Sabino, A. D. V., Chagas, M. H. N., Osorio, F. L.

Effects of psychotropic drugs used in the treatment of anxiety disorders on the recognition of facial expressions of emotion: Critical analysis of literature

Deficits in recognition of facial expressions of emotion (RFEE) play a central role in the manifestation of anxiety disorders (AD). We systematically reviewed the literature to determine effects of drugs used in AD treatment on RFEE, based on outcomes of accuracy rate, reaction time, and intensity. Electronic databases, including Pubmed, PsycINFO, and Scielo, were used without time constraints. Twenty-six clinical/experimental studies on healthy subjects, focusing on 11 drugs, published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, were selected. We found that increased recognition of happiness was associated with acute use of citalopram, fluoxetine, duloxetine, and reboxetine. Increased and decreased recognition of negative emotions were associated with the use of selective serotonin and/or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, respectively. Benzodiazepine favored recognition of negative emotions. Differences in reaction time were rarely observed. Stimuli with distinct emotion intensities produced similar effects. Specific changes occurred in RFEE depending on the drug, its administration route and dose, and emotion valence. Evidences indicate significant effects on emotional processing relevant to clinical practice, particularly in treating patients with emotional disorders.

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 71 : 802- 809

Arendt, K., Thastum, M., Hougaard, E.

Efficacy of a Danish version of the Cool Kids program: A randomized wait-list controlled trial

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a Danish version of the Cool Kids program, a generic manualized group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) program for anxiety disorders among children and adolescents. Method: Children and adolescents (age 7-16) with a primary anxiety disorder diagnosis (n=109) were randomly allocated to group CBT ora wait-list (WL) control condition at a Danish university clinic. Results: Results showed that the Danish version of the Cool Kids program was efficacious with 48.2% free of all anxiety diagnoses at post-treatment, compared with 5.7% in the WL condition, and large effect sizes on self-report measures of child anxiety symptoms rated by child, mother, and father (etap2 range=0.18-0.24). Children and adolescents improved further from post-treatment to 3-month follow-up, and this improvement was maintained at 12-month follow-up. Participants with a primary diagnosis of social phobia (SoP) showed less improvement compared with other anxiety diagnoses. Conclusion: The study contributes to the evidence base for the Cool Kids program, previously only evaluated by its developers in Australia. Generic group CBT programs may not be the most appropriate treatment for children and adolescents with primary SoP. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 133(2) : 109-121

Aras, D., Ewert, A. W.

The effects of eight weeks sport rock climbing training on anxiety

Regular physical activity can be an efficient method for prevention for anxiety. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of 8 weeks of sport rock climbing (SRC) training on anxiety in healthy sedentary adults. A total number of nineteen students participated in this study voluntarily composing of a control group (CG, n=10, age 21.90 +/- 1.66 years, height 168.50 +/- 4.40 cm, weight 61.18 +/- 7.08 kg) and an experimental group (EG, n=9, age 21.11 +/- 2.31 years, height 167.33 +/- 6.44 cm, weight 59.31 +/- 8.39 kg). After the EG had been taught basic climbing and rope techniques, body composition and aerobic power measurements were taken for both groups. The EG engaged in climbing training by using a top-rope method for 60 minutes a day with an intensity level of 70 % of HR reserve, three days a week for eight weeks. The CG did not engage in any systematic physical activity program during the study. The Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) was given to participants twice. The EG completed the Inventory 20 minutes before the first and the last climbing trial. The CG completed the Inventories on first and last day of 8 weeks period. The results indicated significant changes in all CSAI-2 results for EG, including cognitive (p_=_0.002) and somatic anxiety (p_=_0.032) reduced, self-confidence (p_=_0.001) increased. This current study is one of the first research efforts examining the psychological effects of eight weeks SRC training. Results demonstrated that eight weeks of SRC training significantly reduces cognitive and somatic anxiety and increases self-confidence. In addition to the psychological effects, eight weeks of SRC training also improved the VO2max of participants. This study suggests that SRC can be useful as a regular physical activity in controlling and improving anxiety in the study sample.

Acta Medica Mediterranea, 32(1) : 223-230

Bekhradi, R., Vakilian, K.

The effect of lavender aromatherapy on test anxiety in female students

Background: Test anxiety is a common problem among Iranian students. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of aromatherapy with lavender on test anxiety. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed from June 2012 to July in Arak 186 female students, who were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. After obtaining written informed consents from the participants, they were asked to complete the Test Anxiety Scale once at baseline and once following the intervention. The students in the intervention group received aromatherapy for seven nights. For this purpose, five to six drops of lavender were poured on a cotton ball and held at a 5 cm distance from the nose for 5 min. On the other hand, no intervention was applied for the control group. For statistical analysis, t-test and Chi-square test were performed. Results: The findings showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of mild [30 (49.2%)and 25 (58.1%), respectively], moderate[18 (29.5%) and15 (35.7%), respectively], or severe [2 (3.3%) and 1 (2.4%), respectively] anxiety (P=0.232). However, the number of anxiety-free students was higher in the intervention group (n=11), compared to the controls (n=2)(P=0.03). Conclusion: The obtained findings showed that aromatherapy with lavender could increase the number of anxiety-free students. However, no significant difference was found in the severity of test anxiety between the two groups. Copyright © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers.

Current Women's Health Reviews, 12(2) : 137- 140

Blake, M., Waloszek, J. M., Schwartz, O., Raniti, M., Simmons, J. G., Blake, L., Murray, G., Dahl, R. E., Bootzin, R., Dudgeon, P., Trinder, J., Allen, N. B.

The SENSE Study: Post Intervention Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitive-Behavioral and Mindfulness-Based Group Sleep Improvement Intervention among At-Risk Adolescents

Objective: Sleep problems are a major risk factor for the emergence of mental health problems in adolescence. The aim of this study was to investigate the post intervention effects of a cognitive-behavioral/mindfulness- based group sleep intervention on sleep and mental health among at-risk adolescents. Method: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted across High schools in Melbourne, Australia. One hundred forty-four adolescents (aged 12-17 years) with high levels of anxiety and sleeping difficulties, but without past or current depressive disorder, were randomized into either a sleep improvement intervention or an active control 'study skills' intervention. Both programs consisted of 7 90-min-long group sessions delivered over 7 weeks. One hundred twenty-three participants began the interventions (female - 60%; mean age - 14.48, SD - 0.95), with 60 in the sleep condition and 63 in the control condition. All participants were required to complete a battery of mood and sleep questionnaires, 7 days of wrist actigraphy (an objective measure of sleep), and sleep diary entry at pre-and-post intervention. Results: The sleep intervention condition was associated with significantly greater improvements in subjective sleep (global sleep quality [with a medium effect size], sleep onset latency, daytime sleepiness [with small effect sizes]), objective sleep (sleep onset latency [with a medium effect size]), and anxiety (with a small effect size) compared with the control intervention condition. Conclusion: The SENSE study provides evidence that a multicomponent group sleep intervention that includes cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies can reduce sleep initiation problems and related daytime dysfunction, along with concomitant anxiety symptoms, among at-risk adolescents. Copyright © 2016 American Psychological Association.

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(12) : 1039-1051

Bluth, K., Campo, R. A., Pruteanu- Malinici, S., Reams, A., Mullarkey, M., & Broderick, P. C

A school-based mindfulness pilot study for ethnically diverse at-risk adolescents

Mindfulness, 7(1) : 90- 104

Boals, A., Murrell, A. R., Berntsen, D., Southard-Dobbs, S., Agtarap, S.

Experimentally reducing event centrality using a modified expressive writing intervention

Event centrality, the extent to which one perceives a stressful or traumatic event as central to one's identity, has been shown to be one of the predictors of PTSD symptoms. Boals and Murrell (in press) found that an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based, therapist-led treatment resulted in significant decreases in event centrality, which in turn led to decreases in PTSD symptoms. In the current study, a version of this treatment was administered using a modified expressive writing intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to learn core components about either ACT, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or baseball (control) via audio analogs. The ACT and CBT groups then attempted to apply what they learned in two subsequent expressive writing sessions, while the baseball group wrote about a neutral topic. The results revealed that participants in the ACT and CBT conditions evidenced significant decreases in event centrality, if they followed the writing instructions correctly, in comparison to the control group. However, there were no group differences in changes in PTSD symptoms. These results suggest that principles of ACT and traditional CBT expressed using a modified expressive writing intervention hold great promise to help individuals recover from stressful experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 4(4) : 269- 276

Asikhia, O. A., Mohangi, K.

The use of problem-solving training in reducing mathematics anxiety among Nigerian secondary school students

This study aimed at determining the use of problem-solving training in reducing mathematics anxiety among a group of senior secondary school students in Ogun State, Nigeria area. A 2 x 2 pre- test, post-test factorial design (treatment and gender) was used in the study. 120 students who had high scores on the mathematics anxiety scale were randomly selected from the 492 students which responded to the scale. Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale-Revised (MARS-R) by Plake and Parker (1982) was the instrument used in the study. Analysis of covariance was used to analyse the two hypotheses formulated and tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed a significant effect of treatment on participants' level of mathematics anxiety (F-ratio = 5.81, P < 0.05). Students exposed to treatment had reduced levels of anxiety in mathematics compared with those in the control group. The study also revealed that gender affected students' anxiety in mathematics significantly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).

Gender & Behaviour, 13(1) : 6547- 6558

Bao, X., Jin, K.

The beneficial effect of Tai Chi on self-concept in adolescents

Previous research has documented the beneficial effect of Tai Chi, but most of the studies focused on elders and patients with specific health conditions. The aim of the study was to test whether Tai Chi can help to improve self-concept in adolescents with a longitudinal study. The sample comprised 160 students from a Chinese middle school; half of students formed the experimental group and the rest formed the control group. A 1-year Tai Chi intervention was delivered in 60-minute sessions, five times a week. Both groups were instructed to complete the measure of self-concept at the beginning and end of the intervention. Statistical analysis shows the significant reduction of good behaviour, intellectual and school status, popularity and anxiety in the experimental group compared with the control group. The results suggest that the Tai Chi intervention could improve self-concept in adolescents.

International Journal of Psychology, 50(2) : 101-105

Adler, A. B., Williams, J., McGurk, D., Moss, A., Bliese, P. D.

Resilience training with soldiers during basic combat training: Randomisation by platoon

BACKGROUND: Resilience Training has the potential to mitigate mental health symptoms when provided during initial military training.\rMETHODS: The present study examined the impact of Resilience Training on US soldier well-being and attitudes during Basic Combat Training. Platoons were randomly assigned to Resilience Training or Military History provided during the first few days of Basic Combat Training. Surveys were conducted at baseline, post- intervention, and 3, 6, and 9 weeks.\rRESULTS: The sample resulted in a total of 1,939 soldiers who completed at least the baseline and one follow-up survey. There were no significant differences between conditions in terms of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or sleep problems. However, while anxiety decreased in both conditions, the rate of decrease was faster in the Resilience Training condition. In contrast, Resilience Training had a slower rate of increase in group cohesion over time than the Military History condition. In addition, Resilience Training was associated with greater confidence in helping others and received more positive ratings than Military History.\rCONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that the brief Resilience Training studied here may have some utility in supporting mental health and peer support but may not benefit unit climate.

Applied psychology. Health & Well-being, 7(1) : 85- 107

van-der-Zwan, J. E., de-Vente, W., Huizink, A. C., Bogels, S. M., de-Bruin, E. I.

Physical activity, mindfulness meditation, or heart rate variability biofeedback for stress reduction: a randomized controlled trial

In contemporary western societies stress is highly prevalent, therefore the need for stress-reducing methods is great. This randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of self-help physical activity (PA), mindfulness meditation (MM), and heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) in reducing stress and its related symptoms. We randomly allocated 126 participants to PA, MM, or HRV-BF upon enrollment, of whom 76 agreed to participate. The interventions consisted of psycho-education and an introduction to the specific intervention techniques and 5 weeks of daily exercises at home. The PA exercises consisted of a vigorous-intensity activity of free choice. The MM exercises consisted of guided mindfulness meditation. The HRV-BF exercises consisted of slow breathing with a heart rate variability biofeedback device. Participants received daily reminders for their exercises and were contacted weekly to monitor their progress. They completed questionnaires prior to, directly after, and 6 weeks after the intervention. Results indicated an overall beneficial effect consisting of reduced stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and improved psychological well-being and sleep quality. No significant between-intervention effect was found, suggesting that PA, MM, and HRV-BF are equally effective in reducing stress and its related symptoms. These self-help interventions provide easily accessible help for people with stress complaints.

Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 40(4) : 257-268

Stallard, P., Skryabina, E., Taylor, G., Anderson, R., Ukoumunne, O.C., Daniels, H., Phillips, R., Simpson, N.

A cluster randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a school-based cognitive - behavioural therapy programme (FRIENDS) in the reduction of anxiety and improvement in mood in children aged 9/10 years

Public Health Research, 3(14) :