Psychiatric comorbidity of smoking and nicotine dependence

Recent epidemiologic studies have revealed that comorbidity of psychiatric disorders is far more pervasive than previously suspected. Strong associations have been reported between specific substance use disorders and between any mental disorder and any substance use disorder. This report focuses on comorbidity of nicotine dependence, a substance use disorder on which little epidemiologic information is available. Data come from an epidemiologic study of approximately 1000 young adults in southeast Michigan, in which the NIMH-DIS, revised according to DSM-III-R, was used. Lifetime prevalence of nicotine dependence was 20%. Males and females with nicotine dependence had increased odds for alcohol and illicit drug disorders, major depression, and anxiety disorders, compared with nondependent smokers and nonsmokers combined. Major depression and any anxiety disorder were associated specifically with nicotine dependence. Increased odds for alcohol or illicit drug disorders were observed also in nondependent smokers, compared to nonsmokers. History of early conduct problems increased the odds for nicotine dependence among smokers. Potential mechanisms in the comorbidity of nicotine dependence are discussed.     

Sensation Seeking, Trait and State Anxiety, and the Electrodermal Orienting Response

The relationship between sensation seeking and the orienting reflex (OR) using skin conductance change is investigated in two experiments. In Experiment I, high sensation seekers gave a greater initial OR In novel visual stimuli while not differing in habituation on subsequent trials. In Experiment II. the paradigm was extended to include auditory as well as visual stimuli. Again, high sensation seekers were found to be more arousable with respect to initial ORs while not differing in habituation rates. The results suggest that sensation seekers may be characterized as having strong excitatory CNS processes. In Experiment II, anxiety (trait and state) was also related to the OR. There were no effects due to trait anxiety but state anxiety did yield significant differences. The more highly anxious (state) subjects had weaker initial ORs than lows in both novel tones, but not to repeated tones. The findings with state anxiety are consistent with findings by others using anxiety neurotics as subjects.     

Fear-Potentiated Startle in Humans: Effects of Anticipatory Anxiety on the Acoustic Blink Reflex

The effects of fear/anticipatory anxiety on the acoustic startle reflex were investigated in humans using a paradigm involving anticipation of electric shocks. The eyeblink component of the startle reflex, elicited by an abrupt auditory stimulus, was measured in 9 normal volunteers during either the anticipation of electric shocks (anticipatory anxiety) or periods in which no shocks were anticipated (safe period). The eyeblink was consistently higher in amplitude, and shorter in latency, during periods when the subjects anticipated shocks, compared to the safe periods. This effect could not be attributed solely to a reduction in habituation and was statistically significant before the subjects actually received any shock (a single 30 mA stimulation on the median nerve). These results indicate that anticipatory anxiety can be measured objectively in humans using the fear-potentiated startle reflex in a paradigm not actually requiring any shock. Because a great deal is known about the neuroanatomical and pharmacological mechanisms of fear-potentiated startle in laboratory animals, this test procedure may be especially useful in humans to investigate the neurobiological substrates of anxiety disorders and their pharmacological treatments.     

腹膜透析病人的焦虑和抑郁水平与其病情变化的相关分析

目的:探讨腹膜透析病人情绪障碍,即焦虑症状和抑郁症状的发生情况,以及与透析相关因素的关系.方法:88例腹膜透析病人,使用Hamilton焦虑量表和Hamilton抑郁量表评估其情绪状况,同时测定其营养状况、残余肾功能和透析充分性、以及炎症水平,记录心脑血管事件发生情况等.结果:本组腹膜透析病人焦虑症状的发生率为44.3%,抑郁症状的发生率为56.8%.具有糖尿病和心脑血管病史者的Hamilton焦虑评分和抑郁评分高于无此类病史者(P<0.05).SGA评分较高的病人Hamilton焦虑评分和抑郁评分也较高;焦虑评分和抑郁评分较高的病人,其血清白蛋白水平、蛋白质摄入水平、体重指数、上臂中段肌肉面积和脂肪面积均较低(r=0.22～0.60,P<0.05或P<0.01).结论:腹膜透析病人焦虑症状和抑郁症状的发生率较高,焦虑症状和抑郁症状与心脑血管系统疾病和糖尿病相关,并可能与营养不良的发生存在一定的关系.     

Symptom patterns and causes of somatization in men: I. Differentiation of two discrete disorders

Two distinct patterns of somatization were identified in 807 Swedish adopted men, using comprehensive lifetime psychiatric and sick-leave records. "Diversiform" somatizers had a high frequency of brief sickness occasions for a wide diversity of complaints, particularly pain in the head, joints, and abdomen. "Asthenic" somatizers had a lower frequency and diversity of complaints. They recuperate more slowly, however, and were more often disabled by fatigue, weakness, and minor illnesses such as upper respiratory infections. Both types of somatizers had associated psychosocial maladjustment, but they had discrete clinical patterns, with infrequent overlap. Diversiform somatizers had a higher risk of alcohol abuse, psychiatric hospitalization, and substandard income than either asthenic somatizers or non-somatizers. Asthenic somatizers had a higher risk of divorce than either diversiform somatizers or non-somatizers. Men with prominent somatization had an excess of psychiatric treatment for alcoholism or anxiety disorders, but, unlike female somatizers, no excess of criminality. These clinical differences suggest that the psychiatric processes associated with somatization may be qualitatively different in men and women. The method used here is generally applicable in genetic epidemiology to identify natural clinical subtypes within a heterogeneous phenotype.     

孤独症谱系障碍儿童情绪行为问题与其母亲焦虑状况关联分析

目的 比较孤独症谱系障碍(ASD)儿童与典型发育(TD)儿童母亲的焦虑状况,探索ASD儿童情绪行为问题与其母亲焦虑水平间的关系。方法 通过临床诊断招募55名6~12岁智商≥70的ASD儿童及74名TD儿童,采用状态-特质焦虑问卷(STAI)评估入组儿童母亲的焦虑情况,采用长处与困难问卷(SDQ)评估两组儿童情绪行为问题及表现。结果 ASD儿童组母亲状态焦虑得分与特质焦虑得分高于TD组母亲(t=5.272、4.484、P<0.05),ASD儿童SDQ困难总分及多动/注意力缺陷、情绪症状、同伴交往问题及品行问题因子得分高于TD组儿童(t=10.791、7.482、4.295、12.925、3.544),亲社会行为因子分(t=5.084)低于TD组儿童,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。校正混杂因素后,ASD组母亲状态、特质焦虑得分与儿童困难总分 [S-AI: β=0.83 (95%CI: 0.19~1.46); T-AI: β=0.60 (95%CI: 0.05~1.14)]、情绪症状 [S-AI: β=2.28 (95%CI:0.72~3.84); T-AI: β=2.04 (95%CI: 0.74~3.33)]存在正相关关系(P<0.05)。TD组母亲状态焦虑得分与儿童困难总分 [β=0.50 (95%CI: 0.03~0.96)]、品行问题 [β=1.74 (95%CI: 0.19~3.30)]存在正相关关系;特质焦虑得分与品行问题 [β=1.54 (95%CI: 0.09~3.00)]存在正相关关系(P<0.05)。结论 ASD儿童母亲比TD儿童母亲更容易出现焦虑。其中ASD儿童母亲的焦虑水平与儿童情绪问题有关,TD儿童母亲的焦虑水平与儿童品行问题有关。     

焦虑在家庭亲密度与发育迟缓儿童自我意识关系间的中介效应分析

目的 调查发育迟缓儿童的自我意识水平,并探讨焦虑在家庭亲密度与自我意识的中介作用。方法 采取便利抽样法,于2019年7月—2021年4月抽取辽宁省某医院儿科门诊就诊和复查的200例发育迟缓儿童作为研究对象。采用一般资料调查问卷、家庭亲密度与适应性量表(FACES-Ⅱ)、儿童焦虑量表与儿童自我意识量表进行调查。结果 200例发育迟缓儿童的自我意识总分为45.87±4.15,FACES-Ⅱ得分与自我意识总分呈负相关 (r＝-0.607,P＜0.01);FACES-Ⅱ得分与儿童焦虑呈正相关(r=0.416,P＜0.001);儿童焦虑与自我意识呈负相关(r＝-0.367,P＜0.01)。中介效应检验结果显示,儿童焦虑在家庭亲密度对自我意识之间存在显著的部分中介效应,95%CI为(-0.257,-0.043)。中介效应值为-0.077,占总效应的9.50%。 结论 发育迟缓儿童自我意识较低,要重点关注对儿童焦虑情绪的疏导,营造良好的家庭氛围和融洽的亲子关系,提高发育迟缓儿童心理健康与自我意识水平。     

Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower levels of family functioning, increased perceived stress, and perinatal anxiety. Longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic was associated with lower mental health wellbeing scores, while higher perceived stress scores were reported for regions with higher COVID-19 infection rates and women with perceived low milk supply. Women reported that the pandemic resulted in less pressure and more time for family bonding, while worries about the pandemic, family health, and parenting challenges were also cited. Mental health concerns of breastfeeding women appear to be exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting a critical need for access to mental health and broader family support during the pandemic.     

A Systematic Review of the Dietary Choline Impact on Cognition from a Psychobiological Approach: Insights from Animal Studies

The influence of dietary choline availability on cognition is currently being suggested by animal and human studies which have focused mainly on the early developmental stages. The aim of this review is to systematically search through the available rodent (rats and mice) research published during the last two decades that has assessed the effect of dietary choline interventions on cognition and related attentional and emotional processes for the entire life span. The review has been conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines covering peer-reviewed studies included in PubMed and Scopus databases. After excluding duplicates and applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria we have reviewed a total of 44 articles published in 25 journals with the contribution of 146 authors. The results are analyzed based on the timing and duration of the dietary intervention and the behavioral tests applied, amongst other variables. Overall, the available results provide compelling support for the relevance of dietary choline in cognition. The beneficial effects of choline supplementation is more evident in recognition rather than in spatial memory tasks when assessing nonpathological samples whilst these effects extend to other relational memory tasks in neuropathological models. However, the limited number of studies that have evaluated other cognitive functions suggest a wider range of potential effects. More research is needed to draw conclusions about the critical variables and the nature of the impact on specific cognitive processes. The results are discussed on the terms of the theoretical framework underlying the relationship between the brain systems and cognition.     

Probiotic Supplementation and High-Intensity Interval Training Modify Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Corticosterone in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Mice

Evidence supports the role of exercise training and probiotics on reducing obesity. Considering the relationship between obesity and high-fat diet with anxiety indices, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of probiotic supplementation and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on anxiety-like behaviors, corticosterone and obesity indices in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice. Thirty male adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: (1) Control with normal diet (CON), (2) High-fat diet (HFD), (3) HFD + exercise training (HT), (4) HFD + probiotics supplement (HP) and (5) HFD + exercise training +probiotics (HTP). Exercise training consisted of 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs. Probiotics supplement included 0.2 mL Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Anxiety-like behaviors were measured by open field (OF) and Elevated plus maze (EPM). OF and EPM tests, visceral fat mass (VFM) measurement, and blood sampling for corticosterone were performed after the intervention. Bodyweight was measured at different stages during the intervention. HFD regime in C57BL/6 mice increased bodyweight, VFM, and serum corticosterone levels and anxiety-like behaviors (p < 0.05). HIIT, probiotic and their combination, decreased bodyweight, VFM, and serum corticosterone levels and improved anxiety-like behavior in the HFD mice (p < 0.05). The effect of a combination of HIIT and probiotic on most of the anxiety indices was more than each one separately (p < 0.5). HIIT and probiotic supplements separately or above all in combination, may have beneficial effects in reducing obesity and anxiety indices.