1. |
- Alfven, Gösta, et al.
(author)
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Stressor, perceived stress and recurrent pain in Swedish schoolchildren
- 2008
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 65, s. 381-387
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Stress is an important etiological factor for pain. Little is known, however, about how this process is mediated. The aim of this study is to highlight how more stress corresponds with the amount of reported perceived stress, pain symptom, and the co-occurrence of two pain symptoms--headache and abdominal pain--and how these three phenomena are related. We have also studied possible gender differences. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on data from child supplements linked to national household surveys in Sweden during 2002-2003. Information concerning harassment, perceived stress, headache, and abdominal pain was gathered from a questionnaire. The study population consisted of a representative national sample of 2597 children aged 10-18 years. RESULTS: Children's reports of exposure to the stressor harassment were associated with their subjective perception of stress and recurrent pain in a stepwise manner. Having both pain symptoms was more strongly associated with the stressor harassment and perceived stress than having only one pain symptom. This was especially true of girls, who reported higher levels of stress symptoms and who had a different profile of pain symptoms than boys. CONCLUSIONS: The stressor harassment, perceived stress, and recurrent pain are associated with each other in a stepwise fashion. The co-occurrence of headache and abdominal pain is much more closely associated with harassment and perceived stress than any of these symptoms separately, especially in girls.
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2. |
- Andersson, Gerhard, et al.
(author)
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Future thinking in tinnitus patients
- 2007
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 63:2, s. 191-194
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate future thinking in a group of tinnitus patients. It was predicted that participants in the tinnitus group would report fewer positive future events. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Two groups of participants completed the test session: tinnitus patients (n=20) and healthy controls (n=20) without tinnitus. Participants completed measures of anticipation of future positive and negative experiences, anxiety and depression. In addition, participants with tinnitus completed a test of tinnitus annoyance. Results: Tinnitus participants generated a greater number of negative future events compared to the controls. There was no difference between the groups on positive future events or on self-reported anxiety, but the tinnitus group scored higher on a depression measure. Controlling for depression scores removed the group difference. Conclusions: While the groups differed on future thinking, the difference concerned negative events, which suggests that anxious information processing might be important in explaining tinnitus annoyance. Levels of depressive symptoms should, however, be considered.
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3. |
- Andersson, Linus, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Attention bias and sensitization in chemical sensitivity.
- 2009
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In: Journal of psychosomatic research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1360 .- 0022-3999. ; 66:5, s. 407-16:66, s. 407-416
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether persons with self-reported chemical sensitivity (CS) have an attention bias and enhanced sensitization to chemical exposure. METHODS: Chemosomatosensory, olfactory, and auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 21 CS subjects and 17 controls in attend and ignore conditions. Reaction times (RTs) and magnitude estimations of perceived intensity were collected in the attend condition. ERPs were averaged over attention conditions and during the first/second part of the testing. RESULTS: ERP patterns indicated that CS subjects did not habituate to the same extent as the controls and had difficulties ignoring the chemical exposure. CS subjects had faster overall RT, and the perceived intensities for the chemosomatosensory stimuli did not decrease with time in the CS group, which was the case for the controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicating attention bias and enhanced sensitization in CS suggest alterations in central, cognitive responses to chemical exposure.
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5. |
- Grossi, Giorgio, et al.
(author)
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The morning salivary cortisol response in burnout.
- 2005
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 59:2, s. 103-111
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The results of the present study indicate a dysregulation in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA axis) activity, characterised by elevated morning salivary cortisol levels, among female burnout patients. Among males, increased cortisol levels were observed among participants with moderate levels of burnout, but not among patients or healthy controls.
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6. |
- Hansen, AM, et al.
(author)
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Bullying at work, health outcomes, and physiological stress response
- 2006
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1360 .- 0022-3999. ; 60:1, s. 63-72
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The relationships among bullying or witnessing bullying at work, self-reported health symptoms, and physiological stress reactivity were analysed in a sample of 437 employees (294 women and 143 men). Physiological stress reactivity was measured as cortisol in the saliva. Of the respondents, 5% of the women (n=15) and 5% of the men (n=7) reported bullying, whereas 9% of the women (n=25) and 11% of the men (n=15) had witnessed bullying at work. The results indicated that the bullied respondents had lower social support from coworkers and supervisors, and they reported more symptoms of somatisation, depression, anxiety, and negative affectivity (NA) than did the nonbullied respondents. Witnesses reported more symptoms of anxiety and lower support from supervisor than did the nonbullied employees. Concentrations of cortisol in the saliva were lower at awakening in bullied respondents compared with nonbullied respondents. Previous studies have reported lower diurnal concentration of cortisol for people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic fatigue. To our knowledge, this is the first full study on the associations among being subjected to bullying, health outcomes, and physiological stress response. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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7. |
- Jansson-Fröjmark, Markus, et al.
(author)
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A bidirectional relationship between anxiety and depression, and insomnia? : A prospective study in the general population
- 2008
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 64:4, s. 443-449
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is a bidirectional relationship between on the one hand anxiety and depression and on the other hand insomnia over the course of a year.Methods: A randomly selected sample of 3,000 participants from the general population filled out a baseline (N = 1,812) and 1-year follow-up survey (N = 1,498) on anxiety, depression, and insomnia.Results: In cross-sectional analyses, bivariate correlations showed that anxiety, depression, and insomnia were significantly inter-correlated (φ = .31-.54). In prospective analyses, logistic regression analyses demonstrated that baseline anxiety (OR = 4.27, 8% of the variance) and baseline depression (OR = 2.28, 2% of the variance) were related to new cases of insomnia at follow-up. Further, baseline insomnia was related to new episodes of high anxiety and high depression at follow-up (OR = 2.30, 2% of the variance; OR = 3.51; 4% of the variance).Conclusion: Evidence suggested that there is a bidirectional relationship between on the one hand anxiety and depression and on the other hand insomnia. This suggests that anxiety, depression, and insomnia are intertwined over time, which has implications for theoretical conceptualizations and interventions.
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8. |
- Julkunen, Juhani, et al.
(author)
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Hostility, anger and sense of coherence as predictors of health-related quality of life : Results of an ASCOT substudy
- 2006
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 61:1, s. 33-39
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of hostility and anger expression to sense of coherence (SOC)and their role as predictors of health-related quality of life (HQL). It was hypothesised tht SOC would mediate the impact of hostility and anger on HQL. Methods: This is a substudy of the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial, which evaluates different treatment strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients. At baseline, SOC was assessed with a short form measure, and hostility-anger with the Cynical Distrust scale and with the Anger Expression scales. HQL was assessed at 6 months with the RAND-36. The sample comprised of 774 subjects (77.5% men). Results: Results showed that strong SOC associates with ability to control expression of anger and with low levels of suppressed or openly expressed anger. Anger control and SOC were related to good HQL; cynicism, anger-out,and anger-in correlated negatively with HQL. Path models revealed that SOC was the strongest predictor of HQL while hostility and anger lost their direct impact on HQL. Conclusions: Given the significant associations of hostility and anger with SOC, it is concluded that the salutogenic theory of Antonovsky should be extended to include hostility-related constructs. The impact of hostility and anger on HQL is, to a great extent, mediated through SOC, which implies that in future studies, the role of hostility as a risk factor should be reconsidered from the SOC theory perspective.
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9. |
- Kaldo, Viktor, et al.
(author)
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Use of a self-help book with weekly therapist contact to reduce tinnitus distress : a randomized controlled trial
- 2007
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 63:2, s. 195-202
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Tinnitus distress can be reduced by means of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). To compensate for the shortage of CBT therapists, we aimed, in this study, to investigate the effects of a CBT-based self-help book guided by brief telephone support. Methods: Seventy-two patients were randomized either to a self-help book and seven weekly phone calls or to a wait-list control condition, later on receiving the self-help book with less therapist support. The dropout rate was 7%. Follow-up data 1 year after completion of treatment were also collected (12% dropout). The Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ) was the main outcome measure, complemented with daily ratings of tinnitus and measures of insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Results: On the TRQ, significant reductions were found in the treatment group both immediately following treatment and at 1-year follow-up. In the treatment group, 32% reached the criteria for clinical significance (at least 50% reduction of the TRQ) compared to 5% in the wait-list group. Directly after treatment, two out of five measures showed significant differences in favor of the treatment with more therapist support compared with the group who, after their waiting period, received little therapist support. The self-help treatment was estimated to be 2.6 (seven phone calls) and 4.8 (one phone call) times as cost-effective as regular CBT group treatment. Conclusions: Guided self-help can serve as an alternative way to administer CBT for tinnitus. Preliminary results cast some doubts on the importance of weekly therapist contact. The effect size was somewhat smaller than for regular CBT, but on the other hand, the self-help seems far more cost-effective. Future studies should compare treatment modalities directly and explore cost-effectiveness more thoroughly.
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10. |
- Larsson, Kjerstin, et al.
(author)
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Quality of life for patients with exacerbation in inflammatory bowel disease and how they cope with disease activity
- 2008
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 64:2, s. 139-148
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) is influenced by symptoms and treatments. Periods with increased disease activity are specifically trying, but the knowledge of how patients manage this is sparse. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine (1) HRQoL for patients with UC or CD, (2) how patients cope with increased disease activity, and (3) if coping is associated with HRQoL. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to patients with UC and CD who attended the gastroenterology and surgery department at a Swedish university hospital. Coping, HRQoL, and emotional well-being were assessed by Jalowiec Coping Scale, Short Form-36 Health survey, Short Health Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Patients with increased disease activity reported impaired HRQoL and emotional distress. This was more prevalent among patients with CD, as compared to patients with UC. Optimistic, self-reliant and confrontive coping strategies were most frequently used to manage stressors, with no differences found between patients in exacerbation or remission or between patients with UC or CD. Conclusion: Impaired HRQoL and emotional distress is prevalent among patients with exacerbation in UC and CD. Thus, a complete evaluation of psychosocial status and management of psychosocial distress should be included in the clinical treatment of the patient. Patients use a variety of coping strategies in an effort to manage increased disease activity. However, these results did not support any associations between coping and HRQoL.
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