Effect of cognitive bias modification-memory on depressive symptoms and autobiographical memory bias: Two independent studies in high-ruminating and dysphoric samples

Item does not contain fulltextMemory bias is a risk factor for depression. In two independent studies, the efficacy of one CBM-Memory session on negative memory bias and depressive symptoms was tested in vulnerable samples. We compared positive to neutral (control) CBM-Memory trainings in highly-ruminating individuals (N=101) and individuals with elevated depressive symptoms (N=100). In both studies, participants studied positive, neutral, and negative Swahili words paired with their translations. In five study-test blocks, they were then prompted to retrieve either only the positive or neutral translations. Immediately following the training and one week later, we tested cued recall of all translations and autobiographical memory bias; and also measured mood, depressive symptoms, and rumination. Retrieval practice resulted in training-congruent recall both immediately after and one week after the training. Overall, there was no differential decrease in symptoms or difference in autobiographical memory bias between the training conditions. In the dysphoric but not in the high-ruminating sample, the positive training resulted in positive autobiographical bias only in dysphoric individuals with positive pre-existing bias. We conclude that one session of positive retrieval-based CBM-Memory may not be enough to yield symptom change and affect autobiographical memory bias in vulnerable individuals.17 p

Etherscapes: Massless, Elastic, Technology and Control

This thesis is an exploration into the ether of the digital aesthetic. It attempts to capture a segment of the continually morphing space then deconstruct and analyse it through electronic and new media art. Herein you will find a questioning of technology and control within electronic and new media art as an investigation into better understanding the current media image and visual culture that so powerfully influences the modern social construct. By nature this argument has existed for some years but only now with advancements in technology and more affordable realisation of ideas by media artists, the topic of the digital aesethetic, technology and control has become relevant for popular debate. As war lingers in our minds, terrorism hits headlines, and experiements in cloning human DNA take place, the technology that society demands can only necessarily be seen as a major contributing factor to today's strange times. However, strange or not, the questions I wish to discuss; Does technology determine contemporary society or do we determine technology? Where does the control exist

d-Cycloserine augmentation of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update

Contains fulltext : 149543.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a generally effective treatment for treating anxiety disorders, there is clearly still room for further improvements. Recent advances in neuroscience of extinction learning led to novel clinical strategies to augment exposure-based treatments with d-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist at the glycine recognition site of the glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. This review provides an update on the current knowledge of DCS as an augmentation strategy of CBT for anxiety disorders. The adequacy of the CBT to be augmented, the dose of DCS, and the timing and duration of augmentation efforts all appear to be important moderating variables. Moreover, there is evidence that DCS may also augment fear memory reconsolidation if the fear level remains high after the exposure. Future studies need to examine whether DCS can augment CBT when administered after exposure in order to develop a tailored administration strategy to maximize its clinical utility.5 p

Pitfalls of meta-analyses

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A meta-analytic review of the effects of psychotherapy control conditions for anxiety disorders

Background. Little is known about the magnitude of improvement associated with psychotherapy control conditions for adult anxiety disorders. This information is important for the design of psychosocial treatment efficacy studies. Method. We performed a Computerized search of treatment outcome studies of anxiety disorders conducted between the first available year and 1 March 2007. In addition, we examined the reference lists from identified articles and asked international experts to identify eligible studies. We included studies that randomly assigned adult patients suffering from anxiety disorders to either cognitive-behavioral treatment or psychotherapy control condition. For each study, the two authors independently selected psychometrically sound measures of anxiety disorder severity. In addition, we collected data on attrition and treatment response. Results. Of the 1165 studies that were initially identified, 19 studies (454 patients) met inclusion criteria and were included in the analyses. The random effects analysis yielded a pre- to post-treatment Hedges' g effect size of 0.45 (95% confidence interval 0.35-0.46, z = 8.50, p <0.001). The mean weighted response and attrition rates were 25.0% and 14.2%, respectively, There was no evidence for publication bias, nor was there a significant relationship between the effect size and diagnostic group, study year or number of treatment sessions. Conclusions. Psychotherapy control conditions are associated with significant improvements when administered to adults suffering from anxiety disorders. In addition, they are associated with a relatively low attrition rate. These findings can inform the design of future psychotherapy outcome studies

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials

Item does not contain fulltextObjective: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is frequently used for various adult anxiety disorders, but there has been no systematic review of the efficacy of CBT in randomized placebo-controlled trials. The present study meta-analytically reviewed the efficacy of CBT versus placebo for adult anxiety disorders. Data Sources: We conducted a computerized search for treatment outcome studies of anxiety disorders from the first available date to March 1, 2007. We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, the Institute of Scientific Information, and Dissertation Abstracts International for the following terms: random*, cognitive behavior*therap*, cognitive therap*, behavior*therap*, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, social anxiety, disorder, specific phobia, simple phobia, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and acute stress disorder. Furthermore, we examined reference lists from identified articles and asked international experts to identify eligible studies. Study Selection: We included studies that randomly assigned adult patients between ages 18 and 65 years meeting DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria for an anxiety disorder to either CBT or placebo. Of 1165 studies that were initially identified, 27 met all inclusion criteria. Data Extraction: The 2 authors independently identified the eligible studies and selected for each study the continuous measures of anxiety severity. Dichotomous measures reflecting treatment response and continuous measures of depression severity were also collected. Data were extracted separately for completer (25 studies for continuous measures and 21 studies for response rates) and intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses (6 studies for continuous measures and 8 studies for response rates). Data Synthesis: There were no significant differences in attrition rates between CBT and placebo. Random-effects models of completer samples yielded a pooled effect size (Hedges'g) of 0.73 (95% CI = 0.88 to 1.65) for continuous anxiety severity measures and 0.45 (95% CI = 0.25 to 0.65) for depressive symptom severity measures. The pooled odds ratio for completer treatment response rates was 4.06 (95% CI = 2.78 to 5.92). The strongest effect sizes were observed in obsessive-compulsive disorder and acute stress disorder, and the weakest effect size was found in panic disorder.The advantage of CBT over placebo did not depend on placebo modality, number of sessions, or study year. Conclusions: Our review of randomized placebo-controlled trials indicates that CBT is efficacious for adult anxiety disorders. There is, however, considerable room for improvement. Also, more studies need to include ITT analyses in the future.12 p

Emotional vulnerability as a function of physical activity among individuals with panic disorder

Item does not contain fulltextThis investigation evaluated the association between physical inactivity and emotional vulnerability in panic disorder. Participants were 39 adults (69% females) with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia), recruited through the community. Consistent with prediction, current physical inactivity was significantly associated with greater levels Of anxiety sensitivity and severity of panic disorder. Results are discussed in relation to the importance of better understanding the role of physical inactivity in panic disorder

Panic disorder and agoraphobia: An overview and commentary of DSM-5 changes

Item does not contain fulltextThe recently published DSM-5 contains a number of changes pertinent to panic disorder and agoraphobia. These changes include separation of panic disorder and agoraphobia into separate diagnoses, the addition of criteria and guidelines for distinguishing agoraphobia from specific phobia, the addition of a 6-month duration requirement for agoraphobia, the addition of panic attacks as a specifier to any DSM-5 diagnosis, changes to descriptors of panic attack types, as well as various changes to the descriptive text. It is crucial that clinicians and researchers working with individuals presenting with panic attacks and panic-like symptoms understand these changes. The purpose of the current paper is to provide a summary of the main changes, to critique the changes in the context of available empirical evidence, and to highlight clinical implications and potential impact on mental health service utilization. Several of the changes have the potential to improve access to evidence-based treatment; yet, although certain changes appear justified in that they were based on converging evidence from different empirical sources, other changes appear questionable, at least based on the information presented in the DSM-5 text and related publications. Ongoing research of DSM-5 panic disorder and agoraphobia as well as application of the new diagnostic criteria in clinical contexts is needed to further inform the strengths and limitations of DSM-5 conceptualizations of panic disorder and agoraphobia.7 p

Exercise for Mood and Anxiety Disorders: The State-of-the Science [Editorial]

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An examination of the decline in fear and disgust during exposure-based treatment

Item does not contain fulltextIt has been suggested that disgust plays a prominent role in the fear of spiders. Participants (N=27) displaying marked spider fear were provided 30 min of self-directed in vivo exposure to an actual tarantula, during which time their fear and disgust levels were assessed repeatedly. Growth curve analyses were then conducted to examine the decay slopes in both fear and disgust and their relationship. Consistent with prediction, exposure led to significant declines in both spider fear and spider-specific disgust but not in global disgust sensitivity. However, the decay slope observed for fear was significantly greater than that for disgust. Further analyses revealed that the reduction in disgust during treatment remained significant even after controlling for change in fear; and similarly, change in fear remained significant even after controlling for change in disgust. Contrary to prediction, disgust levels at pretreatment did not moderate the level of fear activation or fear reduction during treatment. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed