < 0.0001), percent body fat (r = 0.18, P = 0.007), and percent intake from HF/HP (r = 0.34, P < 0.0001), HF/HSS (r = 0.31, P < 0.0001), LF/HP (r = -0.37, P < 0.0001) and LF/HSS (r = -0.68, P < 0.0001). The %WMEN was associated with EnDen (r = 0.16, P = 0.01), HF/HSS (r = 0.33, P < 0.0001), and LF/HP intake (r = -0.25, P = 0.0002). In a multivariate model, only HF/HSS intake remained a significant predictor of %WMEN (beta = 1.4% per 1% change, P < 0.0001). The percent intake from HF/HSS (r = 0.23, P = 0.02), not EnDen (P = 0.54), was associated with weight gain, even after adjusting for follow-up time (in years) and covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively greater consumption of HF/HSS foods independently predicted overeating and weight gain. Nutrient compositions of high-EnDen foods may be important for weight management

Neuromodulation directed at the prefrontal cortex of subjects with obesity reduces snack food intake and hunger in a randomized trial

Background: Obesity is associated with reduced activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region of the brain that plays a key role in the support of self-regulatory aspects of eating behavior and inhibitory control. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive technique used to modulate brain activity. Objectives: We tested whether repeated anodal tDCS targeted at the left DLPFC (compared with sham tDCS) has an immediate effect on eating behavior during ad libitum food intake, resulting in weight change, and whether it might influence longer-term food intake-related appetite ratings in individuals with obesity. Design: In a randomized parallel-design study combining inpatient and outpatient assessments over 31 d, 23 individuals with obesity [12 men; mean +/- SD body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)): 39.3 +/- 8.42] received 15 sessions of anodal (i.e., enhancing cortical activity) or sham tDCS aimed at the left DLPFC. Ad libitum food intake was assessed through the use of a vending machine paradigm and snack food taste tests (SFTTs). Appetite was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). Body weight was measured. We examined the effect of short-term (i.e., 3 sessions) and long-term (i.e., 15 sessions) tDCS on these variables. Results: Relative to sham tDCS, short-term anodal tDCS did not influence ad libitum intake of food from the vending machines. Accordingly, no effect on short-term or 4-wk weight change was observed. In the anodal tDCS group, compared with the sham group, VAS ratings for hunger and the urge to eat declined significantly more (P = 0.01 and P = 0.05, respectively), and total energy intake during an SFTT was relatively lower in satiated individuals (P = 0.01), after long-term tDCS. Conclusions: Short-term anodal tDCS of the left DLPFC did not have an immediate effect on ad libitum food intake or thereby weight change, relative to sham tDCS. Hunger and snack food intake were reduced only after a longer period of anodal tDCS in individuals with obesity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials. gov as NCT00739362