Respostas psicobiológicas agudas do treinamento resistido com diferentes níveis de interação social / Respuestas psicobiológicas agudas del entrenamiento de fuerza con diferentes niveles de interacción social / Psychobiological acute responses of resistance training with different levels of social interaction

Objetivo. Comparar respostas psicobiológicas e perceptuais agudas em homens normotensos e hipertensos, após sessões de treinamento resistido com diferentes níveis de interação social: treinamento resistido manual e treinamento resistido com pesos livres. Método. Vinte e seis homens (14 normotensos, 40.29±8.63 anos, índice de massa corporal: 26.53±5.24kg/m2; 12 hipertensos, 46.00±9.13 anos, índice de massa corporal: 32.51±4.41kg/m2) foram submetidos a sessões únicas de treinamento resistido manual e treinamento resistido com pesos livres. Foram aferidos ansiedade e humor nos momentos pré e pós‐intervenção. Adicionalmente, foi aplicado um questionário para identificar pontos positivos e negativos das intervenções. Para análise dos resultados, utilizou‐se ANOVA two‐way e post‐hoc de Bonferroni. Adotou‐se nível de significância de 5%. Para ansiedade e humor, também foi utilizada análise do tamanho do efeito. A análise do questionário qualitativo considerou a frequência de pontos positivos e negativos relatados pelos voluntários. Resultados. Nenhuma intervenção foi eficiente em diminuir significativamente os valores iniciais de ansiedade; no entanto, o treinamento resistido manual apresentou maior magnitude de diminuição no tamanho do efeito. Nos fatores negativos do humor, o treinamento resistido manual também proporcionou maiores magnitudes para diminuição no tamanho do efeito. O treinamento resistido manual teve mais pontos positivos e menos pontos negativos mencionados pela amostra, em relação ao treinamento resistido com pesos livres. Conclusão. O nível de interação social parece influenciar positivamente as respostas psicobiológicas agudas do treinamento resistido, e o treinamento resistido manual parece ser uma alternativa viável para esse objetivo

Objetivo. Comparar las respuestas psicobiológicas y percepcionales agudas en hombres normotensos e hipertensos, después de sesiones de entrenamiento de fuerza con diferentes niveles de interacción . social: entrenamiento de fuerza manual y con pesos libres. Método. Veintiséis hombres (14 normotensos, 40.29±8.63 años, índice de masa corporal: 26.53±5.24kg/m2; 12 hipertensos, 46.00±9.13 años, índice de masa corporal: 32.51±4.41kg/m2) fueron sometidos a sesiones individuales de entrenamiento de fuerza manual y con pesos libres. Se midieron la ansiedad y el estado de ánimo antes y después de la intervención. Además, se aplicó un cuestionario para identificar los puntos positivos y negativos de las intervenciones. Para el análisis de los datos, se utilizó ANOVA de dos vías y el test de Bonferroni. Se adoptó un nivel de significación del 5%. Para ansiedad y el estado de ánimo también se utilizó el análisis del tamaño del efecto. El análisis del cuestionario cualitativo consideró la frecuencia de puntos positivos y negativos reportados por los voluntarios. Resultados. La intervención no fue eficaz en la disminución significativa de los valores iniciales de ansiedad, sin embargo, el entrenamiento de fuerza manual mostró una mayor magnitud de la disminución en el tamaño del efecto. En los factores negativos del estado de ánimo y, el entrenamiento de fuerza manual también proporcionó mayores magnitudes en la disminución del tamaño del efecto. El entrenamiento de fuerza manual tenía más puntos positivos y menos negativos mencionados por la muestra en relación con entrenamiento de fuerza con pesos libres. Conclusión. El nivel de interacción social parece influir positivamente en las respuestas psicobiológicas agudas al entrenamiento de fuerza y el entrenamiento de fuerza manual parece ser una alternativa viable para este propósito

Objective. To compare the acute psychobiological and perceptual responses in normotensive and hypertensive men after resistance training sessions with different levels of social interaction: manual resistance training and free weights resistance training. Method. 26 men (14 normotensive, 40.29±8.63 years, Body Mass Index: 26.53±5.24kg/m2; 12 hypertensive, 46.00±9.13 years, Body Mass Index: 32.51±4. 41kg/m2) underwent single sessions of manual resistance training and free weights resistance training. Anxiety and mood were measured in pre‐ and post‐intervention. In addition, a questionnaire was applied to identify positive and negative points of the interventions. For data analysis, we used two‐way ANOVA and post‐hoc Bonferroni. The significance level adopted was 5%. For anxiety and mood it was also used analysis of effect size. The analysis of the qualitative questionnaire considered the frequency of positive and negative points reported by the volunteers. Results. Both intervention was ineffective in significantly decreasing the initial values of anxiety; however the manual resistance training showed greater magnitude of decrease in effect size. In the negative factors of mood, the manual resistance training also provided greater magnitudes to decrease in effect size. The manual resistance training had more positive and less negative points mentioned by the sample relative to free weights resistance training. Conclusion. Social interaction level appears to positively influence the acute psychobiological responses of resistance training, and the manual resistance training appears to be a viable alternative for this purpose

Treating anxiety and depression of cancer survivors: Behavioral activation versus acceptance and commitment therapy / Tratamiento de ansiedad y depresión en supervivientes de cáncer: activación conductual versus terapia de aceptación

Background: Behavioral activation (BA) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) are considered particularly useful treatments when dealing with emotional problems of cancer survivors. The efficacy of these two treatments, applied on a group basis, were evaluated and compared. Method: An analysis was carried out of pre-post treatment changes in the emotional state and patterns of activation/avoidance of 52 cancer patients, with anxiety and/or depression, randomly assigned to three groups (BA/ACT/waiting list control). Results: Both therapies were superior to no treatment in all the variables evaluated. Significant differences were found between the two treatments in favor of ACT in social impairment and avoidance/rumination. Conclusions: BA and ACT, applied on a group basis, are efficacious in the treatment of those emotional difficulties most prevalent in cancer survivors. Results suggest that activation and avoidance are the mechanisms responsible for the changes (AU)

Antecedentes: la activación conductual (AC) y la terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT) se plantean como tratamientos especialmente útiles para los problemas emocionales de los supervivientes de cáncer. Se evaluó y comparó la eficacia de ambas terapias aplicadas en formato grupal. Método: se analizaron los cambios pre-post tratamiento en el estado emocional y los patrones de activación/evitación de 52 supervivientes de cáncer con ansiedad y/o depresión que se asignaron aleatoriamente a tres grupos (AC/ACT/control de lista de espera). Resultados: ambas terapias fueron superiores al no tratamiento en todas las variables evaluadas. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre tratamientos a favor de la ACT en deterioro social y evitación/rumia. Conclusiones: la AC y la ACT, en formato grupal, son eficaces para el tratamiento de las dificultades emocionales más prevalentes en supervivientes de cáncer. Los resultados apuntan a la activación y la evitación como mecanismos responsables de los cambios (AU)

Moduladores psicológicos relacionados con el progreso de la capacidad funcional en pacientes afectados por accidente cerebrovascular / Psychological modulators related to the progress of functional capacity in patients affected by stroke

Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la relación existente entre las variables emocionales, el bienestar subjetivo, la resiliencia y el optimismo con el progreso de la capacidad funcional en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular Material y métodos: Se diseñó un estudio transeccional descriptivo. Se evaluó un total de 20 pacientes. Se caracterizaron las variables psicológicas y su relación con el progreso de la capacidad funcional por medio de la tasa real de ganancia funcional (TRGF). Resultados: Las emociones experimentadas con mayor frecuencia fueron ansiedad y miedo, mostrándose valores bajos de bienestar subjetivo (relacionados con la dimensión autoimagen saludable). El empleo de la TRGF reveló la existencia de 2 subgrupos dentro de la muestra de pacientes. La capacidad funcional mostró relación con variables psicológicas. En el primer subgrupo (con puntuaciones de TRGF por debajo de 0,8) mostró que la recuperación de la capacidad funcional se relacionó con los aspectos hedónicos del bienestar subjetivo, mientras que en los pacientes con un valor superior a 0,8 en la TRGF el progreso guardó relación directa con la ira-disgusto-rechazo y de forma inversa con la resiliencia. Conclusiones: El análisis de la TRGF mostró la no existencia de homogeneidad en la muestra de estudio, dentro de la cual se encontraron 2 subgrupos. La relación entre la capacidad funcional y las variables psicológicas se tipifica para cada uno de estos subgrupos

Objective: To determine the relationship between emotional variables, subjective well-being, resilience, and optimism with the progress of physiotherapy in patients with stroke. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed that included the evaluation of 20 patients with more than 10 weeks of physical rehabilitation. The study included an analysis of the psychological variables and their relationship with the progress of physiotherapy using the Real Rate of Functional Gain (RRFG). Results: The most frequently experienced emotions were Anxiety and Fear, showing low values of Subjective Well-Being (related to the Healthy Self-image dimension). The use of the Real Rate of Functional Gain (TRGF) revealed the existence of two subgroups within the sample of patients. Functional capacity was related to psychological variables. In the first subgroup (with TRGF scores below 0.8), it was shown that functional capacity recovery was related to the hedonic Aspects of Subjective Well-Being, while in patients with a value greater than 0.8 in TRGF, progress was directly related to anger-dislike-rejection, and inverse related to Resilience. Conclusions: The analysis of TRGF showed no homogeneity in the study sample, within which two subgroups were found. The relationship between functional capacity and psychological variables is typified for each of these subgroups

Investigating self-efficacy, anxiety, attitudes and mathematics achievement regarding gender and school type / Investigando la autoeficacia, la ansiedad, las actitudes y los logros de las matemáticas con respecto al género y el tipo de escuela

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among seventh grade students' mathematics self-efficacy, mathematics anxiety, attitudes towards mathematics, mathematics achievement, gender and school type. In order to examine the difference in self-efficacy, anxiety, attitude and achievement in terms of gender and school type, two-way ANOVAs were performed. In addition, multiple regression analysis was run to investigate the role of mathematics self-efficacy, anxiety, attitude, gender and school type in predicting mathematics achievement of seventh grade students. Results revealed that there was a significant main effect of gender on mean mathematics self-efficacy scores, attitude scores, anxiety scores and mathematics achievement. However, school type did not have significant main effect on mean self-efficacy scores, anxiety scores, and achievement scores but have significant effect on attitude scores. Findings also supported that self-efficacy, anxiety, attitude, gender and school type significantly predicted the achievement scores of seventh grade students (AU)

El propósito de este estudio fue investigar la relación entre la autoeficacia en matemáticas, la ansiedad en matemáticas, la actitud con respecto a matemáticas, el rendimiento en matemáticas de los estudiantes del séptimo grado y el género y el tipo de escuela. Con el fin de examinar la diferencia en la autoeficacia, la ansiedad la actitud y el rendimiento en cuanto al género y al tipo de escuela se realizó análisis de la varianza (ANOVA) de dos vías. Además, se ejecutó un análisis de regresión múltiple para investigar el papel de autoeficacia, ansiedad, actitud y género y tipo de escuela en la predicción del rendimiento en matemáticas de los estudiantes del séptimo grado. Los resultados revelaron que el género tiene un efecto principal significativo sobre las puntuaciones de autoeficacia, las puntuaciones de actitud, las puntuaciones de ansiedad y el rendimiento en matemáticas. Sin embargo, el tipo de escuela no tiene un efecto principal significativo sobre las puntuaciones de autoeficacia, las puntuaciones de ansiedad y las puntuaciones del rendimiento pero tiene un efecto significativo sobre las puntuaciones de actitud. Los resultados también confirman que el modelo proporcionado consta de la autoeficacia, la ansiedad, la actitud, el género y el tipo de escuela, predijo significativamente las puntuaciones de rendimiento (AU)

Intergroup trust and anxiety: The two sides of stigma towards people with Down syndrome / Confianza y ansiedad intergrupal: los dos lados del estigma hacia las personas con síndrome de Down

People with Down syndrome experience a type of ambivalent stigmatisation, which combines stereotypes, emotional reactions, and both positive and negative attitudes. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between ambivalent attitudes towards people with Down syndrome, and the levels of intergroup trust and anxiety felt towards them. A total of 144 university students completed a questionnaire on their social perception of people with Down syndrome, indicating the extent to which they anticipate an interaction with this group based on trust or anxiety. The results show that responses to people with Down syndrome are ambivalent. Moreover, while intergroup trust is associated with high levels of admiration and competence, intergroup anxiety is associated with high levels of aversion, compassion and low admiration. We discuss the implications of these results, taking into account how to enhance the social perception of people with Down syndrome, as well as the complex role of compassion in the assessment of stigmatised groups (AU)

Las personas con síndrome de Down sufren un tipo de estigmatización ambivalente, que combina estereotipos, reacciones emocionales y actitudes positivas y negativas. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la relación que existe entre las actitudes ambivalentes hacia las personas con síndrome de Down, y los niveles de confianza y ansiedad intergrupal que se mantienen hacia ellas. Un total de 144 estudiantes universitarios respondieron a un cuestionario sobre la percepción social que mantienen hacia este colectivo, e indicaron en qué medida anticipan una interacción con personas con síndrome de Down basada en la confianza o en ansiedad intergrupal. Los resultados indican que se producen respuestas ambivalentes hacia las personas con síndrome de Down. Además, mientras que la confianza intergrupal está relacionada con altos niveles de admiración y competencia, la ansiedad intergrupal está relacionada con niveles altos de aversión, compasión y baja admiración. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados alcanzados de cara a mejorar la percepción social de las personas con síndrome de Down, así como el complejo papel que juega la compasión en la valoración de grupos estigmatizados (AU)

Predictores de la ansiedad y la inteligencia emocional en la adolescencia / No disponible

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo fundamental analizar los predictores de ansiedad e inteligencia emocional, considerando la edad, género, cultura y estrato socioeconómico, así como contemplar las relaciones que se pudieran dar entre ambas variables, para una población adolescente multicultural. Para ello, se ha contado con 811 participantes, de seis centros en los que se imparte formación perteneciente a la Etapa Secundaria. Considerando la cultura, el grupo mayoritario es el de participantes pertenecientes a la cultura-religión musulmana. Estos constituyen el 71’6% de la muestra, mientras que el 28’4% de la misma pertenecía a la cultura-religión cristiana, siendo el 46’1% varones y el resto de la muestra (53’9%) mujeres. Como instrumentos de evaluación se han empleado el Inventario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo para Niños (STAIC, Spielberger, 2001) y un cuestionario elaborado para evaluar la inteligencia emocional como conjunto de habilidades. Los resultados reflejan que los predictores de la ansiedad son la edad y el género. Para la inteligencia emocional aparecen tres predictores, edad, cultura y género. No se ha halló relación directa entre ansiedad e inteligencia emocional, dado que ninguna actúa como predictora de la otra. La única excepción son los factores preocupaciones y dificultades y miedo, pertenecientes a la ansiedad, que actúan como predictores tanto de la inteligencia emocional como de todos sus factores

This work has as main objective to analyze the predictors of Anxiety and Emotional Intelligence, according to age, gender, culture and socioeconomic and cultural, as well as the relationships that could be given between both variables, for a multicultural adolescent sample. To make it possible we focused on 811 participants from six educational centers; 71.6% of the total was Muslims and 28.4% belonged to the Christian religion, 46.1% were male and 53.9% female. The techniques used in this survey were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC, Spielberger, 2001) as well as an Emotional Intelligence questionnaire, built for its use. The results reflect that the predictors of Anxiety are Age and Gender. For Emotional Intelligence, there are three predictors, such as Age, Culture and Gender. No relationship was found between Anxiety and Emotional Intelligence, since none acts as a predictor of the other. The only exceptions are two Anxiety factors: Problems and difficulties and Fear, which act as predictors of both EI and all its factors

Saberes, sabores y sinsabores de la intimidad / The wisdom, flavors and tribulation of intimacy

En este artículo se intenta precisar y delimitar el concepto de intimidad desde distintas perspectivas teóricas. Se parte de la idea de que, en la construcción de la capacidad para la intimidad, el cuerpo y las primeras experiencias son centrales. Se desarrolla la fantasía de piel común como estructurante de dichos momentos. El fracaso de dichos encuentros lleva a los autores a plantear las problemáticas clínicas derivadas y a jerarquizar la dificultad en la entrega que sobreviene. Desarrollan estos conceptos a partir de la obra de diferentes psicoanalistas -Ghent, Benjamin, Ehrenberg, etc.- para adentrarse, finalmente, en algunas de las consecuencias que tiene tomar en cuenta estos conceptos a la hora de pensar en la situación clínica. Desde esta perspectiva siguen a Darlenne Ehrenberg cuando, partiendo del concepto de borde íntimo, afirma que la comunicación se debe dar en lo que llama el borde íntimo, una zona de relación creada activamente por ambos participantes, donde el vínculo que se gesta altera a ambos y, a su vez, afecta al vínculo mismo (AU)

This article sets out to pinpoint and define the concept of intimacy from various theoretical perspectives. It draws upon the idea that the body and early experiences are central to the construction of the capacity for intimacy, elaborating upon the fantasy of a common skin as a structuring element of these moments. The failure of such encounters leads the authors to set out the resultant clinical problematics, giving prominence to the difficulties of surrender which ensue. They develop these concepts, taking the work of different psychoanalysts - Ghent, Benjamin, Ehrenberg, etc. - as a starting point to ultimately explore some of the consequences which these concepts must take account of when it comes to thinking in the clinical situation. From this perspective they follow Darlene Ehrenberg when, expanding upon her concept of the "intimate edge", she states that communication should occur at what she calls the "intimate edge", an area of relating actively created by both participants, where the link that is created alters both and, in turn, affects the link itself (AU)

Efeitos da prática do Reiki sobre aspectos psicofisiológicos e de qualidade de vida de idosos com sintomas de estresse: estudo placebo e randomizado / Effects of Reiki practice on psychophysiological and quality of life aspects of elderly patients with stress symptoms: a randomized placebo study

O estresse constitui-se como um desvio da homeostase, podendo contribuir para o desenvolvimento de uma série de sintomas que podem representar um prejuízo à saúde do idoso. Esta crescente parcela da população mundial tem procurado práticas integrativas e complementares como o Reiki, técnica de imposição de mãos, para o controle de doenças crônicas e melhora do bem estar. Com o objetivo de avaliar se a terapêutica Reiki poderia produzir alterações psicofisiológicas e de qualidade de vida em idosos com sintomas de estresse este estudo, que durou oito semanas, mensurou em um grupo de voluntários que receberam Reiki e um grupo que recebeu um tratamento Placebo, respostas psicológicas como níveis de estresse, ansiedade, depressão, percepções de tensão e bem estar, qualidade de vida, além de respostas fisiológicas como temperatura periférica, tensão muscular e condutância elétrica da pele. O conjunto dos resultados obtidos sugere que a terapêutica Reiki produz alterações psicofisiológicas e de qualidade de vida em idosos compatíveis com uma redução significativa de estresse.(AU)

Stress constitutes a deviation from homeostasis, and may contribute to the development of a number of symptoms that may represent a loss to the health of the elderly. This growing share of the world population has sought complementary and integrative practices such as Reiki, a technique of laying on hands for the control of chronic diseases and improving wellbeing. In order to evaluate whether Reiki therapy may produce psychophysiological changes in elderly patients with symptoms of stress this study - which lasted eight weeks - measured in a group of volunteers who received Reiki and a group that received a placebo treatment, psychological responses like levels of stress, anxiety, depression, perceptions of stress and well-being, quality of life, in addition to physiological responses such as peripheral temperature, muscle tension and skin electrical conductance. The overall results suggest that Reiki therapy produces psychophysiological and quality of life changes in the elderly compatible with a significant reduction of stress.

Lo stress è come una deviazione della omeostasi, e può contribuire allo sviluppo di una serie di sintomi che possono rappresentare una perdita per la salute degli anziani. Questa quota crescente della popolazione mondiale ha cercato pratiche complementari e integrative, come il Reiki, una tecnica di impostazione delle mani per il controllo delle malattie croniche e per migliorare il benessere. Al fine di valutare se la terapia Reiki potrebbe produrre cambiamenti psicofisiologici nei pazienti anziani con sintomi di stress questo studio, durato otto settimane, rilevato a partire dalle analisi in un gruppo di volontari che sono stati sottoposti al Reiki e un gruppo che ha ricevuto un trattamento con placebo, le reazioni psicologiche, come i livelli dello stress, l'ansia, la depressione, la percezione di tensione, il benessere e la qualità della vita, e le risposte fisiologiche quali la temperatura periferica, la tensione muscolare e la conduttanza elettrica della pelle. I risultati complessivi indicano che la terapia Reiki produce cambiamenti psicofisiologici ed anche della qualità della vita negli anziani compatibili con una significativa riduzione dello stress

The effect of (induced) maternal emotions on fetal behaviour: a controlled study.

In ten healthy near-term pregnant women the effect of induced maternal emotions on fetal motor behaviour was studied. Emotions were induced by showing a film of a normal delivery. Fetal behaviour was recorded by means of real-time ultrasound observations of general movements and eye movements and by fetal heart rate monitoring. The observations had a duration of 2 h. The data were compared with those obtained during a 2-h control period, which took place the day before (n = 5) or after the study period (n = 5). Maternal emotions (induced) were measured by means of psychological tests. No effects on fetal motor activity or on behavioural state organization could be found as a result of this film. There was, however, a significant positive correlation (P less than 0.01) between the mean level of anxiety of the women and the motor activity of the fetuses.

Behavior of mother rats in conflict tests sensitive to antianxiety agents.

Previous studies of freezing and open-field activity have demonstrated that lactating rats are less fearful or less anxious than nonpregnant ones. The purpose of this investigation was to observe the behavior of mother rats in conflict tests, which are frequently used in studies on the neurobiology of anxiety. In the punished drinking test, in which licking from a water spout is punished by electric shocks, mothers (observed on Day 1 postpartum following 24 hr of water deprivation) were found to drink more than virgins. Mothers (Day 1 postpartum) also consumed more food than controls in an unfamiliar open field. In contrast, no difference between mothers (Day 5 postpartum) and virgins was present in the exploration of an electrified shock probe. The largest maternal anticonflict effects in the drinking and feeding tests were recorded when the females were tested with their pups. Increased punished drinking was also observed in virgin rats treated with the anxiolytic benzodiazepine midazolam. Water-deprived virgins and mothers did not differ in the shock titration test, a result suggesting that diminished pain reactivity was unlikely to account for the increased punished drinking in mothers. Moreover, females in late pregnancy, which are hypoalgesic (Gintzler, 1980), did not lick more than virgins in the punished drinking test. Following 24 hr of water deprivation, unpunished drinking was higher in lactating females than in virgins, so the increased acceptance of punishment by mothers might have been due to their being more thirsty than virgins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neuroanatomical correlates of anticipatory anxiety.

Positron emission tomographic measurements of regional blood flow, a marker of local neuronal activity, were used to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of a normal emotion. Healthy volunteers were studied before, during, and after anticipation of a painful electric shock. During anticipatory anxiety, there were significant blood flow increases in bilateral temporal poles, the same regions recently implicated in a lactate-induced anxiety attack in patients with panic disorder. Thus, the temporal poles seem to be involved in normal and pathological forms of human anxiety.

Frequency as a moderating variable in self-report measures of negative cognition.

Based on responses to the Distressing Thoughts Questionnaire, subjects' most frequent depressive and anxious cognitions were selected and compared with representative low frequency thought statements. The high frequency cognitions were more emotionally intense, uncontrollable and unacceptable than the low frequency thoughts. Although high frequency anxious items were rated as more frequent than high frequency depressive statements, no differences were evident in emotional intensity and controllability. Furthermore thoughts of loss and failure were specifically predictive of dysphoria only when high frequency cognitive items were utilized. The implications of these findings for cognitive assessment issues were discussed.

A framework for management of chronic pain.

The management of chronic pain requires a physician who is motivated to provide care for patients with this difficult problem. A thorough search must be made to determine the cause of the pain, the extent of psychiatric overlay, the importance of the pain to the patient (litigation, secondary gain), the extent of illness behavior and the response to previous therapy. The physician must be part of the treatment rather than part of the problem. Narcotic analgesics should be avoided except in patients with cancer pain or terminal illness.

Animal models of chronic anxiety and "fearlessness".

Three behavioral animal models have been described: a feline and a rodent model of chronic anxiety, and a rodent model of "fearless" behavior. The models have been obtained by pre- or perinatal exposure to diazepam (DZ) or RO 15-1788 which produced enduring postnatal deficits or enrichment, respectively, of brain benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptors. The receptor-deficient one-year-old cat progenies showed hyperarousal, unabated restless behavior, delayed acquisition of instrumentally conditioned behavior, bizarre escape responses and absence or reduced alpha-like EEG activity. The receptor-deficient rat progencies, studied at the age of 5-6 months, showed a reduction of time spent in deep slow wave sleep, and inability to habituate to novel environment, such as the radial arm maze. In the maze, the behavior of these progenies was characterized by delayed and incomplete exploratory activity often terminated by sudden escape, numerous fecal deposits and significantly more frequent than normal errors of "working memory." On the other hand, in all aspects, the receptor-enriched progenies were superior to the control animals as well as to the receptor-deficient group, particularly when the animals were challenged by novel and "intimidating" visual and/or auditory stimuli. In addition, 12 out of 51 receptor-deficient rats reared for 18 months developed mammary fibroadenomas, while no such tumors were found in the group of 44 vehicle-exposed control animals. Increased density and affinity of BDZ brain receptors was also observed after adult rats were treated with RO 15-1788 administered water for 7 or 14 days.

Reproducibility of cerebral glucose metabolic measurements in resting human subjects.

Positron emission tomography with 11C-2-deoxyglucose was used to determine the test-retest variability of regional cerebral glucose metabolism in 22 young normal right-handed men scanned twice in a 24-h period under baseline (resting) conditions. To assess the effects of scan order and time of day on variability, 12 subjects were scanned in the morning and afternoon of the same day (a.m.-p.m.) and 10 in the reverse order (p.m.-a.m.) with a night in between. The effect of anxiety on metabolism was also assessed. Seventy-three percent of the total subject group showed changes in whole brain metabolism from the first to the second measurement of 10% or less, with comparable changes in various cortical and subcortical regions. When a scaling factor was used to equate the whole brain metabolism in the two scans for each individual, the resulting average regional changes for each group were no more than 1%. This suggests that the proportion of the whole brain metabolism utilized regionally is stable in a group of subjects over time. Both groups of subjects had lower morning than afternoon metabolism, but the differences were slight in the p.m.-a.m. group. One measure of anxiety (pulse at run 1) was correlated with run 1 metabolism and with the percentage of change from run 1 to run 2. No significant run 2 correlations were observed. This is the first study to measure test-retest variability in cerebral glucose metabolism in a large sample of young normal subjects. It demonstrates that the deoxyglucose method yields low intrasubject variability and high stability over a 24-h period.

5HT2 receptors, depression and anxiety.

The distinction between non-psychotic repressive illness and anxiety states is blurred. Large scale trials in the neuroses indicate that benzodiazepines are ineffective in depression, and transiently and partially effective in anxiety. In contrast, tricyclic antidepressants are effective in both. All effective antidepressants decrease 5HT2 receptors number and this may mediate antidepressant efficacy. Our studies indicate that reduction of 5HT2 relative to 5HT1 neurotransmission would reverse the neuroendocrine abnormalities we have described in depression. Reduced 5HT2 neurotransmission may also be a mechanism of anxiolytic action in view of 5HT theories of punishment. There is clinical evidence for anxiolytic and antidepressant action of selective 5HT2 antagonists.

Does anxiety reduce the secretion rate of secretory IgA in saliva?

The effects of anxiety, depression and psychological stress on the secretion rate of salivary immunoglobulin (Ig)A were examined in a cross-sectional study of 114 registered nurses. A single, timed (five minutes) sample of whole unstimulated saliva was collected from each nurse; at the time of collection, psychosocial data for each nurse were collected by questionnaire. Nurses who reported more frequent episodes of anxiety had significantly lower mean secretion rates of salivary IgA than did nurses who reported only occasional episodes of anxiety. The concentration of secretory IgA in saliva decreased as the salivary volume increased. It was not possible to demonstrate whether anxiety influenced IgA secretion in saliva independently of its effects on salivary flow.