Relaxation Effect of Nature Sound Exposure on Gambling Disorder Patients: A Crossover Study.

Objective: Gambling disorder (GD) has been associated with economic, social, mental, and physical problems. Alternative leisure activities or stress-relieving activities have been adopted as part of GD treatment. Moreover, it has been proven that activities utilizing the natural environment, such as shinrin-yoku, have a relaxing effect on healthy people. In this study, we examined the physiological and psychological responses of patients with GD to determine whether nature therapy could reduce their stress responses. Design: This study included 22 Japanese male participants who were found to be pathological gamblers, with a South Oaks Gambling Screen score of ≤5. We exposed the participants to the digital nature sounds of insects and city sounds of a scramble intersection. The nature and city sounds were presented in a counterbalanced order. Outcome measures: A two-channel near-infrared spectroscopy system was used to measure the changes in oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in the bilateral prefrontal cortex. The heart rate variability was measured to evaluate the autonomic nervous activity. Subjective evaluation was performed using the modified version of the semantic differential method and the Profiles of Mood States, Second Edition (POMS2). Results: The oxy-Hb level in the bilateral prefrontal cortex significantly decreased. No significant difference in the high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency/HF ratio was observed. The subjective evaluation indicated that the participants experienced increased comfort and relaxation and had more natural feelings. Nature sounds significantly decreased the POMS2 negative emotion subscale and total mood disturbance scores and increased the positive emotion subscale scores. Nature-based stimulus exposure induces physiological relaxation and other positive effects among individuals even with GD. Conclusion: Exposure to nature-based sounds induces physiological relaxation and other positive responses among individuals with GD. In patients with GD, nature sounds produce the same relaxation response as in healthy individuals. (Umin.ac.jp under registration number: UMIN000042368).

Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the kleptomania symptom assessment scale: A comparison between individuals with kleptomania and prisoners in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: In Japan, the rate of recidivism among thieves is high, some of which may be caused by kleptomania. The purpose of this study was to translate the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (K-SAS) into Japanese and validate its psychometric properties in a Japanese sample. A second purpose of the study was to evaluate the validity of K-SAS to discriminate between individuals with kleptomania and shoplifters not affected by the disorder. METHODS: The original K-SAS was translated by researchers. The back-translation of the scale into English was conducted by a professional translator who was fluent in both languages. The items on the Japanese version of K-SAS were deemed appropriate for the Japanese context after being reviewed by a forensic psychiatry specialist. The sample included 22 kleptomania patients, 26 shoplifters, and 47 healthy adults. We tested the scale properties and validity to discriminate between the three groups. RESULTS: The Japanese version of the K-SAS showed adequate reliability and validity. Individuals affected by kleptomania had significantly higher scores than shoplifters and healthy adults. Furthermore, the K-SAS score of kleptomania was not correlated with typical antisocial tendencies. Moreover, the K-SAS score for kleptomania was not correlated with psychometric scales related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The Japanese version of the K-SAS is a useful assessment tool for distinguishing between individuals with kleptomania and shoplifters not affected by the disorder in Japan.

[Evaluation of cognitive-behavioral therapy for drinking. Outcome of Japanese alcoholic patients].

This study examined the efficacy of a group-based cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for Japanese alcoholic outpatients. Participants (N = 169) were assigned either to a CBT-based relapse prevention group or a TAU (treatment as usual) group. The CBT group received 12-session CBT treatment with a structured treatment workbook once a week. The TAU group received usual daycare treatment including 12-step meeting, vocational training and leisure activities. Participants in the CBT group demonstrated a significantly low relapse rate at the end of treatment. Moreover, coping skills of the CBT group participants were significantly improved than those of the TAU group at the 6-month follow-up period. However, at the 6-month follow-up, the difference in relapse rates diminished. The effectiveness of CBT for alcoholics was well documented in Western countries but few studies were conducted outside of the West. The results provide support for the use of CBT for Japanese alcoholics.

Synthesis and properties of a dithiirane trans-1,2-dioxide, a three-membered vic-disulfoxide.

cis- and trans-3-(1-adamantyl)-3-tert-butyldithiirane 1-oxides were oxidized with dimethyldioxirane to give the trans-1,2-dioxide. Thermal decomposition of the 1,2-dioxide yielded the corresponding (E)- and (Z)-sulfines, thioketone, and cis- and trans-dithiirane 1-oxides. In the thermolysis, decomposition to the sulfines and SO was the main path and that to the thioketone and SO(2) was the minor one. The two decomposition processes and epimerization to the cis-1,2-dioxide were analyzed theoretically. SO generated in situ reacted with thioketones as additives to give the corresponding dithiirane 1-oxides.