Emotional Disclosure in Day-to-Day Living and Subjective Well Being

There is a large body of empirical research on emotional disclosure and its relationship to health and well being. However, emotional disclosure has been examined largely in the context of illness or trauma. Beneficial outcomes of emotional disclosure in day-to-day living have not been consistently observed in non-experimental studies, although a large proportion of individuals do report perceived benefits. The present study aimed at exploring the association of emotional disclosure with selected intrapersonal and interpersonal variables and their role in prediction of subjective well being in day-to-day living. The sample comprised of 209 adults who did not report presence of any major stressor in the recent past. In hierarchical regression analysis, lower affect intensity, higher emotional clarity, lower trait rumination, higher perceived support and higher emotional disclosure predicted higher subjective well being. In addition, trait rumination emerged as a significant moderator of the relationship between emotional disclosure and subjective well being.     

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for geriatric compulsive hoarding

This investigation examined response to a manualized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol for compulsive hoarding (Steketee & Frost, 2007) in a sample of 12 adults over age 65. All participants were cognitively intact, not engaging in any other psychotherapy, and had compulsive hoarding as their primary problem. All received 26 sessions of individual CBT over the course of 17 weeks. The primary outcome measures were the Savings Inventory-Revised and UCLA Hoarding Severity Scale, which were administered at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. Other outcomes included Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores, depression, anxiety, disability, and clutter image ratings. Results demonstrated statistically significant changes on hoarding severity and depression. However, only three of the twelve participants were classified as treatment responders at post-treatment, and their gains were not maintained at 6-month follow-up. CGI, anxiety, disability, and clutter ratings were unchanged at post-treatment and follow-up. No participants dropped out, but homework compliance was variable and correlated with decreases in hoarding severity. Findings suggest that older adults with compulsive hoarding may require an enhanced or alternative treatment.     

The effect of thalamic stimulation in processing of verbal stimuli in dichotic listening tasks: a case study

In dichotic listening tasks, the (dominant) right ear's superiority in processing verbal stimuli has been attributed to its direct anatomic connection with the left dominant hemisphere. The role played by extralinguistic factors, such as attention and functional tuning of the associated cortical structures, has not been carefully examined. This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the left thalamic electric stimulation on the processing (recognition and recall) of dichotically presented CVC verbal stimuli in a patient being treated for chronic pain. We report the positive effects of electric stimulation (confirmed by increased subcortical metabolic activity using SPECT, a brain imaging technique) on the processing of dichotically presented verbal stimuli.     

Eugenol as an anti-stress agent: modulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain monoaminergic systems in a rat model of stress

Stress is the leading psychopathological cause for several mental disorders. Physiological and psychological responses to stress are mediated by the hypothalamic?pituitary?adrenal (HPA), sympathoadrenal system (SAS), and brain monoaminergic systems (BMS). Eugenol is reported to substantially modulate brain functions by regulating voltage-gated cation channels and release of neurotransmitters. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-stress effect of eugenol in the 4-h restraint model using rats. Ulcer index was measured as a parameter of the stress response. HPA axis and the SAS were monitored by estimating plasma corticosterone and norepinephrine (NE), respectively. Analysis of NE, serotonin (5-HT), dopamine, and their metabolites in discrete brain regions was performed to understand the role of BMS in the anti-stress effect of eugenol. Stress exposure increased the ulcer index as well as plasma corticosterone and NE levels. Eugenol pretreatment for 7 days decreased the stress-induced increase in ulcer index and plasma corticosterone but not NE levels, indicating a preferential effect on the HPA axis. Furthermore, eugenol showed a ?U?-shaped dose?response curve in decreasing ulcer index and plasma corticosterone levels. Eugenol also reversed the stress-induced changes in 5-HT levels in all brain regions, whereas NE levels were reversed in all brain regions except hippocampus. These results suggest that eugenol possesses significant anti-stress activity in the 4-h restraint model and the effect is due to modulation of HPA and BMS.     

Effect of lithium-ion irradiation on the crystallization kinetics of glassy Se98In2

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to study the crystallization kinetics of glassy Se₉₈In₂ both before and after irradiation of the alloy with high-energy (50 MeV) lithium ions. After the ion-irradiation, significant changes in the kinetic parameters of crystallization of the glass were observed. The results are explained in terms of a model involving irradiation-induced defects.     

Determination of glass-forming ability of Ge1− x Sn x Se2.5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) alloys using differential scanning calorimetry

The glass-forming ability of Ge_{1? x} Sn _x Se_2.5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) alloys was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. Samples were scanned at different heating rates under non-isothermal conditions. Various simple quantitative methods were employed to assess the stability of the glassy materials in the above-mentioned system. All of these methods are based on characteristic temperatures, such as the glass-transition temperature, T _g, the onset-of-crystallization temperature, T _c, and the peak crystallization temperature, T _p. A crystallization rate factor, K, has also been used as a measure of the thermal stability of the glasses. It was found that Ge_0.7Sn_0.3Se_2.5 was the least stable among all the samples.     

Individual differences in hedonic capacity,depressed mood,and affective states predict emotional reactivity

Identifying factors that contribute to inter-individual differences in emotional reactivity is central to understanding the basic mechanisms that give rise to adaptive emotion reactivity and to disruptions that may occur in psychopathology. The current study related emotional reactivity in an unselected young adult sample (N?=?101) to individual difference factors relevant to emotional functioning and mood pathology, specifically anhedonia, depressed mood, and current affective state. To assess emotional reactivity, participants rated their emotional responses to 100 pictures from the International Affective Picture System. Increased self-reported anhedonia (i.e. reduced hedonic capacity) predicted blunted emotional reactivity to both positive and negative images, relative to neutral images, while elevated depressed mood predicted potentiated emotional reactivity to negative vs. neutral images. Anhedonia also accounted for far greater variance in emotional reactivity than depressed mood. Further, more positive affective state predicted potentiated reactivity to positive versus neutral images while more negative affective state predicted potentiated reactivity to negative versus neutral images beyond effects of anhedonia and depressed mood. The current study identified separable effects of anhedonia, depressed mood, and current affect on emotional reactivity.     

Effectiveness of a Cognitive Behavioral Randomized Controlled Trial for People Living with HIV Who are Heavy Drinkers: The Holistic Health Recovery Program (HHRP) Trial in Miami

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings - This study evaluates the impact of an intervention targeting high-risk behaviors among diverse, alcohol-using adults living with HIV...     

Psychologists' perspectives on the diagnostic classification of mental disorders: Results from the WHO‐IUPsyS Global Survey

This study examined psychologists' views and practices regarding diagnostic classification systems for mental and behavioral disorders so as to inform the development of the ICD‐11 by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO and the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) conducted a multilingual survey of 2155 psychologists from 23 countries, recruited through their national psychological associations. Sixty percent of global psychologists routinely used a formal classification system, with ICD‐10 used most frequently by 51% and DSM‐IV by 44%. Psychologists viewed informing treatment decisions and facilitating communication as the most important purposes of classification, and preferred flexible diagnostic guidelines to strict criteria. Clinicians favorably evaluated most diagnostic categories, but identified a number of problematic diagnoses. Substantial percentages reported problems with crosscultural applicability and cultural bias, especially among psychologists outside the USA and Europe. Findings underscore the priority of clinical utility and professional and cultural differences in international psychology. Implications for ICD‐11 development and dissemination are discussed.     

The pathophysiology of body dysmorphic disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an often severe and disabling condition, affecting up to 2% of the population. Despite its prevalence and clinical significance, very little is known about the pathophysiology of BDD. However, clues to its possible neurobiological substrates and abnormalities in information processing are starting to emerge. This article reviews findings from genetic, brain lesion, neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and psychopharmacological studies that have allowed us to develop a tentative model of the functional neuroanatomy of BDD. There is likely a complex interplay of dysfunctions in several brain networks underlying the pathophysiology of BDD. A combination of dysfunctions in frontal-subcortical circuits, temporal, parietal, and limbic structures, and possibly involving hemispheric imbalances in information processing, may produce both the characteristic symptoms and neurocognitive deficits seen in BDD. An improved understanding of the pathophysiology of BDD will be crucial to guide the development of better treatments.