Desire thinking as a mediator of the relationship between novelty seeking and craving.

Background: The construct of craving has been shown to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors. Both novelty seeking and desire thinking have been identified, respectively, as important temperamental and cognitive predictors of craving. Aims: In the present study we aimed to explore the relative contribution of novelty seeking and desire thinking towards craving, hypothesizing a sequence of multiple mediating relationships starting from novelty seeking and moving onto imaginal prefiguration, verbal perseveration and craving in serial fashion. Method: A convenience sample of 270 individuals completed measures assessing novelty seeking, desire thinking, and craving relating to a chosen activity. Results: Findings showed that, controlling for age and gender, desire thinking components predicted craving over and above novelty seeking. The indirect effect from novelty seeking to craving, via desire thinking components, was significant thus supporting a multiple-mediational sequence. Finally, the relationship between imaginal prefiguration and craving was found to be partially mediated by verbal perseveration. Conclusions: The findings provide support for the conceptualization of desire thinking as an independent construct in predicting craving over and above novelty seeking

Nasal decontamination for the prevention of surgical site infection in Staphylococcus aureus carriers (Protocol)

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:To assess the effects of nasal decontamination on preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) in people who are S aureus carriers undergoing surgery, treated in any setting

Desire thinking as a mediator of the relationship between novelty seeking and craving

The construct of craving has been shown to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors. Both novelty seeking and desire thinking have been identified, respectively, as important temperamental and cognitive predictors of craving. In the present study we aimed to explore the relative contribution of novelty seeking and desire thinking towards craving, hypothesizing a sequence of multiple mediating relationships starting from novelty seeking and moving onto imaginal prefiguration, verbal perseveration and craving in serial fashion. A convenience sample of 270 individuals completed measures assessing novelty seeking, desire thinking, and craving relating to a chosen activity. Findings showed that, controlling for age and gender, desire thinking components predicted craving over and above novelty seeking. The indirect effect from novelty seeking to craving, via desire thinking components, was significant thus supporting a multiple-mediational sequence. Finally, the relationship between imaginal prefiguration and craving was found to be partially mediated by verbal perseveration. The findings provide support for the conceptualization of desire thinking as an independent construct in predicting craving over and above novelty seeking

Cold air analgesia in photodynamic therapy of Basal Cell Carcinomas and Bowen\u27s Disease: An effective addition to treatment: A pilot study

There is considerable interpatient variability in pain tolerance during and after treatment of skin cancer with photodynamic therapy (PDT). Additionally, erythema and edema are common, with mild crusting and healing over 1 to 2 weeks. To determine whether concurrent cold air analgesia improves the tolerability of PDT. Twenty-six patients with two similar superficial skin cancers were treated with PDT. One lesion was treated with cold air analgesia and the other without. Patients rated their pain during treatment using the Wong Baker Faces Pain Scale and detailed duration of posttreatment pain. At week 2, the inflammatory response was assessed. A statistically significant difference in the analgesia group was shown with respect to the mean duration of pain and the level of erythema after the first treatment as well as pain scores during the second treatment. Patient acceptance of PDT for treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer is improved with lessened morbidity assessed with concurrent use of cold air analgesia to the treatment field