Exploring the Optimal Factor Structure of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire: Associations Between Mindfulness Facets and Dimensions of Psychopathology.

Recent studies of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and its condensed version (FFMQ-SF) fail to replicate the initially proposed five-factor structure in clinical samples. Failure to adequately understand the dimensionality of common mindfulness measures within clinical samples, therefore, represents an important gap in the current literature. The increasing popularity of mindfulness-based interventions warrants further investigation of differential associations between facets of mindfulness and different forms of psychopathology. We examined (a) the underlying structure of the FFMQ and FFMQ-SF, and (b) associations between FFMQ and FFMQ-SF facets and dimensions of psychopathology (i.e., internalizing and substance use disorders) in two large clinical samples (N = 2,779). Results from bass-ackwards analyses suggested similarly defensible five- and six-factor model solutions in terms of fit. The five-factor model was optimal when factoring in parsimony. Exploratory structural equation modeling revealed that all FFMQ facets with the exception of observe were negatively associated with the internalizing factor. Associations with substance use disorders were more complex. In both samples, five-factor FFMQ and FFMQ-SF models were determined to best represent these data. Whereas deficits in all FFMQ facets with the exception of observe correspond with lower internalizing psychopathology, a more nuanced association was observed with substance use disorders.

Emotion regulation accounts for associations between mindfulness and depression across and within diagnostic categories.

BACKGROUND: Previous research shows that mindfulness and emotion regulation (ER) are highly related to each other. Preliminary evidence in small clinical populations show that ER may partially account for the relationship between mindfulness and depressive symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate which diagnostic categories were associated with depressive symptoms after controlling for ER in a heterogeneous sample of treatment-seeking patients. METHODS: A large sample of psychiatric outpatients (N = 911) completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS). Partial correlations were conducted to evaluate to what degree the relationship between depression scores and facets of mindfulness were accounted for by ER scores. RESULTS: When controlling for baseline mindfulness, the relationship between emotion dysregulation and depression symptoms remained significant for all data points; however, when controlling for baseline emotion dysregulation, the association between mindfulness and depression was not significant in the majority of cases. Nonjudging was most resistant to this result. CONCLUSIONS: Although mindfulness is negatively associated with depressive symptoms, this association may be better accounted for by emotion dysregulation.

Promising alternative clinical uses of prostaglandin F2α analogs: beyond the eyelashes.

Prostaglandin F2α analogs, commonly prescribed for glaucoma treatment, have been shown to induce side effects such as cutaneous hypertrichosis and hyperpigmentation. Therefore, these medications have theoretic applications in the treatment of alopecia and disorders of hypopigmentation. We reviewed the literature to find original studies assessing the use of prostaglandin F2α analogs in these settings. Studies and reports were analyzed in regards to androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, vitiligo, and hypopigmented scarring. Based on the results of these studies, and consideration of pathophysiologic mechanism, the most promising applications for prostaglandin F2α analogs include androgenic alopecia, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, and alopecia areata concurrently treated with corticosteroids.

Effects of ambient sunlight and photoprotection on vitamin D status.

Ultraviolet B radiation exposure is responsible for the majority of natural vitamin D stores in humans. The physiologic role of vitamin D in health and disease is continually expanding, and at the same time the population that is vitamin D deficient is increasing. The environmental characteristics and personal physical traits that contribute to vitamin D3 synthesis from sun exposure are discussed, and the effects of photoprotection on vitamin D status are examined. It is concluded that sunscreen, in the manner used by the general public, does not cause vitamin D insufficiency. Implementing guidelines suggesting sun exposure duration for sufficient vitamin D3 production is limited by the complex interaction of contributory factors, and no recommendation can be made that is both safe and accurate enough for general public usage.