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- Anderzén, Ingrid, et al.
(författare)
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Psychophysiological reactions to international adjustment : Results from a controlled, longitudinal study
- 1999
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Ingår i: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. - : S. Karger AG. - 0033-3190 .- 1423-0348. ; 68:2, s. 67-75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This controlled prospective study examines psychophysiological reactions in employees during their first and second year abroad to identify individual as well as work-related factors predictive of positive adjustment. Methods: Employees (n = 47) relocating from Sweden to a foreign country on a work-related assignment were followed. The subjects completed a questionnaire before relocation and after 1 and 2 years abroad. Blood samples were collected for determination of the stressor-related hormones prolactin, cortisol and testosterone. A matched non-moving reference group of employees (n = 35) responded to the questionnaire at similar time periods, and also provided blood samples. Results: During the years abroad, the expatriate employees experienced increased psychosocial stress as well as negative adjustment as reflected in circulating levels of prolactin and testosterone, worse mental well-being and worsening subjective work environment, as compared with the non-moving group. The greatest change occurred during the first year. Individual factors such as social support, internal locus of control, self-esteem and sense of coherence modified the stress response and predicted employees’ ability to adjust to foreign assignments. Negative changes in the psychosocial work environment explained to a large degree the decrease in work adjustment during the first year and these findings were also reflected in physiological stress indicators. Conclusions: The study emphasises the importance for multinational organisations to look at these individual characteristics before sending employees abroad. They also need to get more involved in supporting employees to manage stressors characteristic of the first year of foreign work.
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| 4. |
- Emdad, R, et al.
(författare)
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What prevents professional drivers from following physicians' cardiologic advice?
- 1998
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Ingår i: Psychotherapy and psychosomatics. - : S. Karger AG. - 0033-3190 .- 1423-0348. ; 67:4-5, s. 226-240
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <b>Background:</b> There is a scarcity of published studies of the effects of cardiac counselling among professional drivers (PD). Aims of the study were: (1) to examine explanatory variables for two classical ‘driver’ risk factors – body mass index (BMI), and smoking – and to analyse the interrelations among smoking cessation, losing weight and work-related life changes; (2) to assess the effectiveness of risk factor counselling after 6 months, and (3) to gain insight into possible discrepancies between PD perception of needed changes and compliance with the physician’s advice. <b>Methods:</b> There were 4 groups of male PD: 13 with ischemic heart disease, 12 hypertensives, 10 borderline hypertensives and 34 normotensives. Baseline cardiovascular risk factors as well as occupational and behavioral data were assessed via questionnaire. The counselling was aimed at smoking cessation, weight loss and promoting leisure-time physical activity. Qualitative methods were used to assess PD perceptions about the work environment and health promotion. <b>Results:</b> Baseline smoking intensity was best predicted by the total burden of occupational stress and number of smoking years. Baseline BMI was best predicted by long work hours behind the wheel, low availability of attachment outside work and low self-reported job strain. Self-initiated smoking cessation was best predicted by few smoking years, low coffee intake and admitting fear during driving. Physical activity was significantly increased after 6 months. Losing weight was associated with: quitting or diminishing smoking and making other, work-related, life changes. None of the heavy smokers decreased their daily number of cigarettes after 6 months, although expressing the need to do so in self-generated statements. <b>Conclusions:</b> Exposure to occupational stressors, mainly, long work hours and the concomitant denial of job strain, in combination with low availability of social attachment outside work, could contribute to maintenance of maladaptive behavior in PD. These findings could serve as a basis for designing standardized intervention trials and suggest that modification of the work environment, with participation of the drivers, is a needed component of such trials. Particular attention should be paid to the length and scheduling of work shifts.
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| 5. |
- Hillert, L, et al.
(författare)
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Cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with electric sensitivity - a multidisciplinary approach in a controlled study
- 1998
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Ingår i: Psychotherapy and psychosomatics. - : S. Karger AG. - 0033-3190 .- 1423-0348. ; 67:6, s. 302-310
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <b>Background: </b>Electric sensitivity is a syndrome that still lacks diagnostic criteria and proven aetiology. The suffering of afflicted persons motivates development and evaluation of effective handling and treatments. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with electric sensitivity. <b>Methods: </b>Cognitive behavioural treatment, as part of a multidisciplinary treatment package for patients with electric sensitivity, was evaluated in a controlled trial. Ten patients who received treatment were compared to 12 controls. Outcome measures included different dimensions such as symptoms, beliefs, behaviour, and biochemical measurements of stress-related variables. All outcome measures were collected prior to the study, post-treatment, and after an additional 6-month follow-up. <b>Results:</b> The therapy group rated their electric sensitivity as significantly lower than did the control group at the 6-month follow-up, and reduction of self-rated discomforts from triggering factors was significant in the therapy group. There were no systematic changes in the biochemical variables. The symptom indices were significantly reduced over time, and ability to work continued to be good in both groups. <b>Conclusion: </b>The prognosis for this syndrome is good with early intervention and cognitive therapy may further reduce the perceived hypersensitivity. This may have important implications on handling of patients with electric sensitivity.
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| 6. |
- Jonsson, BH, et al.
(författare)
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Low plasma prolactin levels in patients with functional dyspepsia
- 1999
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Ingår i: Psychotherapy and psychosomatics. - : S. Karger AG. - 0033-3190 .- 1423-0348. ; 68:3, s. 151-156
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <i>Background:</i> The purpose was to compare the levels and patterns of plasma cortisol and prolactin in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) during a controlled laboratory experiment. <i>Method:</i> 25 patients (12 men, 13 women), aged 24–50, with recurrent FD, and 25 pair-wise gender- and age-matched community control subjects were studied at a gastroenterological laboratory in a Swedish university hospital. In an experiment, after a rest period, subjects were studied during a neutral interview and a stress interview. Before and during interventions, blood samples were drawn for later peptide analyses. The main outcome measures were the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, heart rate, blood pressure, plasma cortisol and prolactin. <i>Results:</i> Mean plasma cortisol concentration correlated negatively with diarrhoea symptoms (partial correlation; p < 0.01). The level of plasma proclatin (µg/l) was significantly lower (paired t test; p < 0.01) in the patient group (mean = 3.34, CI: 2.75–3.93) compared to the control group (mean = 4.70, CI: 3.63–5.78). During the stress interview, prolactin increased significantly in both groups. When the whole sample was divided according to degree of reflux symptoms, those with high reflux symptomatology had lower prolactin (ANCOVA with covariates for group, gender, age, body mass index and smoking; p < 0.05). <i>Conclusion:</i> Plasma prolactin concentration was significantly lower in FD patients compared to a matched control group. A high degree of reflux symptoms was significantly associated with inhibition of the prolactin increase during a stress interview.
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| 7. |
- Köhle, K., et al.
(författare)
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Problemorientiertes lehren und lernen.
- 1999
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Ingår i: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. - 0033-3190 .- 1423-0348. ; 49, s. 171-175
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Lokk, J
(författare)
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Psychoendocrine concomitants in patients following a new design of a geriatric day-care unit
- 1998
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Ingår i: Psychotherapy and psychosomatics. - : S. Karger AG. - 0033-3190 .- 1423-0348. ; 67:6, s. 323-327
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <b>Background: </b>Seventeen nondemented geriatric day-care attendees were subjected to a reorganized rehabilitation programme. It is suggested that increased control of and participation in the rehabilitation process might decrease psychoendocrine stress from uncertainty and passivity. <b>Method: </b>The new programme was a change from a traditional one-shift day-care into a two-shift design with two different patient sets a day. The programme was more individualized and time-efficient with written short- and long-term goals. Regular multidisciplinary case conferences were held with the patients to follow and feedback the progress of each individual patient. The patients were prospectively followed with stress markers such as prolactin, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA – a testosterone metabolite), estradiol, serum lipids and serum glucose. <b>Results: </b>There was significant increase in anabolic hormones (DHA, estradiol), which contrasted with a significant decrease in catabolic hormones (prolactin, cortisol) during the actual day-care period. This pattern was restored at the 24-week follow-up for estradiol and prolactin, but with a continuous increase for DHA. Serum lipids and glucose were unaffected. <b>Conclusions: </b>This study found psychoendocrine changes that might have been elicited by a reorganization of the delivery of health care in elderly and handicapped patients. Further research is needed in order to understand these changes as well as the ideal structure and content of geriatric day-care programmes from a psychophysiological point of view.
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