Posttraumatic Growth in the Context of Grief: Testing the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory

The current study utilized a cross-sectional survey design to examine the role of mindfulness and meaning-making in the development of posttraumatic growth following the death of a loved one. Participants were 232 adults (77.2% female, 85% Caucasian), ages 18 to 67 years old (M = 35.7, SD = 12.5) who had experienced the death of a loved one in the last 10 years. Preliminary analysis indicated significant positive bivariate correlations between mindfulness and meaning making (r = .39 ) and mindfulness and posttraumatic growth (r = .20 ), as well significant negative bivariate correlations between mindfulness and traumatic grief (r = -.30) and meaning-making and traumatic grief (r = -.76). A moderated mediation analysis was conducted to assess 1) the conditional direct effect of mindfulness on posttraumatic growth as a function of traumatic grief and 2) the conditional indirect effect of mindfulness on posttraumatic growth through meaning making as a function of traumatic grief. Results were partially consistent with the proposed hypotheses. The direct effect of mindfulness increased as traumatic grief increased and only became significant at high levels (+ 1 SD) of traumatic grief [b(SE) = .53(.15), p \u3c .01]. The indirect effect of mindfulness on posttraumatic growth through meaning-making decreased as traumatic grief increased and was only significant at low levels (-1 SD) of traumatic grief [b(SE) = .10(.06),p \u3c .01] and average levels of traumatic grief [b(SE) = .07(.04), p \u3c .01]. Overall, results highlight the multidimensional utility of mindfulness in facilitating adaptive responses to the death of a loved one. Clinical applications and methodological limitations of the current study are reviewed, as well as directions for future research

Mindful marriage: Exploring the interaction between mindfulness and length of marriage

The purpose of this study was to explore the interaction between length of marriage and trait mindfulness on marital satisfaction. Although previous research has demonstrated that both length of marriage and trait mindfulness positively predict marital satisfaction, research has yet to explore the interaction between the two. Thus, our study adds to the existing literature by exploring the relationship between length of marriage and marital satisfaction, moderated by mindfulness. Because mindfulness has been shown to both act as a buffer against stress and to have a positive relationship with marital satisfaction, we hypothesized that trait mindfulness would moderate the relationship between length of marriage and marital satisfaction. More specifically, we hypothesized that (a) length of marriage would positively predict marital satisfaction, and (b) mindfulness would moderate this relationship, such that those in short-term marriages who are high in trait mindfulness will demonstrate higher marital satisfaction than those in both long and short-term marriages with low trait mindfulness. Participants (N = 331) indicated how long they had been married and then completed measures of mindfulness (FFMQ-SF) and marital satisfaction (KMSS). Results indicated that neither trait mindfulness nor length of marriage predicted marital satisfaction. Moreover, contrary to our hypothesis, the interaction between length of marriage and trait mindfulness was also nonsignificant. Follow-up analyses indicated significant differences in trait mindfulness, but not marital satisfaction between groups. Limitations of the current study and implications for future research in this area are discussed

Head-group acylation of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol is a common stress response, and the acyl-galactose acyl composition varies with the plant species and applied stress

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Vu, H. S., Roth, M. R., Tamura, P., Samarakoon, T., Shiva, S., Honey, S., Lowe, K., Schmelz, E. A., Williams, T. D. and Welti, R. (2014), Head-group acylation of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol is a common stress response, and the acyl-galactose acyl composition varies with the plant species and applied stress. Physiol Plantarum, 150: 517–528. doi:10.1111/ppl.12132, which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12132. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Formation of galactose-acylated monogalactosyldiacylglycerols has been shown to be induced by leaf homogenization, mechanical wounding, avirulent bacterial infection, and thawing after snap-freezing. Here, lipidomic analysis using mass spectrometry showed that galactose-acylated monogalactosyldiacylglycerols, formed in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves upon wounding, have acyl-galactose profiles that differ from those of wounded Arabidopsis thaliana, indicating that different plant species accumulate different acyl-galactose components in response to the same stress. Additionally, the composition of the acyl-galactose component of Arabidopsis acMGDG depends on the stress treatment. After sub-lethal freezing treatment, acMGDG contained mainly non-oxidized fatty acids esterified to galactose, whereas mostly oxidized fatty acids accumulated on galactose after wounding or bacterial infection. Compositional data are consistent with acMGDG being formed in vivo by transacylation with fatty acids from digalactosyldiacylglycerols. Oxophytodienoic acid, an oxidized fatty acid, was more concentrated on the galactosyl ring of acylated monogalactosyldiacylglycerols than in galactolipids in general. Also, oxidized fatty acid-containing acylated monogalactosyldiacylglycerols increased cumulatively when wounded Arabidopsis leaves were wounded again. These findings suggest that, in Arabidopsis, the pool of galactose-acylated monogalactosyldiacylglycerols may serve to sequester oxidized fatty acids during stress responses

Cerebral blood flow predicts differential neurotransmitter activity

Application of metabolic magnetic resonance imaging measures such as cerebral blood flow in translational medicine is limited by the unknown link of observed alterations to specific neurophysiological processes. In particular, the sensitivity of cerebral blood flow to activity changes in specific neurotransmitter systems remains unclear. We address this question by probing cerebral blood flow in healthy volunteers using seven established drugs with known dopaminergic, serotonergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic mechanisms of action. We use a novel framework aimed at disentangling the observed effects to contribution from underlying neurotransmitter systems. We find for all evaluated compounds a reliable spatial link of respective cerebral blood flow changes with underlying neurotransmitter receptor densities corresponding to their primary mechanisms of action. The strength of these associations with receptor density is mediated by respective drug affinities. These findings suggest that cerebral blood flow is a sensitive brain-wide in-vivo assay of metabolic demands across a variety of neurotransmitter systems in humans

Is group cognitive behaviour therapy for postnatal depression evidence-based practice? A systematic review

Background: There is evidence that psychological therapies including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) may be effective in reducing postnatal depression (PND) when offered to individuals. In clinical practice, this is also implemented in a group therapy format, which, although not recommended in guidelines, is seen as a cost-effective alternative. To consider the extent to which group methods can be seen as evidence-based, we systematically review and synthesise the evidence for the efficacy of group CBT compared to currently used packages of care for women with PND, and we discuss further factors which may contribute to clinician confidence in implementing an intervention. Methods: Seventeen electronic databases were searched. All full papers were read by two reviewers and a third reviewer was consulted in the event of a disagreement on inclusion. Selected studies were quality assessed, using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, were data extracted by two reviewers using a standardised data extraction form and statistically synthesised where appropriate using the fixed-effect inverse-variance method. Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses showed group CBT to be effective in reducing depression compared to routine primary care, usual care or waiting list groups. A pooled effect size of d = 0.57 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.80, p < 0.001) was observed at 10–13 weeks post-randomisation, reducing to d = 0.28 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.53, p = 0.025) at 6 months. The non-randomised comparisons against waiting list controls at 10–13 weeks was associated with a larger effect size of d = 0.94 (95% CI 0.42 to 1.47, p < 0.001). However due to the limitations of the available data, such as ill-specified definitions of the CBT component of the group programmes, these results should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions: Although the evidence available is limited, group CBT was shown to be effective. We argue, therefore, that there is sufficient evidence to implement group CBT, conditional upon routinely collected outcomes being benchmarked against those obtained in trials of individual CBT, and with other important factors such as patient preference, clinical experience, and information from the local context taken into account when making the treatment decision

phMRI: methodological considerations for mitigating potential confounding factors

Dr. Bourke is supported by a strategic research grant from Barts Charity (470/1700)

An observational study of individual child journeys through autism diagnostic pathways, and associated costs, in the UK National Health Service

BackgroundDemand for diagnostic assessment in children with possible autism has recently increased significantly. Services are under pressure to deliver timely and high-quality diagnosis, following National Institute and Care Excellence multidisciplinary assessment guidelines. This UK National Health Service study aimed to answer: how many hours of health professional time are required to deliver autism diagnostic assessment, and how much does this cost?.MethodCase notes of 20 children (1–16 yrs.) from 27 NHS trusts, assessed through an autism diagnostic pathway in the previous year, were examined retrospectively. Data included: hours of professional time, diagnostic outcome. Assessment costs calculated using standardised NHS tariffs.Results488 children (aged 21–195 months, mean 82.9 months, SD 39.36) from 22 Child Development Services (CDS), four Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and one tertiary centre; 87% were either under 5 (36%) or 5 to 11 years (51%). Children seen by CDS were younger than CAMHS (mean (SD) 6.10 (2.72) vs. 10.39 (2.97) years, p &lt; 0.001). Mean days to diagnosis were 375 (SD 235), with large variation (range 41–1553 days). Mean hours of professional time per child was 11.50 (SD 7.03) and varied substantially between services and individuals. Mean cost of assessment was £846.00 (SD 536.31). 339 (70.0%) children received autism diagnosis with or without comorbidity; 54 (11%) received no neurodevelopmental diagnosis; 91 (19%) received alternative neurodevelopmental diagnoses. Children with one or more coexisting conditions took longer to diagnose, and assessment was more costly, on average 117 days longer, costing £180 more than a child with no neurodevelopmental diagnosis. Age did not predict days to diagnosis or assessment costs.ConclusionTypical assessment took 11 h of professional time and over 12-months to complete, costing GB£850 per child. Variation between centres and children reflect differences in practice and complexity of diagnostic presentation. These results give information to those delivering/planning autism assessments using multi-disciplinary team approach, in publicly funded health systems. Planning of future diagnostic services needs to consider growing demand, the need for streamlining, enabling context appropriate services, and child/family complexity