Perceived History of Anaphylaxis and Parental Overprotection,Autonomy, Anxiety,and Depression in Food Allergic Young Adults

This study examined autonomy, anxiety, depression, and perceptions of parental behavior in 86 food allergic young adults and 344 healthy young adults between the ages of 18 and 22. Participants completed an online survey measuring self-reported autonomy, anxiety, depression, and perceptions of parental behavior. Results indicated that, as a group, food allergic young adults did not differ from healthy peers. However, food allergic young adults who reported having experienced an anaphylactic reaction described their disease as more severe, reported more worry about their disease, and rated their parents as more overprotective than food allergic young adults who reported never having experienced anaphylaxis. The experience of anaphylaxis may be a reliable indicator of food allergic individuals who are at risk for psychological distress. A portion of this research was presented at the National Conference on Child Health Psychology in Miami, Fl in April, 2008.     

Hybrids of the -translation for

In [W. Burr, Functional interpretation of Aczel's constructive set theory, Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 104 (2000) 31–73] Wolfgang Burr presents a functional interpretation of constructive set theory in all finite types, , in a theory of constructive set functionals. is a subtheory of , containing bounded quantifiers only. His interpretation theorem reduces the consistency problem of (and certain extensions thereof) to the consistency problem of .We want to study admissible rules in , i.e. rules under which is closed. To do so, we study a Troelstra-style q-hybrid of, in fact, a modification ^× of Burr's translation. We introduce this modification in order to close a minor gap in Burr's proof of the functional interpretation of the schema of (Strong Collection).First of all, but surely after a short introduction, we analyse the less complex translation of modified realisation ^mr and its hybrids ^mq and ^mrt.     

The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral interventions for reducing anxiety sensitivity: a meta-analytic review

The present study meta-analytically reviewed the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) vs. control conditions in the reduction of anxiety sensitivity. A computerized search was conducted to indentify CBT outcome studies that included the Anxiety Sensitivity Index as a dependent variable. Of the 989 studies that were identified, 24 randomized-controlled trials with a total of 1851 participants met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Data were extracted separately for treatment-seeking (16 studies) and at-risk (eight studies) samples. Results indicated large effect sizes for treatment-seeking samples, Hedges' g=1.40, SE=0.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.81, p<0.001, and moderate to large effect sizes for at risk samples Hedges' g=0.74, SE=0.18, 95% CI: 0.39-1.08, p<0.001. Additionally, both the amount of therapist contact and control modality (waitlist vs. psychological control) moderated the effect sizes for treatment-seeking samples. Our review indicates that CBT is efficacious in reducing anxiety sensitivity. However, more research is needed to determine the mechanisms by which CBT exert its effects on anxiety sensitivity.     

Emotion regulation in unipolar depression: the effects of acceptance and suppression of subjective emotional experience on the intensity and duration of sadness and negative affect

This study examined the effects of emotional suppression and acceptance in a depressed sample. Sixty participants with diagnoses of unipolar depression completed a questionnaire packet and participated in an experiment. The experiment utilized two conditions to explore correlates of the spontaneous use of emotion regulation strategies and the effects of an experimental manipulation of acceptance and suppression. Results demonstrated that suppression produced short-term reductions in sadness. Notably, anxiety about the experience of depressed mood influenced the efficacy of emotional suppression with findings showing that suppression was no longer effective at moderate and higher levels of anxiety about the experience of depressed mood. Implications of study findings for understanding emotion dysregulation in depressive disorders and the treatment of depression are discussed.     

Catastrophic associations predict level of change in anxiety sensitivity in response to cognitive-behavioural treatment for panic

The aim of the present study was to elucidate one of the factors that might be responsible for the maintenance of panic patients' harmful beliefs about anxiety. Specifically, it was hypothesized that harmful beliefs about anxiety, i.e. anxiety sensitivity, is maintained in panic patients by automatic activation of idiographic catastrophic cognitions. To test this prediction, panic patients participated in a one-session cognitive-behavioural treatment of 4-8h to reduce anxiety sensitivity. The strength of automatic catastrophic cognitions in response to idiographic anxiety symptoms, measured with a modified semantic priming task, as well as the strength of the consciously accessible catastrophic meaning of these symptoms were assessed before treatment. In accordance with the hypothesis, stronger automatic catastrophic cognitions predicted a smaller reduction of anxiety sensitivity independently of the strength of conscious catastrophic cognitions. Moreover, in a first exploration, the strength of catastrophic associations was also shown to have an incremental predictive value for change in anxiety sensitivity beyond that of a number of demographic, clinical, treatment and assessment variables. The theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.     

The Insufficiency of the Dutch Book Argument

It is a common view that the axioms of probability can be derived from the following assumptions: (a) probabilities reflect (rational) degrees of belief, (b) degrees of belief can be measured as betting quotients; and (c) a rational agent must select betting quotients that are coherent. In this paper, I argue that a consideration of reasonable betting behaviour, with respect to the alleged derivation of the first axiom of probability, suggests that (b) and (c) are incorrect. In particular, I show how a rational agent might assign a ‘probability’ of zero to an event which she is sure will occur.     

Anxiety and coping with community disasters: The Israeli experience

This study compared anxiety levels and coping strategies in Israeli adults during the Al-Aqsa Intifada (n = 707) and under ballistic missile attacks targeted at Israeli civilians during the Persian Gulf War (n = 328). In view of the differences among the two disaster situations in terms of severity of impact, scope, duration, predictability, and controllability, it was hypothesized that higher levels of state anxiety would be observed for the terror attack than for the missile attack crisis. Furthermore, problem-focused coping was predicted to be more salient than emotion-focused coping during the Gulf War—at a time where more protective action could be taken. Overall, the data supported the hypotheses. The data are discussed and explicated in the context of stress and coping theory and research.     

Relationship Between Alexithymia and Social Anxiety in Female Outpatients with Dermatological Disorder Presenting for Psychiatric Consultation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia and social anxiety symptoms in female outpatients with dermatological disorder. Fifty consecutive patients sent to a psychiatry outpatient clinic for consultation from a dermatology outpatient clinic were included in the study. Social anxiety symptoms showed significant correlations with depression, trait anxiety, alexithymia and global psychiatric symptom severity. A multivariate analysis of covariance demonstrated that subscales of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) were related to alexithymia and trait anxiety. The “difficulty in describing feelings” (DDF) dimension of alexithymia and trait anxiety appear to be important factors in this relationship between social anxiety and alexithymia. Results of this study suggest that patients with dermatological disorder may benefit from both treatment of social anxiety symptoms and learning how to regulate their affects and emotional expression.     

Environnement lumineux et anxiété des patients en service d’IRM

BackgroundMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imagery exam, which is considered stressful/worrying for patients. This anxiety is related to several factors: negative beliefs linked to the lack of knowledge about the procedure of the exam, duration, noise of the MRI, etc. Several interventions, before and during the MRI were proposed and evaluated with the aim of reducing anxiety for patients (information given to patients, psychological preparation before the exam and hypnosis, aromatherapy, sedation, environment and positioning of the patient). While the health service is more and more centered on cost-efficiency and pressure for greater patient throughput, it is important to find appropriate interventions to improve patient tolerance of MRIs.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare anxiety of patients based on the MRI luminous environment.Methods208 patients aged 18–70 years participated in the study. Four subgroups were created according to the presence or absence of luminous environment, screen and music: G1 (60 participants, with luminous environment, without screen, music with fast tempo); G2 (60 participants, with luminous environment, with screen, music with slow tempo); G3 (27 participants, without luminous environment, without music); G4 (61 participants, without luminous environment, music with fast tempo). All participants completed a questionnaire to evaluate their anxiety regarding the exam (anxiety-state, AE) and in everyday life (anxiety-trait, AT): STAI-Y. Open questions were also asked to participants in order to gain an understanding of their experience of the exam (positive points and suggestions for improvements).ResultsThe results showed a significant difference between the groups of the AE: patients of group G1 showed more AE than patients in group G2 (p = 0.037), patients of group G2 showed less AE than those of group G3 (p = 0.001), and patients of group G3 showed more AE than patients in group G4 (p = 0.019). No significative difference was found between the 3 groups in the AT. The participants who underwent exams in a room with a luminous environment equipped with a screen with slow tempo music reported more satisfaction and offered fewer suggestions for improvement compared with the two other groups.ConclusionThis study has revealed that the environment in which patients undergo their exam affects their level of anxiety during the exam. A luminous environment equipped with a screen led to a considerable decrease in patient anxiety during the MRI exam. Technological innovations are allowing the patient to be the center of radiographers focus more and more. Trying to priorities improvement of patient well-being consequently facilitates their work. Taking into account the cost and increasing number of medical imagery exams, prevention of anxiety and its undesirable side-effects is not only important for patients, but also avoids wastage of staff and of time. The results of this study should encourage health centers to invest in these new installations, keeping in mind that new technologies can never replace information and support offered before the exam by radiologists and radiographers.     

INTRODUCTION: TOWARD A METAPHYSIC OF MEANING

We introduce a two‐part collection of articles (Part 2 to appear in the September 2010 issue) exploring a possible new research program in the field of science and religion. At the center of the program lies an attempt to develop a new theology of nature drawing on the philosophy of C. S. Peirce. Our overall idea is that the fundamental structure of the world is exactly that required for the emergence of meaning and truth‐bearing representation. We understand the emergence of a capacity to interpret an environment to be important to the emergence of life, and we see the subsequent history of biological evolution as a story of increasing capacities for meaning making and meaning seeking. Theologically, we understand God to be the ground of all such meaning making and the ultimate goal of the universe's emerging capacity for interpreting signs. Here we explain our reasons for seeking a new metaphysical framework in which science and theology may each find a home. We survey the contributions to the two‐part collection, and we suggest that the interdisciplinary collaboration from which these have arisen may serve as a methodological model for the field of science and religion.