Effects of Acupressure on Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 353-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doreen W H Au ◽  
Hector W H Tsang ◽  
Paul P M Ling ◽  
Christie H T Leung ◽  
P K Ip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Citation Index ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Allocation Concealment ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Objective To evaluate the evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quantify the effects of acupressure on anxiety among adults. Methodology RCTs published between January 1997 and February 2014, comparing acupressure with sham control, were identified from the databases Science Citation Index/Social Sciences Citation Index, Scopus, PubMed and PsycINFO. Meta-analysis of eligible studies was performed and the magnitude of the overall effect size was calculated for the anxiety outcome. Revised STRICTA (the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture) criteria were used to appraise the acupressure procedures, and the Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Results Of 39 potentially relevant studies, seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria for review while five studies met the criteria for meta-analysis. All studies reported the positive effect of acupressure on relieving anxiety from the anticipation of surgery or treatment. EX-HN3 ( Yintang), HT7 ( Shenmen) were the commonest points selected and two studies used bilateral points. The acupressure procedure was generally well reported and studies had a low risk of bias. The combined results of the five trials showed a greater overall reduction in anxiety in the acupressure group than in the sham controls (standardised mean differences (SMD)=−1.11; 95% CI −1.61 to −0.61; p<0.0001 heterogeneity: I2=75%; χ2=16.17; p=0.003; r=0.485). Conclusions Acupressure seems to be effective in providing immediate relief of pretreatment anxiety among adults, and has a medium effect size. However, conflicting results were found for the improvements on physiological indicators. More rigorous reporting, including allocation concealment procedure, is needed to strengthen the results.

The effectiveness of the loci method as a mnemonic device: Meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182199345
Author(s):  
Conal Twomey ◽  
Meike Kroneisen
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Random Sequence ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Allocation Concealment ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Mnemonic Device ◽  
Random Sequence Generation ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
The Impact

The “loci method” is a popular mnemonic device that involves visualising and recalling items at specific points along a familiar route. The loci method has been used for thousands of years, and by many successful memory athletes; yet there have been relatively few educational and clinical applications, possibly owing to empirical uncertainty. The current meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) mostly based in university settings demonstrated the effectiveness of the loci method as a mnemonic device, with a medium effect size ( g = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.45, 0.85]; I2 = 45.5%). The effect size remained at similar levels in further analyses adjusting for publication bias, the impact of removing each study, setting, control conditions, outliers, and number of loci method sessions. High risk of experimental bias was indicated, however, as the vast majority of studies did not report procedures to minimise biases relating to random sequence generation and allocation concealment. Overall, this meta-analysis of predominantly university-based RCTs has provided good initial support for the loci method as a mnemonic device and this may encourage future investigations and applications, particularly in educational settings, where it has the potential to improve recall of information relevant to academic success.

When the Eye Listens: A Meta-analysis of How Audio-visual Presentation Enhances the Appreciation of Music Performance

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friedrich Platz ◽  
Reinhard Kopiez
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Music Perception ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Total N ◽  
Visual Component ◽  
Visual Music ◽  
Medium Effect Size

the visual component of music performance as experienced in a live concert is of central importance for the appreciation of music performance. However, up until now the influence of the visual component on the evaluation of music performance has remained unquantified in terms of effect size estimations. Based on a meta-analysis of 15 aggregated studies on audio-visual music perception (total N = 1,298), we calculated the average effect size of the visual component in music performance appreciation by subtracting ratings for the audio-only condition from those for the audio-visual condition. The outcome focus was on evaluation ratings such as liking, expressiveness, or overall quality of musical performances. For the first time, this study reveals an average medium effect size of 0.51 standard deviations — Cohen's d; 95% CI (0.42, 0.59) — for the visual component. Consequences for models of intermodal music perception and experimental planning are addressed.

scholarly journals Effects of Physical Activity Programs on the Improvement of Dementia Symptom: A Meta-Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Suk Lee ◽  
Sun Wook Park ◽  
Yoo Jung Park
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Physical Capacity ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
High Effect Size ◽  
High Effect ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analyses

Objective. To confirm that physical activity program improves the symptoms of dementia and the most effective physical activity was selected to help establish exercise programs.Methods. Three databases, PubMed, Science Direct, and Willey online, were used to collect articles. The databases were published between January 2005 and December 2015. Keywords such as “dementia,” and “physical activity” were used in searching for papers. As a result, nine studies were selected in the second screening of the meta-analyses.Results. The improvement in the dementia symptom of physical capacity was 1.05 (high effect size, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.73), ability of activity of daily living was 0.73 (slightly high effect size, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.23), cognitive function was 0.46 (medium effect size, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.66), and psychological state was 0.39 (lower than the medium effect size, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.77).Conclusion. The physical activity for patients with dementia had an effect on the improvement of physical capacity and combined exercise was the most effective physical activity.

scholarly journals Meta-analysis challenges a textbook example of status signalling: evidence for publication bias

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Sánchez-Tójar ◽  
Shinichi Nakagawa ◽  
Moisès Sánchez-Fortún ◽  
Dominic A. Martin ◽  
Sukanya Ramani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Status Signalling ◽  
Unpublished Studies ◽  
The Status ◽  
Medium Effect Size

AbstractThe status signalling hypothesis aims to explain conspecific variation in ornamentation by suggesting that some ornaments signal dominance status. Here, we use multilevel meta-analytic models to challenge the textbook example of this hypothesis, the black bib of house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We conducted a systematic review, and obtained raw data from published and unpublished studies to test whether dominance rank is positively associated with bib size across studies. Contrary to previous studies, our meta-analysis did not support this prediction. Furthermore, we found several biases in the literature that further question the support available for the status signalling hypothesis. First, the overall effect size of unpublished studies was zero, compared to the medium effect size detected in published studies. Second, the effect sizes of published studies decreased over time, and recently published effects were, on average, no longer distinguishable from zero. We discuss several explanations including pleiotropic, population- and context-dependent effects. Our findings call for reconsidering this established textbook example in evolutionary and behavioural ecology, raise important concerns about the validity of the current scientific publishing culture, and should stimulate renewed interest in understanding within-species variation in ornamental traits.

A Meta-Analysis of Facebook-Assisted Learning Outcomes and Their Gender Differences

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 63-82
Author(s):  
*Zhonggen Yu ◽  
Liheng Yu
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Small Effect Size ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Media Applications

Social media applications such as Facebook have received wide attention in their use in education. However, it is still hard to arrive at a conclusion regarding whether a Facebook-assisted approach is effective in education and whether there are any significant gender differences in the learning outcomes. Based on rigid inclusion criteria, this study included 21 peer-reviewed high-quality journal articles. Through a meta-analysis using Reviewer Manager 5.3, the authors concluded that a Facebook-assisted approach could obtain significantly higher learning outcomes than the non-Facebook-assisted one with a medium effect size (d = 0.42) and that females could achieve significantly better learning outcomes than males with a very small effect size (d = -0.21) in the Facebook-assisted education. Future research could examine the effect of educational use of other social media applications, as well as in sociological, psychological, or educational dimensions.

Steep discounting of delayed monetary and food rewards in obesity: a meta-analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 2423-2434 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Amlung ◽  
T. Petker ◽  
J. Jackson ◽  
I. Balodis ◽  
J. MacKillop
Keyword(s):  
Publication Bias ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Primary Analysis ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
Fail Safe ◽  
The Relationship

BackgroundAn increasing number of studies have investigated delay discounting (DD) in relation to obesity, but with mixed findings. This meta-analysis synthesized the literature on the relationship between monetary and food DD and obesity, with three objectives: (1) to characterize the relationship between DD and obesity in both case–control comparisons and continuous designs; (2) to examine potential moderators, including case–control v. continuous design, money v. food rewards, sample sex distribution, and sample age (<18 v. >18 years); and (3) to evaluate publication bias.MethodFrom 134 candidate articles, 39 independent investigations yielded 29 case–control and 30 continuous comparisons (total n = 10 278). Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using Cohen's d as the effect size. Publication bias was evaluated using fail-safe N, Begg–Mazumdar and Egger tests, meta-regression of publication year and effect size, and imputation of missing studies.ResultsThe primary analysis revealed a medium effect size across studies that was highly statistically significant (d = 0.43, p < 10−14). None of the moderators examined yielded statistically significant differences, although notably larger effect sizes were found for studies with case–control designs, food rewards and child/adolescent samples. Limited evidence of publication bias was present, although the Begg–Mazumdar test and meta-regression suggested a slightly diminishing effect size over time.ConclusionsSteep DD of food and money appears to be a robust feature of obesity that is relatively consistent across the DD assessment methodologies and study designs examined. These findings are discussed in the context of research on DD in drug addiction, the neural bases of DD in obesity, and potential clinical applications.

scholarly journals An Exploratory Meta-Analytic Review on the Empirical Evidence of Differential Learning as an Enhanced Motor Learning Method

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Tassignon ◽  
Jo Verschueren ◽  
Jean-Pierre Baeyens ◽  
Anne Benjaminse ◽  
Alli Gokeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Acquisition Phase ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Learning Method ◽  
Learning Methods ◽  
Differential Learning ◽  
Small Effect Size

Background: Differential learning (DL) is a motor learning method characterized by high amounts of variability during practice and is claimed to provide the learner with a higher learning rate than other methods. However, some controversy surrounds DL theory, and to date, no overview exists that compares the effects of DL to other motor learning methods.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of DL in comparison to other motor learning methods in the acquisition and retention phase.Design: Systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis.Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched until February 3, 2020. To be included, (1) studies had to be experiments where the DL group was compared to a control group engaged in a different motor learning method (lack of practice was not eligible), (2) studies had to describe the effects on one or more measures of performance in a skill or movement task, and (3) the study report had to be published as a full paper in a journal or as a book chapter.Results: Twenty-seven studies encompassing 31 experiments were included. Overall heterogeneity for the acquisition phase (post-pre; I2 = 77%) as well as for the retention phase (retention-pre; I2 = 79%) was large, and risk of bias was high. The meta-analysis showed an overall small effect size of 0.26 [0.10, 0.42] in the acquisition phase for participants in the DL group compared to other motor learning methods. In the retention phase, an overall medium effect size of 0.61 [0.30, 0.91] was observed for participants in the DL group compared to other motor learning methods.Discussion/Conclusion: Given the large amount of heterogeneity, limited number of studies, low sample sizes, low statistical power, possible publication bias, and high risk of bias in general, inferences about the effectiveness of DL would be premature. Even though DL shows potential to result in greater average improvements between pre- and post/retention test compared to non-variability-based motor learning methods, more high-quality research is needed before issuing such a statement. For robust comparisons on the relative effectiveness of DL to different variability-based motor learning methods, scarce and inconclusive evidence was found.

scholarly journals The Heart in the Mind: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Theory of Mind and Cardiac Vagal Tone

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Zammuto ◽  
Cristina Ottaviani ◽  
Fiorenzo Laghi ◽  
Antonia Lonigro
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Behavioral Regulation ◽  
Human Ability ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Meta Regression Analysis ◽  
The Mind

Theory of mind (ToM) is the human ability to infer the mental states of others in order to understand their behaviors and plan own actions. In the past decades, accumulating evidence has shown that heart rate variability (HRV), an index of parasympathetic control of the heart, is linked to behavioral regulation, social competence, and social cognition abilities, all implicated—to some extent—in ToM. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the available studies, investigating the relation between ToM and HRV in typically developing people. Six studies were eligible for the meta-analysis, yielding a significant association between HRV and ToM of a small-to-medium effect size (g = 0.44). This result was not influenced by publication bias. Due to the small number of studies eligible for the meta-analysis, it was not possible to test for the effect of categorical moderators. The moderating role of sex and quality of the studies was examined by meta-regression analysis. Moderation analysis did not yield any significant effect; however, at a descriptive level, studies yielding the largest effect size were characterized by the use of high frequency-HRV assessment at rest and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test to evaluate ToM abilities. The results preliminarily suggest that tonic HRV might be used as an indicator of the ability to understand the content of mind of others.

A Meta-Analysis on the Efficacy of Exposure-Based Treatment in Anxiety Disorders: Implications for Disgust

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-49
Author(s):  
Simona A. PASCAL ◽  
Ioana R. PODINA ◽  
Cătălin NEDELCEA
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Small Effect Size ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Exposure Sessions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Meta Analyses

Despite of several meta-analyses indicating that exposure-based treatments (EBT) are successful in addressing anxiety and fear symptoms, less is known whether this is also the case for disgust, which also accompanies anxiety disorders. Therefore, the aim of the current meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of EBT on disgust and anxiety (emotional distress), against control condition. This meta-analysis included a total of eight studies. Overall, there was a medium effect size (g = .57, 95% CI: .26 to .88, p < .001) for emotional distress; a medium effect size for anxiety (g = .79, 95% CI: .24 to 1.34, p = .005), yet a small effect size for disgust (g = .36, 95% CI: .05 to .68, p = .024). These findings prompt that current EBT are not tailored to address disgust symptoms accompanying many forms of anxiety disorders, although literature points more and more to a need in this respect. We also examined potential moderator variables (the year of publication, the number of exposure sessions, age of the sample, and gender composition). Additionally, we discussed several strengths and limitations, one of the most important being the small number of studies regarding the subject and their heterogeneity.

Effectiveness of a freely available computerised cognitive behavioural therapy programme (MoodGYM) for depression: Meta-analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conal Twomey ◽  
Gary O’Reilly
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Small Effect Size ◽  
General Psychological Distress ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a freely available computerised cognitive behavioural therapy programme (MoodGYM) for depression (primary outcome), anxiety and general psychological distress in adults. Method: We searched PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Social Science Citation Index and references from identified papers. To assess MoodGYM’s effectiveness, we conducted random effects meta-analysis of identified randomised controlled trials. Results: Comparisons from 11 studies demonstrated MoodGYM’s effectiveness for depression symptoms at post-intervention, with a small effect size ( g = 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.17–0.56; I2 = 78%). Removing the lowest quality studies ( k = 3) had minimal impact; however, adjusting for publication bias reduced the effect size to a non-significant level ( g = 0.17, 95% confidence interval: −0.01 to 0.38). Comparisons from six studies demonstrated MoodGYM’s effectiveness for anxiety symptoms at post-intervention, with a medium effect size ( g = 0.57, 95% confidence interval: 0.20–0.94; I2 = 85%). Although comparisons from six studies did not yield significance for MoodGYM’s effectiveness for general psychological distress symptoms, the small effect size approached significance ( g = 0.34, 95% confidence interval: −0.04 to 0.68; I2 = 79%). Both the type of setting (clinical vs non-clinical) and MoodGYM-developer authorship in randomised controlled trials had no meaningful influence on results; however, the results were confounded by the type of control deployed, level of clinician guidance, international region of trial and adherence to MoodGYM. Conclusions: The confounding influence of several variables, and presence of publication bias, means that the results of this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution. Tentative support is provided for MoodGYM’s effectiveness for symptoms of depression and general psychological distress. The programme’s medium effect on anxiety symptoms demonstrates its utility for people with this difficulty. MoodGYM benefits from its free accessibility over the Internet, but adherence rates can be problematic and at the extreme can fall below 10%. We conclude that MoodGYM is best placed as a population-level intervention that is likely to benefit a sizeable minority of its users.

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