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BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of neuroticism in predicting nightmare distress have been highlighted, and negative coping style may contribute to this relationship, but how these variables interact is limited. The present study aimed to explore how neuroticism and ruminative response contribute to producing nightmare distress, and to explore whether sex influences this relationship. METHODS: We recruited 758 university students, aged an average of 19.07. A moderated mediation model was built to examine the relationships among neuroticism, rumination, and nightmare distress (measured by dream anxiety scale), and explore whether sex could affect this relationship, using the SPSS PROCESS 3.5 macro. RESULTS: The moderated mediation analyses results showed that ruminative response-depression related can significantly partially mediate the relationship between neuroticism and dream anxiety (ß = 0.32), dream anxiety-sleep-related disturbances (ß = 0.11) and dream anxiety-daytime dysfunctions (ß = 0.21). However, the moderating effects of sex were not significant in all path from neuroticism to dream anxiety. CONCLUSION: The study provides a novel architecture on the underlying psychological mechanisms of neuroticism and nightmare distress. This interplay is assumed to be facilitated by ruminations, suggesting that interventions for individuals who suffer from nightmares may focus on their repetitive negative response strategies, especially in people with high neuroticism, irrespective of sex differences.
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BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Individuals with ADHD often encounter heightened emotional and behavioral challenges. This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis of the efficacy of digital interventions in improving symptoms of ADHD. METHODS: This study searched 6 databases for English articles from database construction until December 4, 2023. Randomized controlled trials employing digital interventions for ADHD were gathered. Following the Cochrane Collaboration criteria, Review Manager 5.3 software was utilized to evaluate the risk of bias present in the included papers. Mean differences for post-intervention and follow-up data were standardized using Stata 18.0 software. Subgroup analysis was employed to investigate the sources of heterogeneity. The study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was registered on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42024504134). RESULTS: This review included a total of 25 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The combined study population comprised 1780 cases. In the digital intervention groups, there was a significant decrease in overall ADHD symptoms (SMD = -0.33; 95 % CI = [-0.51, -0.16]) compared to the control groups. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in inattention symptoms (SMD = -0.31; 95 % CI = [-0.46, -0.15]) and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (SMD = -0.15; 95 % CI = [-0.29, -0.02]) within the digital intervention groups. CONCLUSION: The digital interventions proved beneficial for individuals with ADHD by alleviating symptoms of ADHD, inattention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
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Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is widely spread around the world, which can cause serious harm to immunosuppressed patients. Currently, the commercial test kits are poor at assessing T. gondii infection and vaccine effectiveness, making an urgent need to exploit effective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with great performance to compensate for this deficiency. Here, the TgIMP1 recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli BL(21) cells. The TgIMP1 was purified with affinity chromatography and the reactivity was retained with anti-TgIMP1 antibodies. The TgIMP1 was then used to develop an indirect ELISA (IMP1-iELISA) and the reaction conditions of IMP1-iELISA were optimized. As a result, the cut-off value was determined to be 0.2833 by analyzing the OD450nm values of forty T. gondii-negative sera. The coefficient of variation of 6 T. gondii-positive sera within and between runs were both less than 10%. The IMP1-iELISA was non-cross-reactive with the sera of cytomegalovirus, herpes virus, rubella virus, Cryptosporidium spp., Theileria spp., Neospora spp. and Plasmodium spp.. Furthermore, the sensitivity and specificity of IMP1-iELISA were 98.9% and 96.7%, respectively, based on testing 150 serum samples. The results suggest that this IMP1-iELISA is specific, sensitive, repeatable and can be applied to the detection of T. gondii infections in the medical and health industries.
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Antibodies, Protozoan , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Immunoglobulin G , Recombinant Proteins , Sensitivity and Specificity , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmosis , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasma/genetics , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Humans , Recombinant Proteins/immunology , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Toxoplasmosis/diagnosis , Toxoplasmosis/immunology , Toxoplasmosis/parasitology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Animals , Protozoan Proteins/immunology , Protozoan Proteins/genetics , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Antigens, Protozoan/genetics , Escherichia coli/geneticsABSTRACT
Alveolar bone loss caused by periodontal disease eventually leads to tooth loss. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are the tissue-specific cells for maintaining and repairing the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone. Here, we investigated the role of erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), which regulates the microenvironment-modulating function of mesenchymal stem cells, in PDLSC-based periodontal therapy. We isolated PDLSCs from patients with chronic periodontal disease and healthy donors, referred to as PD-PDLSCs and Cont-PDLSCs, respectively. PD-PDLSCs exhibited reduced potency of periodontal tissue regeneration and lower expression of EPOR compared to Cont-PDLSCs. EPOR-silencing suppressed the potency of Cont-PDLSCs mimicking PD-PDLSCs, whereas EPO-mediated EPOR activation rejuvenated the reduced potency of PD-PDLSCs. Furthermore, we locally transplanted EPOR-silenced and EPOR-activated PDLSCs into the gingiva around the teeth of ligament-induced periodontitis model mice and demonstrated that EPOR in PDLSCs participated in the regeneration of the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone in the ligated teeth. The EPOR-mediated paracrine function of PDLSCs maintains periodontal immune suppression and bone metabolic balance via osteoclasts and osteoblasts in the periodontitis model mice. Taken together, these results suggest that EPOR signaling is crucial for PDLSC-based periodontal regeneration and paves the way for the development of novel options for periodontal therapy.
Subject(s)
Periodontal Diseases , Periodontitis , Humans , Mice , Animals , Periodontal Ligament , Receptors, Erythropoietin/genetics , Receptors, Erythropoietin/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Cell Differentiation , Stem Cells , Periodontal Diseases/therapy , Periodontal Diseases/metabolism , Periodontitis/therapy , Periodontitis/metabolism , Ligaments , Osteogenesis/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) individuals are more likely than cisgender heterosexuals to experience mental, physical, and sexual health issues. A promising contemporary strategy to address the issue of affective symptoms in sexual and gender minorities (SGM) is psychosocial intervention. OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effect of psychosocial interventions on the improvement of affective symptoms in SGM, and to provide a reference for the implementation of effective psychological interventions for SGM with affective symptoms. METHODS: Between the date of database construction until December 10, 2022, a computerized search of the English-language literature published both nationally and worldwide was done. 8 literature databases and 3 additional gray databases were searched. We gathered randomized controlled trials that used psychological interventions for SGM. To evaluate risk bias in included papers in accordance with Cochrane cooperation criteria, we used Review Manager 5.4 software. In conjunction with post-test and follow-up data, mean differences were standardized using Stata 12.0 software. Subgroup analysis was used to investigate the cause of heterogeneity. The study was conducted strictly in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, and it was registered on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42023408610). RESULTS: This review covered 18 research, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 1194 study cases, including 706 cases from the control group and 488 cases from the experimental group, were included in these investigations. Compared to the control group, the psychosocial intervention group had significantly lower levels of depression (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.17;95% CI = [-0.30, -0.04]; p = 0.012) and anxiety (SMD = -0.22; 95% CI = [-0.41, -0.04]; p = 0.01), but no significant differences were found for distress (SMD = -0.19; 95% CI = [-0.45,0.07]; p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: According to this study, psychosocial interventions helped lessen the symptoms of depression and anxiety in SGM but had no significant effect on their psychological distress. To assess the impact of psychological intervention on SGM, more randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and numerous follow-up times should be done.
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Psychosocial Intervention , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Female , Humans , Affective Symptoms , Quality of Life/psychology , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , MaleABSTRACT
Sexual reproduction plays a crucial role in the transmission and life cycle of toxoplasmosis. The merozoites are the only developmental stage capable of differentiation into male and female gametes, thereby initiating sexual reproduction to form oocysts that are excreted into the environment. Hence, our study aimed to perform proteomic analyses of T. gondii Pru strain merozoites, a pre-sexual developmental stage in cat IECs, and tachyzoites, an asexual developmental stage, using the tandem mass tag (TMT) method in order to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of merozoites. Proteins functions were subjected to cluster analysis, and DEPs were validated through the qPCR method. The results showed that a total of 106 proteins were identified, out of which 85 proteins had quantitative data. Among these, 15 proteins were differentially expressed within merozoites, with four exhibiting up-regulation and being closely associated with the material and energy metabolism as well as the cell division of T. gondii. Two novel DEPs, namely S8GHL5 and A0A125YP41, were identified, and their homologous family members have been demonstrated to play regulatory roles in oocyte maturation and spermatogenesis in other species. Therefore, they may potentially exhibit regulatory functions during the differentiation of micro- and macro-gametophytes at the initiation stage of sexual reproduction in T. gondii. In conclusion, our results showed that the metabolic and divisional activities in the merozoites surpass those in the tachyzoites, thereby providing structural, material, and energetic support for gametophytes development. The discovery of two novel DEPs associated with sexual reproduction represents a significant advancement in understanding Toxoplasma sexual reproduction initiation and oocyst formation.
Subject(s)
Parasites , Toxoplasma , Animals , Male , Female , Toxoplasma/genetics , Toxoplasma/chemistry , Merozoites/chemistry , Merozoites/metabolism , Proteomics/methods , Protozoan Proteins/genetics , Protozoan Proteins/metabolism , Oocysts , Reproduction , Transcription Factors/metabolismABSTRACT
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an opportunistic parasite that can infect the central nervous system (CNS), causing severe toxoplasmosis and behavioral cognitive impairment. Mortality is high in immunocompromised individuals with toxoplasmosis, most commonly due to reactivation of infection in the CNS. There are still no effective vaccines and drugs for the prevention and treatment of toxoplasmosis. There are five developmental stages for T. gondii to complete life cycle, of which the tachyzoite and bradyzoite stages are the key to the acute and chronic infection. In this study, to better understanding of how T. gondii interacts with the host CNS at different stages of infection, we constructed acute and chronic infection models of T. gondii in astrocytes, and used label-free proteomics to detect the proteome changes before and after infection, respectively. A total of 4676 proteins were identified, among which 163 differentially expressed proteins (fold change ≥ 1.5 or ≤ 0.67 and p-value ≤ 0.05) including 109 up-regulated proteins and 54 down-regulated proteins in C8-TA vs C8 group, and 719 differentially expressed proteins including 495 up-regulated proteins and 224 down-regulated proteins in C8-BR vs C8-TA group. After T. gondii tachyzoites infected astrocytes, differentially expressed proteins were enriched in immune-related biological processes to promote the formation of bradyzoites and maintain the balance of T. gondii, CNS and brain. After T. gondii bradyzoites infected astrocytes, the differentially expressed proteins up-regulated the host's glucose metabolism, and some up-regulated proteins were strongly associated with neurodegenerative diseases. These findings not only provide new insights into the psychiatric pathogenesis of T. gondii, but also provide potential targets for the treatment of acute and chronic Toxoplasmosis.
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Objectives: The pandemic has increased the level of perceived stress and provided a fertile soil for Cyberchondria. This study aims to investigate the relationship between stress, cyberchondria, and alexithymia. Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to carried out on a total 1,117 college students (female/male:536/581; mean age: 19.95 ± 1.32). Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and Short Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) were used to assessed the present study variables. Results: Significant differences emerged for CSS scores by gender (t = 3.74, p < 0.01) and had any comorbid disease (t = 2.47, p < 0.05), The Pearson correlation showed Cyberchondria has a significant positive correlation with stress and alexithymia (r = 0.50, p < 0.01, r = 0.36, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the regression analysis described that stress (ß = 0.50, p < 0.01) and alexithymia (ß = 0.36, p < 0.01) were the significant positive predictors of cyberchondria. Moreover, moderation analysis showed that alexithymia significantly strengthened the association between stress and cyberchondria (F = 107.20, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study will help medical practitioners to understand how stress and alexithymia can cause an increase in cyberchondria. This will help them to elaborate operational indications for prevention and psychological support.
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PURPOSE: In order to control the corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have adopted social quarantine policies, with older adults in Wuhan suffering the longest and most severe conditions. But few studies have explored the impact of this on the mental health of older adults in Wuhan. The purpose of this paper is to examine changes in the residential status and mental health of this group when 1 year after the social isolation policies in Wuhan. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted to assess the questionnaire of older adults in a total of 21 streets in 5 central and 2 distant urban districts of Wuhan. Using a self-compiled living status questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the General Anxiety Disorder-7, the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Social Support Rating Scale, our survey evaluated the living status, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, loneliness and social support of all the participants. RESULTS: A total of 400 valid samples were obtained. One year after experiencing social isolation, older adults had not changed much from their pre-epidemic living status and mostly lived with their partners. They had satisfactory social support (33.86 ± 6.92) and low levels of depression (3.12 ± 4.30), anxiety (1.52 ± 3.19) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (21.41 ± 7.39), but there were moderate levels of loneliness (38.27 ± 9.31). Among them, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms were significantly higher (ps < 0.05) in older adults who were COVID-19 close contacts while experiencing social isolation. CONCLUSION: One year after experiencing Wuhan's harsh social isolation, older adults in the Wuhan community did not experience significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress, but loneliness has increased and the mental health of older adults who were COVID-19 close contacts needs attention.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mental Health , Humans , Aged , Quarantine , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Loneliness/psychologyABSTRACT
Background: Using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) clinical scales to evaluate clinical symptoms in schizophrenia is a well-studied topic. Nonetheless, research focuses less on how these clinical scales interact with each other. Aims: Investigates the network structure and interaction of the MMPI-2 clinical scales between healthy individuals and patients with schizophrenia through the Bayesian network. Method: Data was collected from Wuhan Psychiatric Hospital from March 2008 to May 2018. A total of 714 patients with schizophrenia and 714 healthy subjects were identified through propensity score matching according to the criteria of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Separated MMPI-2 clinical scales Bayesian networks were built for healthy subjects and patients with schizophrenia, respectively. Results: The Bayesian network showed that the lower 7 scale was a consequence of the correlation between the lower 2 scale and the greater 8 scale. A solely lower 7 scale does yield neither a lower 2 scale nor a higher 8 scale. The proposed method showed 72% of accuracy with 78% area under the ROC curve (AUC), similar to the previous studies. Limitations: The proposed method simplified the continuous Bayesian network to predict binary outcomes, including other categorical data is not explored. Besides, the participants might only represent an endemic as they come from a single hospital. Conclusion: This study identified MMPI-2 clinical scales correlation and built separated Bayesian networks to investigate the difference between patients with schizophrenia and healthy people. These differences may contribute to a better understanding of the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and provide medical professionals with new perspectives for diagnosis.
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Felids are the unique definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii. The intestine of felid is the only site for initiating Toxoplasma gondii sexual reproduction. T. gondii excretes millions of infectious oocysts from the intestine, which are the primary source of infection. There are many difficulties in developing vaccines and drugs to control oocyst excretion due to the lack of an appropriate experimental model. Here, we established an in vitro feline intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) infection system and an efficient animal model of T. gondii Chinese 1 genotype, Wh6 strain (TgCtwh6). The Kunming mice brain tissues containing TgCtwh6 cysts were harvested 42-day post-infection. The bradyzoites were co-cultured with cat IECs in vitro at a ratio of 1:10. Five 3-month-old domestic cats were orally inoculated with 600 cysts each. The oocysts were detected by daily observation of cat feces by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. We found that the parasite adhered and invaded cat IECs in vitro, transformed into tachyzoites, and then divided to form rose-like structures. These parasites eventually destroyed host cells, escaped, and finished the asexual reproduction process. Schizonts associated with sexual reproduction have not been observed during development in vitro cultured cells. However, schizonts were detected in all infected cat intestinal epithelial cells, and oocysts were presented in all cat feces. Our study provides a feasible cell model and an efficient infection system for the following studies of T. gondii sexual reproduction, and also lays a foundation to develop drugs and vaccines for blocking excretion and transmission of oocysts.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmosis, Animal , Animals , Cats , China , Epithelial Cells , Feces/parasitology , Genotype , Intestines , Mice , Oocysts , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Insomnia is a prevalent and significant public health concern. Insomnia can lead to increased inflammatory markers associated with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are more easily delivered within the community than cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) which was recommended as the preferred non-pharmacological treatment by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, are effective in insomnia treatment and can reduce inflammatory markers level in older individuals with insomnia. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of an MBI to CBT-I in young and middle-aged individuals with insomnia disorder and explore its effect on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a transcription factor that controls the expression of genes involved in inflammation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This report describes a protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Seventy eligible participants will be assigned to mindfulness-based joyful sleep or CBT-I for 2-hour sessions weekly for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is sleep quality assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, severity of insomnia symptoms assessed by the Insomnia Severity Index and sleep parameters recorded using sleep diary and polysomnography. Secondary outcomes include perceived stress, anxiety and depression. The exploratory outcome is serum level of NF-κB. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, the end of the ntervention period and at a 3 month follow-up. Data will be analysed using general linear models, specifically analysis of covariance and analysis of variance will be used. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Full ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China (2018-S236). If Mindfulness-Based Joyful Sleep is proven effective, its dissemination will help bridge the gap between the unmet need and the demand for insomnia interventions in China. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03268629; Pre-results.
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Emotions/physiology , Inflammation/blood , Mindfulness/methods , NF-kappa B/blood , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy , Sleep/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , China , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polysomnography , Prospective Studies , Single-Blind Method , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/blood , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The cognitive behavioral model is considered the most comprehensive for explaining the pathogenesis of health anxiety (HA). The model proposes 4 dysfunctional beliefs that play a vital role in developing and sustaining HA: a) the likelihood of contracting or having an illness, b) awfulness of the illness, c) difficulty coping with illness, and d) inadequacy of medical services. The Health Cognitions Questionnaire (HCQ), widely used in English populations, was developed for assessing these core cognitions. As HA is a growing problem in China, we translated the HCQ into a Chinese version (CHCQ) and examined its psychometric properties. These core cognitions were compared among individuals with and without medical conditions. METHODS: A set of questionnaires that included the CHCQ and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) was used to gather data from 1,319 Chinese college students. After 4 weeks, 145 of the students completed the CHCQ again. The validity, reliability, and measurement invariance were evaluated among individuals with various medical conditions. RESULTS: The final CHCQ included 19 items. A 4-factor structure was well suited to the data. Good internal consistency (Cronbach's α for total score was 0.849, subscales ranged from 0.753 to 0.841), test-retest reliability (the interclass correlation coefficient for total score was 0.762, subscales ranged from 0.626 to 0.683), and criterion validity of the CHCQ were demonstrated. Measurement and structural invariance were established. Individuals with a diagnosed disease scored higher on the likelihood-of-illness subscale (Cohen's d =0.22, p < 0.01) than those without an illness. CONCLUSION: The CHCQ shows promise for the assessment of 4 core HA-related cognitions in the Chinese population.
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BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Sleep plays an important role in individuals' health. The functions of the brain, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and the metabolic system are closely associated with sleep. As a prevalent sleep disorder, insomnia has been closely concerned, and it is necessary to find effective therapies. In recent years, a growing body of studies has shown that mind-body therapies (MBTs) can improve sleep quality and ameliorate insomnia severity. However, a comprehensive and overall systematic review has not been conducted. In order to examine the effect of MBTs on insomnia, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of MBTs on sleep quality in healthy adults and clinical populations. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and review of references were searched up to July 2018. English language studies of all designs evaluating the effect of MBTs on sleep outcomes in adults with or without diseases were examined. To calculate the SMDs and 95% CIs, we used a fixed effect model when heterogeneity was negligible and a random effect model when heterogeneity was significant. RESULTS: 49 studies covering 4506 participants published between 2004 and 2018 were identified. Interventions included meditation, tai chi, qigong, and yoga which lasted 4 to 24 weeks. The MBTs resulted in statistically significant improvement in sleep quality and reduction on insomnia severity but no significant effects on sleep quantity indices, which were measured by sleep diary or objective measures. We analyzed the effects of tai chi and qigong separately as two different MBTs for the first time and found that qigong had a slight advantage over tai chi in the improvement of sleep quality. Subgroup analyses revealed that the effect of MBTs on sleep quality in healthy individuals was larger than clinical populations. The effect of MBTs might be influenced by the intervention duration but not the frequency. CONCLUSIONS: MBTs can be effective in treating insomnia and improving sleep quality for healthy individuals and clinical patients. More high-quality and well-controlled RCTs are needed to make a better conclusion in further study.
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BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Dream emotions and contents are associated with psychological well-being. Dream disturbances, such as frequent nightmares and dream anxiety, are associated with a variety of psychopathological conditions. Therefore, it is important to consider nightmares and the resulting dream anxiety. To address this issue, the Van Dream Anxiety Scale (VDAS) was designed especially for measuring nightmare frequency and dream anxiety caused by frightening dreams. As a Chinese version of VDAS may be helpful in promoting study of nightmare and dream anxiety among Chinese population, in the current study, we sought to develop a Chinese version of the VDAS (CVDAS). METHODS: We translated the VDAS into Chinese. To evaluate its validity and reliability, a sample of 1,081 Chinese college students from two universities answered the CVDAS, GAD-7, PHQ-9 and EPQ-R-N. Ninety of them answered the CVDAS twice. We also conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to explore the structure of CVDAS. RESULTS: Excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.926), split-half reliability (equal-length Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.938) and good test-retest reliability (the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.942 and t=-1.478, P=0.143) of the CVDAS was presented. Exploratory factor analyses indicated a two-factor structure: sleep-related disturbances caused by nightmares and dysfunction caused by nightmares. Convergent and divergent validities were acceptable. CONCLUSION: The CVDAS shows promise for the measurement of nightmare frequency and specific dream anxiety in Chinese population. Future study should confirm the reliability and validity in the clinical population and further improve this scale.
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OBJECTIVE: According to the cognitive behavior theory and meta-cognitive theory of health anxiety, to examine the association between alexithymia, cognition factors or meta-cognition factors and health anxiety.â© Methods: A total of 1 164 medical students were investigated by the Short Health Anxiety Inventory, the Health Cognitions Questionnaire, the Meta-cognitions about Health Questionnaire and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale.â© Results: 1) Correlation analysis showed that alexithymia, dysfunctional beliefs, meta-cognition were significantly positively correlated with health anxiety (r=0.227-0.477, all P<0.01); 2) The results of structural equation model indicated that alexithymia could not exert effects on health anxiety directly (ß=-0.05, 95% CI -0.123 to 0.021). The alexithymia could exert effects on health anxiety indirectly not only through dysfunctional beliefs (ß=0.192, 95% CI 0.156 to 0.235), but also through the chain-mediated effect of dysfunctional beliefs and meta-cognitions (ß=0.103, 95% CI 0.077 to 0.135). Dysfunctional beliefs fully mediated the relation between alexithymia and health anxiety (ß=0.247, 95% CI 0.196 to 0.290).â© Conclusion: Alexithymia can affect health anxiety through the mediating effects of dysfunctional beliefs and meta-cognition.
Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms , Anxiety , Metacognition , Affective Symptoms/complications , Anxiety/complications , Culture , Humans , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In order to explain the potential mechanism that might motivate and maintain health anxiety (HA), researchers have developed several measures to assess the level of HA and to identify related cognitions and personality features. However, such instruments typically measure general metacognitions [e.g., the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30)], thereby compromising the degree of sensitivity and specificity of measurement as applied to HA-related metacognitions. To address that issue, the Metacognitions about Health Questionnaire (MCQ-HA) was designed especially for measuring metacognitive beliefs specific to HA. Because a Chinese version of MCQ-HA may be helpful in improving our understanding of HA in a Chinese population, in the current study we sought to develop a Chinese version of the MCQ-HA (CMCQ-HA). METHODS: We translated the MCQ-HA into Chinese with consideration of cultural diversity. For evaluation of its validity and stability, a sample of 1290 Chinese college students answered the CMCQ-HA, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory, the MCQ-30, and the Neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. 292 students of them answered the CMCQ-HA twice. RESULTS: Good internal consistency (α = 0.81) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.70) of the CMCQ-HA was presented. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated a three-factor structure: beliefs about biased thinking, beliefs that thoughts can cause illness, and beliefs that thoughts are uncontrollable. Convergent validity, divergent validity, and incremental validity all were acceptable. Measurement invariance across gender was established. CONCLUSIONS: The CMCQ-HA shows promise for the measurement of specific HA-related metacognitions in Chinese populations.