Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Study of Self-administered Jacobson Relaxation in Chronic, Nonspecific, Low-back Pain.

CONTEXT: Opioids decrease pain and improve functional capacity and quality of life; however, they are not always effective and are associated with harmful side effects. Few studies have shown that relaxation-based therapies, in comparison with usual care, can decrease pain. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate whether a controlled relaxation treatment, Jacobson progressive muscular relaxation (PMR), was effective in relieving chronic low-back pain (CLBP) and reducing pain comorbidities. The research team hypothesized that PMR-controlled relaxation could be more effective in reducing CLBP than music. DESIGN: The research team designed a randomized, controlled, crossover study. SETTING: The study took place in the pain unit, a clinic, in the Department of Health at Alicante-General Hospital (Alicante, Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Participants in this study were 58 adults with nononcological CLBP, secondary to lumbar canal stenosis, who had been treated with opioids without any changes in the 3 mo prior to the study. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups, each of which received 2 treatments, but in a different order (ie, either AB or BA where A was the standardized PMR, the intervention, and B was relaxing music, the control. For both groups, the 2 treatment periods were 8 wk in length, with a 1-mo washout period between them. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures included (1) a visual analogue scale-pain and relief intensity; (2) the 12-item short form health survey-quality of life; (3) the hospital anxiety and depression scale-anxiety and depression; and (4) the medical outcomes study sleep scale-sleep disturbances. Secondary outcome measures included a self-efficacy scale and a measure of satisfaction with treatment and compliance. RESULTS: Pain was mostly mild to moderate. Greater decreases in pain between baseline and postintervention were observed for the PMR vs the control treatment in the mild pain category, with a VAS difference of 1.8 cm and P = .018. Significant differences were also found in anxiety, depression, quality of life, and sleep between participants in the 3 pain categories. Self-rated adherence was high. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the efficacy and acceptability of a self-guided PMR intervention for reducing CLBP with minimal time with a therapist.

Individual differences in personality profiles among potential living kidney transplant donors / Diferencias individuales en perfiles de personalidad de donantes vivos potenciales para trasplante renal

Background: Although the psychological assessment of potential living kidney donors (PLKD) is part of the recommendations for action for any transplant coordination, there are not many studies that provide data about the importance of selecting donors for improving transplant outcomes. This work aims to raise awareness of potential kidney donors by designing methods for early detection of potential problems after the transplant, as well as by selecting the most suitable donors. Methods: This is a study of 25 PLKD drawn from the General University Hospital of Alicante. Participants completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) for the study of personality characteristics. Results: Women scored higher than men in the compulsive personality scale, and individuals with a genetic link with the recipient scored higher on depressive and dependent scales than did those with other relationships (emotional or altruistic). Conclusions: Women showed a pattern of significantly more compulsive personality traits (cautious, controlled, perfectionist) within a non-pathological style. Among the PLKD, there were significantly more women, which is contrary to what typically happens with donations from cadavers. Genetically related subjects scored higher on depression than did those that were emotionally related. The personality assessment of candidates for PLKD can help with developing a post-transplant follow-up regimen for an improved quality of life.

Antecedentes: Aunque la evaluación psicológica de los donantes potenciales vivos de riñón (DPVR) forma parte de las recomendaciones de actuación de cualquier coordinación de trasplantes, sin embargo, no existen muchos trabajos que aporten datos sobre su importancia a la hora de seleccionar donantes o de mejorar los resultados del trasplante. Objetivos: Este trabajo tiene como objetivo el aumentar el conocimiento sobre los donantes potenciales de riñón a través del diseño de métodos para detectar precozmente posibles problemas después del trasplante, así como seleccionar a los donantes más idóneos. Métodos: Se presenta un estudio de 25 DPVR del Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. Los participantes completaron el Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon (MCMI-III) para el estudio de sus características de personalidad. Resultados: las mujeres puntuaron más alto que los varones en la escala de personalidad compulsiva, y los individuos con un vínculo genético con el receptor puntuaron más alto en personalidad depresiva y dependiente que aquellos con otro tipo de relación (emocional o altruista). Conclusiones: Las mujeres presentaron un patrón de personalidad significativamente más compulsivo (prudente, controlado, perfeccionista), dentro de un estilo no patológico. Entre los DPVR, hay un número significativamente mayor de mujeres, contrariamente a lo que sucede en la donación procedente de cadáver. Los sujetos emparentados genéticamente puntúan más alto en depresión que los emparentados emocionalmente. La evaluación de la personalidad de los candidatos a DPVR, puede ayudar a programar un seguimiento postrasplante que mejoren su calidad de vida.

Individual differences in personality profiles among potential living kidney transplant donors.

BACKGROUND: Although the psychological assessment of potential living kidney donors (PLKD) is part of the recommendations for action for any transplant coordination, there are not many studies that provide data about the importance of selecting donors for improving transplant outcomes. This work aims to raise awareness of potential kidney donors by designing methods for early detection of potential problems after the transplant, as well as by selecting the most suitable donors. METHODS: This is a study of 25 PLKD drawn from the General University Hospital of Alicante. Participants completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) for the study of personality characteristics. RESULTS: Women scored higher than men in the compulsive personality scale, and individuals with a genetic link with the recipient scored higher on depressive and dependent scales than did those with other relationships (emotional or altruistic). CONCLUSIONS: Women showed a pattern of significantly more compulsive personality traits (cautious, controlled, perfectionist) within a non-pathological style. Among the PLKD, there were significantly more women, which is contrary to what typically happens with donations from cadavers. Genetically related subjects scored higher on depression than did those that were emotionally related. The personality assessment of candidates for PLKD can help with developing a post-transplant follow-up regimen for an improved quality of life.

ANTECEDENTES: Aunque la evaluación psicológica de los donantes potenciales vivos de riñón (DPVR) forma parte de las recomendaciones de actuación de cualquier coordinación de trasplantes, sin embargo, no existen muchos trabajos que aporten datos sobre su importancia a la hora de seleccionar donantes o de mejorar los resultados del trasplante. OBJETIVOS: Este trabajo tiene como objetivo el aumentar el conocimiento sobre los donantes potenciales de riñón a través del diseño de métodos para detectar precozmente posibles problemas después del trasplante, así como seleccionar a los donantes más idóneos. MÉTODOS: Se presenta un estudio de 25 DPVR del Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. Los participantes completaron el Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon (MCMI-III) para el estudio de sus características de personalidad. RESULTADOS: las mujeres puntuaron más alto que los varones en la escala de personalidad compulsiva, y los individuos con un vínculo genético con el receptor puntuaron más alto en personalidad depresiva y dependiente que aquellos con otro tipo de relación (emocional o altruista). CONCLUSIONES: Las mujeres presentaron un patrón de personalidad significativamente más compulsivo (prudente, controlado, perfeccionista), dentro de un estilo no patológico. Entre los DPVR, hay un número significativamente mayor de mujeres, contrariamente a lo que sucede en la donación procedente de cadáver. Los sujetos emparentados genéticamente puntúan más alto en depresión que los emparentados emocionalmente. La evaluación de la personalidad de los candidatos a DPVR, puede ayudar a programar un seguimiento postrasplante que mejoren su calidad de vida.

Alexitimia y reconocimiento de emociones inducidas experimentalmente en personas con somatizaciones / Alexithymia and experimentally induced emotion recognition in people with somatizations

Este estudio forma parte de una investigación dirigida a valorar el proceso cognitivo-emocional de reconocimiento emocional en pacientes somatizadores. El objetivo específico ha sido verificar si se producían diferencias en la autoevaluación de la reacción emocional entre pacientes que presentan somatización y controles no-clínicos. Para obtener la autoevaluación de la reacción emocional en las dimensiones afectivas de valencia y activación, en participantes clínicos y controles, se recurrió a un procedimiento que minimiza el empleo de habilidades y comprensión verbal. Participaron 119 sujetos, 47 pacientes y 72 sujetos no-clínicos. La prevalencia de alexitimia en el grupo clínico fue del 42,55%, mientras que en los controles no-clínicos fue del 30,55%. Los resultados mostraron la existencia de un déficit en la autoevaluación de la activación del grupo clínico en respuesta a las imágenes correspondientes con los niveles altos de la dimensión afectiva de activación y en las imágenes de valencia alta, de forma asociada a la condición clínica y no a la alexitimia. La alexitimia presenta un efecto modulador en la evaluación de los sujetos clínicos y controles a la valencia de las imágenes desagradables o de baja valencia (AU)

This study is part of an investigation aimed at assessing the cognitive-emotional process of emotional recognition in somatizing patients. The specific objective was to verify whether there were differences in the selfassessment of emotional reaction among patients with somatization and non-clinical controls. To obtain the self-assessment of their emotional reaction in the affective dimensions of valence and activation in clinical and control participants, we resorted to a procedure that minimizes the use of verbal skills and comprehension. Participants were 119 people, 47 patients and 72 non-clinical participants. The prevalence of alexithymia in the clinical group was 42.55%, whereas in non-clinical controls, it was 30.55%. Results showed the existence of a deficit in the clinical group’s self-assessment of activation in response to the corresponding images with high levels of the affective dimension of activation and high valence images, associated with the clinical condition but not with alexithymia. Alexithymia has a modulatory effect on the clinical participants’ and controls’ evaluation of the valence of the unpleasant images or of low valence pictures (AU)

[Alexithymia and experimentally induced emotion recognition in people with somatizations]. / Alexitimia y reconocimiento de emociones inducidas experimentalmente en personas con somatizaciones.

This study is part of an investigation aimed at assessing the cognitive-emotional process of emotional recognition in somatizing patients. The specific objective was to verify whether there were differences in the self-assessment of emotional reaction among patients with somatization and non-clinical controls. To obtain the self-assessment of their emotional reaction in the affective dimensions of valence and activation in clinical and control participants, we resorted to a procedure that minimizes the use of verbal skills and comprehension. Participants were 119 people, 47 patients and 72 non-clinical participants. The prevalence of alexithymia in the clinical group was 42.55%, whereas in non-clinical controls, it was 30.55%. Results showed the existence of a deficit in the clinical group's self-assessment of activation in response to the corresponding images with high levels of the affective dimension of activation and high valence images, associated with the clinical condition but not with alexithymia. Alexithymia has a modulatory effect on the clinical participants' and controls' evaluation of the valence of the unpleasant images or of low valence pictures.