Is reducing uncertain control the key to successful test anxiety intervention for secondary school students? Findings from a randomized control trial.

The aim of the study was to conduct a randomized control trial of a targeted, facilitated, test anxiety intervention for a group of adolescent students, and to examine the mediating role of uncertain control. Fifty-six participants (male = 19, white = 21, mean age = 14.7 years) were randomly allocated to an early intervention or wait-list control group. Participants completed the Revised Test Anxiety Scale and the Uncertain Control Scale from the Motivation and Engagement Scale at baseline, after the early intervention group had received the intervention, and again, after the wait-list control group had received the intervention. Participants showed moderate to large reductions in the worry and tension components of test anxiety, and uncertain control, after the intervention. The reduction in worry and tension was partially mediated by the reduction in uncertain control. Findings contribute to the evidence base for test anxiety interventions designed for school age populations and highlight uncertain control as an important factor in test anxiety intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record

Distonía del músico: fenomenología y desencadenantes vinculados a la ejecución musical / Focal dystonia in musicians: Phenomenology and musical triggering factors

Las distonías se definen como una contracción conjunta, sostenida e involuntaria de músculos agonistas y antagonistas, que puede causar torsión, movimientos involuntarios anormales repetitivos y/o posturas anormales. Un grupo especial de distonías son las conocidas como ocupacionales, que incluyen trastornos distónicos desencadenados por una actividad motora repetitiva, relacionada con la actividad profesional o tarea específica. Los músicos son una población especialmente vulnerable a este tipo de distonías que se presentan como una pérdida de coordinación y control motor voluntario de movimientos altamente entrenados en la interpretación musical. Nuestro objetivo es describir una serie clínica de distonías focales en músicos evaluados y tratados en nuestro centro. Pacientes y métodos: Se presentan los datos de una serie clínica de 12 músicos con distonía ocupacional; se describen sus antecedentes y fenomenología, así como su evolución después de de la terapia. Resultados: Antecedentes demográficos: edad promedio 34,8 ± 11,8 años, 10 hombres (83,3%) y 2 mujeres (16,7%). Antecedentes médicos: antecedentes traumáticos en segmento distónico, 6 pacientes (50%); antecedentes familiares de enfermedades neurológicas en parientes de primer grado, 6 pacientes (50%); antecedentes laborales según categoría musical, 8 pacientes (66,6%) eran músicos clásicos y 4 pacientes (33,3%) eran músicos populares. Fenomenología: El cuadro distónico se caracterizó por presentarse a una edad promedio de inicio de 28,2 ± 11,3 años (rango 18-57 años). En 11 pacientes el segmento afectado fue la mano (91,7%). De todos los músicos consultados, un total de 9 (75%) recibió terapia. En la mayoría de los pacientes se describen desencadenantes específicos de la ejecución musical, asociados a requerimientos de control motor fino. Cabe mencionar que el 50% de los músicos tratados mantuvo su actividad laboral o puesto en la orquesta a la que pertenecía. Conclusiones: La mayoría de nuestros hallazgos fenomenológicos son coherentes con la literatura actualmente disponible. Sin embargo, nos parece destacable la presencia de desencadenantes atribuibles a requerimientos específicos de la ejecución musical, ligados a la participación del control motor fino

Dystonias are defined as a joint sustained and involuntary contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles, which can cause torsion, repetitive abnormal involuntary movements, and/or abnormal postures. One special group of dystonias are those known as occupational, which include dystonia disorders triggered by a repetitive motor activity associated with a specific professional activity or task. Musicians are a population particularly vulnerable to these types of dystonia, which are presented as a loss of coordination and voluntary motor control movements highly trained in musical interpretation. Our aim is to describe a clinical series of focal dystonias in musicians evaluated and treated in our centre. Patients and methods: Data is presented on a clinical series of 12 musicians with occupational dystonia. Their history and phenomenology are described, as well as well as their outcome after therapy. Results: Demographic details: Mean age 34.8 ± 11.8 years, 10 males (83.3%) and 2 females (16.7%). Clinical history: History of trauma in dystonic segment, 6 patients (50%); family history of neurological diseases in first-degree relatives, 6 patients (50%); occupational history according to music category, 8 patients (66.6%) were classical musicians and 4 patients (33.3%) were popular musicians. Phenomenology: The dystonia syndrome was characterised by having a mean age of onset of 28.2 ± 11.3 years (range 18-57 years). The segment affected was the hand (91.7%) in 11patients. Of all the musicians seen in the clinic, 9 of them (75%) received therapy. The majority of patients appeared to have triggering factors specific to musical execution and linked to the requirement of fine motor control. It should be mentioned that 50% of the musicians treated maintained their professional activity or position in the orchestra to which they belonged. Conclusions: The majority of our phenomenological findings are consistent with those reported in the current literature. However, it is worth mentioning the presence of triggering factors attributed to the specific requirements of performing music, linked to the participation of fine motor control

Yoga reduces performance anxiety in adolescent musicians.

CONTEXT: Professional musicians often experience high levels of stress, music performance anxiety (MPA), and performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). Given the fact that most professional musicians begin their musical training before the age of 12, it is important to identify interventions that will address these issues from an early age. OBJECTIVE: This study intended to replicate and expand upon adult research in this area by evaluating the effects of a yoga intervention on MPA and PRMDs in a population of adolescent musicians. The present study was the first to examine these effects. DESIGN: The research team assigned participants, adolescent musicians, into two groups. The intervention group (n = 84) took part in a 6-wk yoga program, and the control group (n = 51) received no treatment. The team evaluated the effects of the yoga intervention by comparing the scores of the intervention group to those of the control group on a number of questionnaires related to MPA and PRMDs. SETTING: The study was conducted at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI). BUTI is a training academy for advanced adolescent musicians, located in Lenox, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were adolescent, residential music students (mean age = 16 y) in a 6-wk summer program at the BUTI in 2007 and 2008. INTERVENTION: Participants in the yoga intervention group were requested to attend three, 60-min, Kripalustyle yoga classes each wk for 6 wk. OUTCOME MEASURES: MPA was measured using the Performance Anxiety Questionnaire (PAQ) and the Music Performance Anxiety Inventory for Adolescents (MPAI-A). PRMDs were measured using the Performance-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire (PRMD-Q). RESULTS • Yoga participants showed statistically significant reductions in MPA from baseline to the end of the program compared to the control group, as measured by several subscales of the PAQ and MPAI-A; however, the results for PRMDs were inconsistent. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that yoga may be a promising way for adolescents to reduce MPA and perhaps even prevent it in the future. These findings also suggest a novel treatment modality that potentially might alleviate MPA and prevent the early disruption and termination of musical careers.