Validation of the Japanese version of the 8-item Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-8).

This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-8J). A total of 108 outpatients with chronic pain completed the CPAQ-8 questionnaire, along with the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pain Disability Assessment Scale, Numerical Rating Scale, and EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level. Confirmatory factor analyses examined the factor structure. Results indicated that the CPAQ-8J comprised a two-component factor structure. Correlations between the CPAQ-8J and each variable were as expected, except between the "pain willingness" subscale and other scales ; thus, the CPAQ-8J had a certain degree of convergent validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability suggest that the CPAQ-8J is reliable. The psychometric properties of the CPAQ-8J meet a certain standard ; meanwhile, some issues must be addressed for its practical application. Further research should consider the influence of cultural characteristics in practical application. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 88-93, February, 2023.

Visual Perception of Moisture Is a Pathogen Detection Mechanism of the Behavioral Immune System.

The behavioral immune system (BIS) includes perceptual mechanisms for detecting cues of contamination. Former studies have indicated that moisture has a disgusting property. Therefore, moisture could be a target for detecting contamination cues by the BIS. We conducted two experiments to examine the psychophysical basis of moisture perception and clarify the relationship between the perception of moisture and the BIS. We assumed that the number of high luminance areas in a visual image provided optical information that would enable the visual perception of moisture. In two experiments, we presented eight images of dough that contained different amounts of moisture as experimental stimuli. The amount of moisture shown in the images was increased in eight steps, from 28.6 to 42.9% of the total weight of the dough. In Experiment 1, the images were randomly presented on a computer display, and the participants (n = 22) were asked to rank the images in the order of the visually perceived moisture content. In Experiment 2, the participants (n = 15) completed pairwise comparisons based on the perceived moistness of the images. Furthermore, to examine the BIS responses, the participants rated the strength of disgust evoked by the stimuli, their motivation to avoid touching the stimuli, and the estimated magnitude of the risk of contamination by physical contact with the stimuli. The results indicated that the moisture content and the numbers of high luminance areas in the images accurately predicted the perception of moisture, suggesting that the detection of visual moisture was highly accurate, and the optical information served as an essential perceptual cue for detecting moisture. On the other hand, the BIS responses peaked in response to stimuli having approximately 33 to 39% moisture content. These results show that objects containing a moderate amount of moisture could be the target of visually detecting pathogens by the BIS.

Pilot study of a basic individualized cognitive behavioral therapy program for chronic pain in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a major health problem, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is its recommended treatment; however, efforts to develop CBT programs for chronic pain and assess their feasibility are remarkably delayed in Asia. Therefore, we conducted this pilot study to develop a basic individualized CBT for chronic pain (CBT-CP) and assessed its feasibility for use in Japan. METHODS: Our study was an open-labeled before-after trial without a control group conducted cooperatively in five Japanese tertiary care hospitals. Of 24 outpatients, 15, age 20-80, who experienced chronic pain for at least three months were eligible. They underwent an eight-session CBT-CP consisting of relaxation via a breathing method and progressive muscle relaxation, behavioral modification via activity pacing, and cognitive modification via cognitive reconstruction. The EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire five level (EQ5D-5 L) assessment as the primary outcome and quality of life (QOL), pain severity, disability, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms as secondary outcomes were measured using self-administered questionnaires at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Effect size for EQ5D-5 L score was medium from baseline to post-treatment (Hedge's g = - 0.72, 90% confidence interval = - 1.38 to - 0.05) and up to the 3-month follow-up (g = - 0.60, CI = - 1.22 to 0.02). Effect sizes for mental and role/social QOL, disability, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms were medium to large, although those for pain severity and physical QOL were small. The dropout rate was acceptably low at 14%. No severe adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that CBT-CP warrants a randomized controlled trial in Japan. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), UMIN000020880. Registered on 04 February 2016.

Intraday Activity Levels May Better Reflect the Differences Between Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder Than Average Daily Activity Levels.

It is important to establish an objective index to differentiate mood disorders (i.e., bipolar disorder; BD and major depressive disorder; MDD). The present study focused on the pattern of changes of physical activity in the amount of activity intraday, and examined the relationship between activity patterns and mood disorders. One hundred and eighteen inpatients with MDD or BD in a depressive state provided the activity data by using wearable activity trackers for 3 weeks. In order to illuminate the characteristic patterns of intraday activities, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was adopted to extract the main components of intraday activity changes. We found that some of the PCs reflected the differences between the types of mood disorder. BD participants showed high activity pattern in the morning and low activity pattern in evenings. However, MDD showed the opposite. Our results suggest that activity tracking focused on daytime activity patterns may provide objective auxiliary diagnostic information.

Factor structure and reliability of the japanese version of the young schema questionnaire short form

The Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) is one of the most widely used measures of individual early maladaptive schemas in schema therapy, and this study examined the factor structure and reliability of its Japanese version (YSQ-SF-J). We created a subsample to ensure the samples’ mutual independence (N= 248, mean age= 19.75; 121 females). Then, Japanese participants (N= 800) completed the Japanese-translated YSQ-SF. Participants were divided into 2 samples: Sample 1 (n= 700, mean age= 23.05; 350 females); and Sample 2 (n= 100, mean age= 20.27; 50 females) for test-retest reliability. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the YSQ-SF-J’s item-factor structure was identical to the English version. Moreover, the scale showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results revealed the scale’s adequate psychometric properties. Thus, this study provided the first examples of empirical support for the YSQ-SF-J (AU)

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Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised.

The Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised is one of the most widely used measures of individual differences for the emotion of disgust. It consists of 2 subscales: disgust propensity and disgust sensitivity. This study examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Japanese version of the revised Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale. Japanese participants (N = 1067) completed the scale as well as the Padua Inventory, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Positive and Negative Affective Schedule. The participants were divided into 3 samples: Sample 1 (n = 481, mean age = 23.05, 186 males and 295 females); Sample 2 (n = 492, mean age = 20.27, 243 males and 249 females); and Sample 3 (n = 94, mean age = 22.68, 35 males and 58 females). We combined Samples 1 and 2 (n = 973, mean age = 21.66, 429 males and 544 females), and then created 2 subsamples to ensure the mutual independence of the samples used for two different factor analyses: subsample 1 (n = 486, mean age = 21.86, 199 male and 287 female) for exploratory factor analysis and subsample 2 (n = 487, mean age = 21.40, 230 male and 257 female) for confirmatory factor analysis. We examined test-retest reliability using Sample 3, and construct validity using Samples 1, 2, and the combined sample. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the item-factor structure of the Japanese Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised was identical to the English version. Moreover, the scale showed good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity for empirical support as provided by correlational analyses. Results revealed adequate psychometric properties of the scale. This study provided the first examples of empirical support for the DPSS-R-J.

Psychological Basis of the Relationship Between the Rorschach Texture Response and Adult Attachment: The Mediational Role of the Accessibility of Tactile Knowledge.

This study clarifies the psychological basis for the linkage between adult attachment and the texture response on the Rorschach by examining the mediational role of the accessibility of tactile knowledge. Japanese undergraduate students (n = 35) completed the Rorschach Inkblot Method, the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale for General Objects (Nakao & Kato, 2004) and a lexical decision task designed to measure the accessibility of tactile knowledge. A mediation analysis revealed that the accessibility of tactile knowledge partially mediates the association between attachment anxiety and the texture response. These results suggest that our hypothetical model focusing on the response process provides a possible explanation of the relationship between the texture response and adult attachment.

Telephone cognitive-behavioral therapy for subthreshold depression and presenteeism in workplace: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Subthreshold depression is highly prevalent in the general population and causes great loss to society especially in the form of reduced productivity while at work (presenteeism). We developed a highly-structured manualized eight-session cognitive-behavioral program with a focus on subthreshold depression in the workplace and to be administered via telephone by trained psychotherapists (tCBT). METHODS: We conducted a parallel-group, non-blinded randomized controlled trial of tCBT in addition to the pre-existing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) versus EAP alone among workers with subthreshold depression at a large manufacturing company in Japan. The primary outcomes were depression severity as measured with Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and presenteeism as measured with World Health Organization Health and Work Productivity Questionnaire (HPQ). In the course of the trial the follow-up period was shortened in order to increase acceptability of the study. RESULTS: The planned sample size was 108 per arm but the trial was stopped early due to low accrual. Altogether 118 subjects were randomized to tCBT+EAP (n = 58) and to EAP alone (n = 60). The BDI-II scores fell from the mean of 17.3 at baseline to 11.0 in the intervention group and to 15.7 in the control group after 4 months (p<0.001, Effect size = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.32 to 1.05). However, there was no statistically significant decrease in absolute and relative presenteeism (p = 0.44, ES = 0.15, -0.21 to 0.52, and p = 0.50, ES = 0.02, -0.34 to 0.39, respectively). CONCLUSION: Remote CBT, including tCBT, may provide easy access to quality-assured effective psychotherapy for people in the work force who present with subthreshold depression. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in longer terms. The study was funded by Sekisui Chemicals Co. Ltd. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00885014.

Spindle epithelial tumor with thymus-like differentiation (SETTLE) of the thyroid.

BACKGROUND: Tumors of the so-called intrathyroidal epithelial thymoma type are a rare group of thyroid neoplasm tumors. Of this type of tumor, spindle epithelial tumor with thymus like differentiation (SETTLE) has been reported only 17 times in English literature. METHODS: An 18-year-old woman was initially seen with a 6-cm left thyroid mass that was resected with a left thyroidectomy. Histopathologic features of the excised left thyroid tumor together with an immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy led us to a diagnosis of SETTLE. RESULTS: Most of the specimen was composed of highly cellular spindle cells that formed intersecting and streaming fascicles. The spindle cells showed both vimentin immunoreactivity and cytokeratin immunoreactivity but no immunoreactivity for thyroglobulin or calcitonin. Electron microscopic examination of the spindle cells demonstrated prominent cytoplasmic tonofilaments, desmosomes, and basal lamina consistent with epithelial cell origin. DNA content analysis by flow cytometry revealed DNA diploidy. CONCLUSIONS: SETTLE of thyroid gland is an extremely rare entity. A review of the literature reveals that SETTLE has distinctive morphologic features and an immunohistochemical profile.