Attitude toward humor in patients experiencing depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: This study measures the correlation between disposition to humor and level of depression to investigate openness to humorous interventions for the treatment of depression.Design, Participants, and Measurement: Individuals (n=200) with depression received questionnaires to assess their sense of humor and attitude toward humor using the Svebak's Humor Questionnaire and a disposition toward humor questionnaire. The correlation between Svebak's Humor Questionnaire scores and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report scores was then measured. RESULTS were further analyzed by race, age, and gender to assess any emerging trends within those groups. RESULTS: Svebak's Humor Questionnaire mean scores remained high across gender, race, and age. However, there was not a statistically significant correlation between the level of depression and sense of humor (r=-0.22). The only significant relationship noted was between disposition toward humor and depression was for subjects aged 70 and older (r=-0.83). CONCLUSION: Though with certain limitations, these data provide preliminary support for the possibility that an appreciation of humor would persist despite symptoms of major depressive disorder. Clinicians could consider humor as part of an intervention in the treatment of depressive symptoms. The determination of the type of humor and manner of integrating it into therapy would require further study.

Disorders of orgasm in women: a literature review of etiology and current treatments.

INTRODUCTION: Disorders of orgasm in women, defined as the persistent or recurrent delay in or absence of orgasm, affect up to a quarter of the female population. AIM: To review existing research findings on the etiology and treatments of disorders of orgasm in women to provide a useful reference tool for clinicians who evaluate and treat patients with these conditions. METHODS: PubMed and PsycINFO search for articles published between 1980 and 2009 using the keywords "orgasm*,""anorgasmia," and "female*,""woman," or "women," in addition to "female orgasmic disorder" and "disorders of orgasm in women." MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Findings on the etiological factors and effects of a variety of treatment interventions on improving disorders of orgasm in women. Results. Literature on prevalence and causes of disorders of orgasm in women is abundant, yet more reports of successful treatments are needed. Nevertheless, many promising approaches have been suggested, and data support several potential treatments such as bupropion, sildenafil, estrogen, and testosterone among others. CONCLUSIONS: Although more research is needed to better understand and manage disorders of orgasm in women, significant progress is being made.