Chronic pain experience on depression and physical disability: The importance of acceptance and mindfulness-based processes in a sample with rheumatoid arthritis.

The mediating effect of acceptance and mindfulness in the relationship between pain, depression, and physical disability was examined in 55 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Results showed that the relationship between pain and depression was mediated by both nonreact and acceptance. By contrast, the relationship between pain and physical disability was mediated by acceptance but not by nonreact. This study provides evidences that the influence of these processes is different on depression and on physical disability. These findings support models that take both general measures of mindfulness and content-specific measures of acceptance into account when conceptualizing rheumatoid arthritis. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

The role of negative affect, rumination, cognitive fusion and mindfulness on depressive symptoms in depressed outpatients and normative individuals

This study examined the mediating effect of rumination, cognitive fusion and mindfulness, in the relationship between negative affect (NA) and depressive symptoms, and the differences between depressed outpatients and normative individuals. A cross-sectional design, employing validated questionnaires was used to measure NA, depressive symptoms, rumination, cognitive fusion and mindfulness in 140 participants (70 with Major Depressive Disorder, 57 female; 70 normative individuals, 44 female). Our tested model showed that cognitive fusion was the only significant mediator of the relationship between NA and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, our results showed that both rumination and mindfulness have a mediation effect in the relationship between NA and cognitive fusion. A partial metric invariance was indicated, allowing the identification of specific parameters that may be acting differently in the two samples. Our study showed that individuals high in NA, who repeatedly think about negative aspects of the self/situations, may become easily attached to literal content of thoughts and less sensitive to the contingencies of direct experience, which may increases their depressive symptoms. However, adopting a non-evaluative perspective of unwanted private experiences, seems to be central to achieve a psychological distance from their negative thoughts/feelings, and possibly a consequential decrease of depressive symptoms. As rumination, cognitive fusion, and mindfulness operate differently across depressed outpatients and normative individuals, a deeply understanding of their unique relations allow us to plane more effective interventions

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Menopausal symptoms: is spirituality associated with the severity of symptoms?

The aim of this study was to explore whether spirituality was associated with menopausal symptoms. Menopausal symptoms, spirituality, health and menopausal status, and socio-demographic variables were assessed in a community sample of 710 peri- and postmenopausal women. A structural model was explored using structural equation modeling. The results evidence spirituality as a significant contributor regarding the severity of most menopausal symptoms. Among others, spirituality had a significant weight in depressive mood (ß = -.414; p < .001), anxiety (ß = -.308; p < .001), cognitive impairment (ß = -.287; p < .001), aches/pain (ß = -.148; p < .001), vasomotor (ß = -.125; p = .005) and sexual symptoms (ß = -.211; p < .001). Some socio-demographic variables, as well as perceived health, also predicted the menopausal symptoms' severity. Therefore, spirituality can have a positive impact on the menopausal symptoms' reporting.

Valuing the Endangered Species Antirrhinum lopesianum: Neuroprotective Activities and Strategies for in vitro Plant Propagation.

Plant phytochemicals are described as possessing considerable neuroprotective properties, due to radical scavenging capacity and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, important bioactivities in neurodegeneration. Antirrhinum lopesianum is a rare endemism from the Iberian Peninsula, occurring at the northeastern border between Portugal and Spain. It is classified as Endangered, due to its highly fragmented geographical occupation, facing a high risk of extinction in the Portuguese territory, within 20 years. Here, we describe for the first time the chemical characterization of extracts of the species concerning total phenol content, flavonoid content and antioxidant properties. The profile of high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) of the polyphenol-enriched fraction of plant extracts was also performed, showing the great potential of the species as a source of bioactive phytochemical compounds. A. lopesianum's potential for neuroprotection was revealed by a significant acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and also by a neuroprotective effect on a human cell model of neurodegeneration. Moreover, this is the first report describing a successful procedure for the in vitro propagation of this endangered species. The comparison of phenolic content and the HPLC-DAD profile of wild and in vitro propagated plants revealed that in vitro plants maintain the ability to produce secondary metabolites, but the profiles are differentially affected by the growth regulators. The results presented here greatly contribute to the value for this species regarding its potential as a source of phytochemicals with prospective neuroprotective health benefits.

Effects of a dolphin interaction program on children with autism spectrum disorders: an exploratory research.

BACKGROUND: Interaction programs involving dolphins and patients with various pathologies or developmental disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment, autism, atopic dermatitis, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression) have stimulated interest in their beneficial effects and therapeutic potential. However, the true effects observed in different clinical and psycho-educational setups are still controversial. RESULTS: An evaluation protocol consisting of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Psychoeducational Profile-Revised (PEP-R), Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), Theory of Mind Tasks (ToM Tasks) and a custom-made Interaction Evaluation Grid (IEG) to evaluate behavioural complexity during in-pool interactions was applied to 10 children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The ATEC, ToM Tasks and CARS results show no benefits of the dolphin interaction program. Interestingly, the PEP-R suggests some statistically significant effects on 'Overall development score', as well as on their 'Fine motor development', 'Cognitive performance' and 'Cognitive verbal development'. Also, a significant evolution in behavioural complexity was shown by the IEG. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support significant developmental progress resulting from the dolphin interaction program.

Perceived control, lifestyle, health, socio-demographic factors and menopause: impact on hot flashes and night sweats.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a model to predict the perceived severity of hot flashes (HF) and night sweats (NS) in symptomatic middle-aged women. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a community-based sample of 243 women with vasomotor symptoms. Menopausal status was ascertained using the 'Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop' criteria. Women's 'perceived control' over their symptoms was measured by a validated Portuguese version of the Perceived Control over Hot Flushes Index. Structural equation modelling was employed to construct a causal model of self-reported severity of both HF and NS, using a set of 20 variables: age, marital status, parity, professional status, educational level, family annual income, recent diseases and psychological problems, medical help-seeking behaviour to manage menopausal symptoms, use of hormone therapy and herbal/soy products, menopause status, intake of alcohol, coffee and hot beverages, smoking, physical exercise, body mass index and perceived control. RESULTS: Significant predictors of perceived severity were the use of hormone therapy for both HF (ß=-.245; p=.022) and NS (ß=-.298; p=.008), coffee intake for both HF (ß=-.234; p=.039) and NS (ß=-.258; p=.029) and perceived control for both HF (ß=-1.0; p<.001) and NS (ß=-1.0; p<.001). The variables explained respectively 67% and 72% of the variability in the perceived severity of HF and NS. Women with high perceived control had a significantly lower frequency (t(235)=2.022; p=.044) and intensity of HF (t(217)=3.582; p<.001); similarly, participants with high perceived control presented a lower frequency (t(235)=3.267; p<.001) and intensity (t(210)=3.376; p<.001) of NS. CONCLUSION: Perceived control was the strongest predictor of the self-reported severity of both HF and NS. Other causal predictors were hormone therapy and caffeine intake. All three were associated with less severe vasomotor symptoms.