Restorative effects of different forest environments in spring, summer, and autumn / 环境与职业医学

Background It has been proved by many studies that forest environment has good restorative effects. Some researchers have attempted to identify natural factors affecting restorativeness. However, current studies have not focused on the effect of seasonal variation of forest environments on its restorative strength. Objective To evaluate the restorative effect changes of two types of forest environments across different seasons. Methods The experiments were conducted in April (spring), June (summer), and October (autumn) of 2017. Forty subjects were recruited in spring，18 in summer, and 20 in autumn. In spring, the subjects were randomly assigned to a forest park in suburban area and one in semi-pristine area in Beijing where each subject only experienced one kind of forest environment. In summer and autumn, each subject experienced two kinds of forest environments. They spent the first day in the suburban area forest park, and the second day in the semi-pristine area forest park. First the subjects completed the Brief Profile of Mood States (BPOMS) and had their heart rate been monitored for 10 min before test followed by a 30 min forest experience with sedentary sitting. At the end of each experience, the subjects completed the BPOMS again, and also the Restoration Environment Scale-Chinese version. Objective physical environment indicators were monitored simultaneously during forest experience. The changes of each indicator were analyzed before and after forest experience in selected three seasons. Results In the objective physical environment indicators, the concentrations of anion in selected three seasons in the semi-pristine area forest were higher than the values in the suburban development area forest; the concentration of anion in autumn was much higher than those in the other two seasons. In the assessment of the Restorative Environment Scale, the total scores of restorativeness of the semi-pristine area forest were generally higher than the scores in the suburban development area forest, but significant differences were found only in spring and summer (P < 0.001 in spring, P=0.022 in summer, and P=0.083 in autumn). In terms of physiological indicators, the average heart rate was decreased, while short-term R-R interval standard deviation (SD1) and root mean square of difference of successive intervals (RMSSD) were increased after the designed forest experience sessions in the three seasons, and there was statistical difference between forest types. In terms of psychological indicators, a decrease in the score of total mood disorder was presented after the experience session. In spring, there was a trend that the forest park in suburban development area had a better regulation effect on total mood disorder (P=0.07). In summer and autumn, there was a trend that the semi-pristine area forest park had a better regulation effect on total mood disorder (P=0.062 in summer and P=0.001 in autumn). Conclusion Generally, forest environments can improve the psychological and physiological indicators of human, and the improvement varies with frosts types and seasons. The restorative effects of forests in semi-pristine areas is better than those in suburban development area.

Influence of music relaxation imagination training on the postoperative emotion and pain of patients with chronic sinusitis / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of music relaxation imagination training(MRIT) on mood and pain in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS). METHODS A total of 120 patients were divided into experimental group(60 cases) and control group(60 cases). The intervention group received routine nursing care and MRIT, while the control group received routine nursing care. RESULTS The scores of each dimension of the brief mood scale in intervention group after intervention were lower than that in control group, and the degree of pain was significantly lower too at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h 48 h, 72 h after operation. The differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). CONCLUSION MRIT can improve the postoperative mood of patients underwent CRS nasal endoscopic surgery and reduce the degree of postoperative pain.

Effects of 10, 000 steps a day on physical and mental health in overweight participants in a community setting: a preliminary study

ABSTRACT Background Being overweight is associated not only with physical health problems, but also with risk of mental health problems. Increased physical activity (PA) has been recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease; however, little is known about the effect of walking on physical and mental health outcomes. Objective The purpose of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a pedometer-based PA intervention on physical and mental health states. Method Thirty-five overweight participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg•m–2 were selected and assigned to a 12-week pedometer-based walking program (10,000 steps•d–1). The profile of mood states, BMI, waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (%BF), and lean body mass (LBM) were measured before and after the 12-week intervention. The number of step counts was recorded 5 days a week in a diary booklet. Results The 30 participants who accumulated 10,000 steps•d–1 had significantly lower anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, and total mood distress scores compared with measurements taken prior to the intervention. Further, the participants had higher vigor scores compared to baseline. Regarding physical health, the participants who accrued 10,000 steps a day had significantly lower body weight, WC, BMI, and %BP. After adjustment for gender, height, and daily steps at follow-up, changes in WC were negatively associated with depression, fatigue, confusion, and total mood distress. Conclusions An increase in PA by accumulating at least 10,000 steps•d–1 over a 12-week period improves physical and mood states in sedentary, overweight individuals.

An Adaptation of the Profile of Mood States for Use in Adults With Phenylketonuria

Abstract Adults with phenylketonuria (PKU) experience disturbances in mood. This study used qualitative and quantitative techniques to adapt the 65-item Profile of Mood States (POMS) for the assessment of key mood domains in adults with PKU. First, cognitive interviews on 58 POMS items (excluding 7 Friendliness domain items) among 15 adults and adolescents (age ≥16 years) with PKU were conducted to eliminate items poorly understood or considered irrelevant to PKU; 17 items were removed. Next, the remaining POMS items were quantitatively examined (Mokken scaling and Rasch analysis) in 115 adult patients with PKU. An additional 21 items were removed iteratively, resulting in the 20-item draft PKU-POMS. Finally, the psychometric properties of the draft PKU-POMS were examined. The instrument displayed strong psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and responsiveness) over 6 domains (Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Activity, Tiredness, and Confusion) and all items were well understood in the final cognitive interviews with 10 adults with PKU.

Is positive affect in pregnancy protective of postpartum depression?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive/protective role of negative affect/positive affect in late pregnancy on the outcome of postpartum depression. METHODS: A total of 491 pregnant women participated in the study. The participants were asked to fill out a series of questionnaires, which included the Profile of Mood States, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, psychosocial variables and socio-demographic characteristics and were asked to participate in a psychiatric interview. After delivery, 272 mothers participated again in the study and filled out a similar series of questionnaires. RESULTS: Negative affect was associated with more intense depressive symptomatology, more self-perceived stress, lower self-reported social support, lower quality of life and perception of having a more difficult infant. By contrast, positive affect was negatively associated with these variables. Negative affect in late pregnancy increased the likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression (DSM-IV/OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.3-3.4, p = .003; ICD-10/OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.5-3.0, p < .001), while positive affect increased the odds of not having this condition (DSM-IV/OR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.5-2.7, p = .042). CONCLUSION: In pregnancy, negative affect was a predictor of postpartum depression, whereas positive affect showed a protective role. Future studies are required to explore whether psychotherapeutic strategies focusing on decreasing negative affect and enhancing positive affect in the last trimester of pregnancy can reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

Relationship between the Psychological Stress Responses and Self-Efficacy in Pharmacy Students during Hospital Practical Training / 医薬品情報学

<b>Objective: </b>Pharmacy students are considered to experience various forms of stress during long-term practical training in the 6-year pharmacy education.  This study examined relationships between psychological stress responses and self-efficacy involving 77 subjects who consented to join this study in practical training conducted at Teikyo University Hospital (2010-2011FY).<br><b>Methods: </b>This study used the Profile of Mood States (POMS) for evaluating the psychological response, and an assessment form consisted of 20 items including interpersonal relationships, contents of practical training and health/life/stress coping for self-efficacy before, during, and after the training.<br><b>Results: </b>In the POMS, only the state of ‘vigor’ showed a significant difference in a comparison among before, during, and after the training; however, no significant change was observed in other mood states.  These results suggested that the students were under mild stress during the training.  Their self-efficacy was increased after the training in all 20 items except “contacting university instructors during the training”.  The results also showed that there was an association between self-efficacy and psychological stress responses.<br><b>Conclusions: </b>It is considered important that instructors and pharmacy technicians involved in pharmacy practice should understand the levels of individual stress responses or interpersonal communication skills to utilize them for coaching and maintaining students’ mental health.

The Evaluation of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) in Cancer Patients treated by Tamagawa Hot Spring Bathing / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

<b>Purpose</b>. The aim of this study was to clarify the change of the profile mood of the cancer patients who were treated by Tamagawa Hot Spring Bathing.<br><b>Material and Methods</b>. Fifty seven patients (17 men and 40 women: age range 42-87 years) were examined by POMS (profile of mood states) methods. The cancer type of enrolled patients were 16 breast, 10 lung, 7stomach, 5 liver, 4 colon, 4 prostate and 11 others. The mood scale were divided into next 6 types such as Tension-Anxiety (T-A), Depression-Dejection (D), Anger-Hostility (A-H), Vigor (V), Fatigue (F) and Confusion (C), respectively.<br><b>Results</b>. In general, increasing vigor and decreasing confusion were observed (P<0.01). In the men cases, vigor was significantly rised up, and in women, T-A and D were decreased and vigor was increased significantly (P<0.05). And, in elder group (more than 71 year old) vigor were also increased significantly (P<0.05).<br>In the case less than 10 days stay showed the increasing vigor.<br>However in the case treated over 11 days were increasing D, A-H, V and C, respectively. The cancer case of breast and lung, vigor were increased significantly, but in the other cases, mood scale were not changed remarkably. This phenomena is resulted of small case number.

THE PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF “TAIJI SENSE” IN TAIJIQUAN EXERCISE / 体力科学

The usage of “Taiji sense”(a kind of image) is required during Taijiquan (TJQ) exercise, but some practitioners virtually ignore it all the time while exercising. The significance for the usage of “Taiji sense” is still completely unknown. This study assessed the psycho-physiological effects of “Taiji sense” during 24-style TJQ exercise (24TJQ). 25 middle-elderly 24TJQ-experienced subjects were divided into Taiji-sensed group (TS), non-Taiji-sensed group (NTS) and ergometry exercise group (EE) by balancing their age and TJQ experience time. The division of TS and NTS was determined by a self-reported investigation, based on whether the practitioner usually use or do not use the image of “Taiji sense” while exercising TJQ. Electroencephalography and profile of mood states were examined and compared. After exercise, TS showed greater increase of α activity (P<0.05) and greater decrease of β activity (P<0.05) than EE, respectively. α hemispherical asymmetry score indicated by Fp1-Fp2 showed significant decrease change (P<0.05) in TS after exercise (Post2), and tended to be lower (P=0.056) than that of NTS. Even though all conditions significantly decreased Tension-Anxiety (T-A) scores (P<0.05, for all), only TS significantly increased Vigor (V) score (P<0.05). The change of α activity inversely correlated to the change of T-A score (r=−0.78, P<0.0001) in all conditions. Conclusively, the usage of “Taiji sense” might help to produce stronger psycho-physiological responses during 24TJQ practice, and give rise to effective relaxation after exercise, as classics pointed out.