The Impact of an Optimism Training Intervention on Biological Measures Associated With Cardiovascular Health: Data From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Positive psychological constructs, such as optimism, are associated with cardiovascular health, and changes in biological measures associated with heart health have been proposed as potential mediators of these relationships. In this analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial, we examined the impact of an optimism training intervention on biological measures associated with cardiac health in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: We analyzed data from an 8-week, randomized, controlled trial of a group-based optimism training intervention in 61 patients with coronary artery disease. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6, irisin, and fibrinogen were measured at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. Mixed-effects regression analyses were performed to examine the effects of the intervention on changes in biological measures at 8 and 16 weeks. RESULTS: At 8 weeks, the intervention led to significantly greater reductions in hs-CRP (B = -0.851 [standard error {SE} = 0.273, p = .002) and fibrinogen (B = -0.148 [SE = 0.062], p = .016), and a greater increase in irisin (B = 0.252 [SE = 0.114], p = .027) compared with the control condition. These changes persisted at 16 weeks (hs-CRP: B = -1.078 [SE = 0.276], p < .001; fibrinogen: B = -0.270 [SE = 0.062], p < .001; irisin: B = 0.525 [SE = 0.116], p < .001), and interleukin 6 additionally was impacted at this time point (B = -0.214 [SE = 0.064], p = .001). Exploratory mediation analyses failed to identify significant psychological or health behavior mediators of these relationships. CONCLUSIONS: A group-based optimism training intervention resulted in significant, robust, and sustained changes in biological measures associated with cardiac health. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in a larger sample and identify potential mediating variables. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iran Registry of Clinical Trials No. 2016070328769 N1.

Effects of Single-Session Group Mantra-meditation on Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Affective State: A Psychoneuroimmunology Viewpoint.

OBJECTIVES: Based on existing psychoneuroimmunological insights, the present study aimed at investigating possible effects of a single-session group mantra-meditation on salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and affective states. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A controlled pretest-posttest study enrolled 30 healthy women (mean age 44 ± 3 years) through a multi-stage random sampling method from yoga clubs in Shiraz (Feb-Dec, 2016). Subjects were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. Participants in both the groups attended a structured introductory lecture about mantra-meditation after which those in the experimental group meditated for 20min. Saliva samples were collected after the intervention, and the participants' affective states were examined by a qualified clinical psychologist blinded to the intervention using the positive and negative affect schedule questionnaire at sequential time-points, i.e., baseline, post-meditation, and one hour later. Similar assessments were done for the control group subjects. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test saliva samples for the IgA titer. The s-IgA and the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) test results were statistically evaluated using an analysis of variance. RESULT: The mean s-IgA titer in the experimental group at 'post-meditation' and '1-hour later' time-points were found to be statistically different from those of the control group (P < .05). In addition, results indicated a significant change in affect among experimental group subjects as compared to controls (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that "group mantra-meditation" training even for a single session may positively influence some immunological components and improve affective states. As a simple and low-cost psychoneurobehavioral intervention, this method may offer mental-health benefits at nursing homes as well as group-therapies.

A randomized trial of an optimism training intervention in patients with heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Optimism is prospectively and independently associated with superior cardiac outcomes, but there has been minimal study of optimism-specific interventions in persons with cardiovascular illness. We aimed to examine the feasibility and impact of an optimism-promoting program among patients with heart disease in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants (N=61) were outpatients, age 35-60, with coronary artery disease who were randomized to an 8-week in-person group-based optimism training intervention or an attention-matched educational control condition. Feasibility was assessed via rates of session attendance and exercise completion, and acceptability was assessed via weekly participant ratings of exercise ease, utility, and likelihood of continuation. The impact of the intervention was assessed via between-group differences in change from baseline optimism (Life Orientation Test-Revised [LOT-R]) and other psychological self-report outcomes at 8weeks (primary time point) and 16weeks, using random effects regression models. RESULTS: Participants completed a mean of 6.8 (SD 1.2) sessions and 13.9 (SD 2.4) exercises, with mean ratings all >3.5/5 on measures of acceptability. The intervention was associated with greater improvement in optimism at 8weeks (ß=5.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.55, 6.70; p<0.001) and 16weeks; the intervention was also associated with greater improvements in life satisfaction, hope, and anxiety at both time points, though not with positive or negative affect. CONCLUSIONS: A group-based optimism training program was feasible, acceptable, and associated with improvements in optimism and other psychological measures in cardiac patients. Future larger studies should examine effects on major clinical outcomes.

Reliability and Validity of the Farsi Version of the Somatosensory Amplification Scale.

BACKGROUND: The somatosensory amplification scale (SSAS) is a 10-item self-report instrument designed to assess a tendency to experience normal somatic and visceral sensations as intense, noxious, and disturbing. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the reliability and validity of the SSAS, developed by Barsky et al. (1988), in the Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 240 patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders and 30 healthy persons selected by convenience sampling from 2013 to 2014. The patients completed the SSAS, the somatization subscale of the symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R som), and the modified somatic perception questionnaire (MSPQ), whereas the healthy persons completed just the SSAS. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the one-factor solution, accounting for 29.42% of the variance, explained that the SSAS items were represented by one global dimension. The SSAS had acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.78) and good test-retest reliability (r = 0.80). The item-to-scale correlations varied from 0.17 to 0.55. Item 2 had the lowest item-total score correlation (r = 0.17), and the α coefficient for the SSAS exceeded when this item was deleted. The convergent validity of the SSAS with somatization was shown with a significant correlation between the SSAS, SCL-90-R som (r = 0.36), and MSPQ scores (r = 0.52). Discriminant validity analysis showed no significant difference in the SSAS between the patient and control groups (P > 0.05) and non-specificity of the SSAS for patients. CONCLUSIONS: In sum, the SSAS has acceptable reliability and validity for the Iranian population and the scale measures the same the original scale, namely somatosensory amplification.