Prevalence and impact of visual aura in migraine and probable migraine: a population study

Visual aura (VA) presents in 98% of cases of migraine with aura. However, data on its prevalence and impact in individuals with migraine and probable migraine (PM) are limited. Data from the nation-wide, population-based Circannual Change in Headache and Sleep Study were collected. Participants with VA rating scale scores ≥ 3 were classified as having VA. Of 3,030 participants, 170 (5.6%) and 337 (11.1%) had migraine and PM, respectively; VA prevalence did not differ between these cohorts (29.4% [50/170] vs. 24.3% [82/337], p = 0.219). Participants with migraine with VA had a higher headache frequency per month (4.0 [2.0–10.0] vs. 2.0 [1.0–4.8], p = 0.014) and more severe cutaneous allodynia (12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist score; 3.0 [1.0–8.0] vs. 2.0 [0.0–4.8], p = 0.046) than those without VA. Participants with PM with VA had a higher headache frequency per month (2.0 [2.0–8.0] vs. 2.0 [0.6–4.0], p = 0.001), greater disability (Migraine Disability Assessment score; 10.0 [5.0–26.3] vs. 5.0 [2.0–12.0], p < 0.001), and more severe cutaneous allodynia (12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist score, 2.5 [0.0–6.0] vs. 0.0 [0.0–3.0], p < 0.001) than those without VA. VA prevalence was similar between migraine and PM. Some symptoms were more severe in the presence of VA.

Het Effect van Hormoonbehandeling op het Emotioneel Welzijn en het Cognitief Functioneren van Transmannen

Transmannen zijn geboren met een vrouwelijk lichaam maar identificeren zich gevoelsmatig als man. In de huidige studie werd de invloed van hormoontherapie op het emotioneel welzijn en het cognitief functioneren van transmannen nagegaan. In het onderzoek participeerden 22 transmannen, en een controlegroep van 20 vrouwen en een van 19 mannen. De transmannen ontvingen gedurende 8 weken een voorbehandeling met een GnRH-analoog waarna als basismeting een testbatterij werd afgenomen. De testbatterij bestond uit vragenlijsten voor het meten van het emotioneel welzijn en bevatte tevens neuropsychologische testen om een aantal cognitieve vaardigheden te onderzoeken. Voor het meten van het emotioneel welzijn werden de Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) en de Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) gebruikt. De SCL-90 bestaat uit de subschalen Angst, Agorafobie, Depressie, Somatische klachten, Insufficiëntie van denken en handelen, Wantrouwen en interpersoonlijke sensitiviteit, Hostiliteit en Slaapproblemen. Na de 8 weken voorbehandeling kregen de transmannen 16 weken testosteron (met daarnaast een GnRH-analoog en een aromataseremmer) toegediend. Hierna werd opnieuw dezelfde testbatterij afgenomen. De controlegroepen ontvingen gedurende het gehele onderzoek geen interventie. Bij alle onderzoeksgroepen werd op dezelfde momenten de testbatterij afgenomen. Verwacht werd dat de hormoonbehandeling een (positief of negatief) effect zou hebben op het emotioneel welzijn (depressie, angst en psychologische symptomen) van de transmannen. Daarnaast werd verwacht dat het cognitieve profiel van de transmannen als gevolg van de hormoonbehandeling zou verschuiven van een relatief ‘vrouw-typisch’ cognitief profiel (sterke verbale vaardigheden) naar een ‘man-typisch’ cognitief profiel (sterk ruimtelijk inzicht). Met betrekking tot executief functioneren en verbaal geheugen werd geen invloed verwacht en ten aanzien van verwerkingssnelheid was het onderzoek exploratief. De resultaten laten geen verandering zien in het emotioneel welzijn ten gevolge van de hormoontherapie. De resultaten konden ook niet alle verwachte cognitieve effecten bevestigen. Het vermoeden dat hormoontherapie geen invloed zou hebben op het executief functioneren en het verbale geheugen van de transmannen werd wel bevestigd in deze studie. Tot slot werd tegen de verwachting in geen effect gevonden van de hormoontherapie op snelheid van de informatieverwerking. Wel gaven de resultaten van de SCL-90 aan dat transmannen gemiddeld hogere scores hadden op de slaap- en hostiliteitsschaal dan vergelijkingsgroepen van vrouwen en mannen. Vervolgonderzoek naar de verschillen tussen transpersonen en controlegroepen en de invloed van hormoonbehandeling op emotioneel welzijn en cognitief functioneren is noodzakelijk om de transgenderzorg indien nodig te verbeteren.

Maladaptive Daydreaming in Relation to Linguistic Features and Attachment Style

(1) Background: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a concept that describes a significant imaginary activity that replaces human engagement and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning. We explored the interaction between attachment style, reflective functioning (RF), and the narrative dimension of MD. (2) Methods: 414 adults completed an online survey, including socio-demographic variables, the 16-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale, the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Relationship Questionnaire, and Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. Participants were asked to write a short description of the most representative episodes of their daydreams. Eighty-four participants were identified as maladaptive daydreamers (MDers). (3) Results: A set of t-tests between MDers and non-MDers group showed differences in attachment dimensions, RF, and linguistic measures. A linear regression model with Global Severity Index (GSI) of the revised Symptom Checklist-90 as the dependent variable, and psychological scales as independent variables showed that the MD score was the strongest predictor of GSI. Regarding differences between the two groups in linguistic measures, the MDers showed more use of reflection and sensory-somatic words, and a smaller number of affective words. (4) Conclusions: These results support the idea that the MD is a process connected to psychopathological mechanisms, probably to a sub-symbolic activation, and to dysfunctional self–other relational patterns that are difficult to integrate.

Impact of Playing Surface on Concussion Symptoms in Young American Football Players

ObjectiveTo identify differences in symptoms following sports-related concussion (SRC) on natural grass vs artificial turf in youth and adolescent football players.BackgroundThere is continued interest in reducing risk of SRC in football, with playing surface being one potentially modifiable factor. It is estimated that 15–30% of concussions result from helmet-to-ground contact, and some studies have suggested a higher incidence of SRC on grass in competitive contact sports compared to turf. To our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate reported post-concussive symptoms after SRC as they relate to playing surface.Design/MethodsData were prospectively collected from the North Texas Concussion Registry (ConTex), a longitudinal multi-institutional concussion database. We selected male football players between the ages of 10 and 24 who sustained a helmet-to-ground SRC (GCS 13–15) on either grass or turf. Pre-injury information and post-concussive symptoms (Graded Symptom Checklist from the SCAT-5) were collected at an initial in-person visit within 2 weeks of injury and via electronic follow up at 3 months.ResultsFifty-eight participants were included (grass = 32, turf = 26), and groups were similar in age (p = 0.089), time since injury (p = 0.500), history of headache (χ2 = 0.167), and prior history of concussion (χ2 = 0.868). Athletes who sustained SRC on grass reported significantly higher scores on the Graded Symptom Checklist (p = 0.018, mean 26.0 vs 11.4) and higher numbers of distinct symptoms (p = 0.013, mean 10.2 vs 5.5) compared to those who sustained SRC on turf. Symptoms that were rated significantly higher after SRC on grass included headache (p = 0.010), phonophobia (p = 0.014), dizziness (p = 0.001), fatigue (p = 0.021), blurred vision (p = 0.001), feeling “in a fog” (p = 0.014), difficulty remembering (p = 0.004), and feeling emotional (p = 0.041).ConclusionsYouth and adolescent football players who sustain SRC on grass report higher post-concussive symptom severity and burden. Elucidating differential effects of SRC on grass vs turf is important, as competitive playing surface is a modifiable risk factor.

Psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist for children aged 18 to 60 months

Early detection of social-emotional and behavioral problems in children is important, because this anticipation allows for more effective intervention. Therefore, this quantitative, cross-sectional and instrumental study examined the factor structure, internal consistency, and various other psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PPSC). The participants were 398 Portuguese parents who completed the PPSC and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The PPSC, consisting of 18 items, measures the social-emotional statuses of children from the ages of 18 to 60 months. Three competing models (the unifactorial, 3-factorial and 4-factorial models) were tested as regards the PPSC’s factor structure using a confirmatory factor analysis. Our findings suggest that the original unifactorial scale of the PPSC is the most suitable in terms of the Portuguese version of this measure. The use of the PPSC in primary healthcare, its diagnostic accuracy, and children’s related social-emotional adjustment factors are then discussed.

Relationships Between Cross-Cultural Adaption, Perceived Stress and Psychological Health Among International Undergraduate Students From a Medical University During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model

International university students may be at greater risk for developing psychological problems due to the unique stressors in them, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of present study is to propose and test a moderated mediation model that would illuminate the underlying relationships of cross-cultural adaption, perceived stress and psychological health as well as the moderating effect of optimism and resilience among international medical undergraduates in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted via a web-based survey in November 2020. Electronic informed consents were obtained from all participants. A total of 453 students including 233 males and 220 females aged 18 to 28 years with an average age of 22.09 (SD = 2.73) completed the questionnaires. Symptom Checklist 90, the measurement of cross-cultural adaption, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Life Orientation Test-Revised and the Resilience Scale were used for the survey. Results for the moderated mediation model testing revealed that cross-cultural adaption significantly and negatively associated with the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Symptom Checklist 90 (β = −0.24, P &lt; 0.01), and perceived stress partially mediated the relationship. Optimism (β = −0.29, P &lt; 0.01) and confidence in COVID-19 control (β = −0.19, P &lt; 0.01) had direct negative effects on perceived stress. Furthermore, optimism and resilience negatively moderated the indirect effect of cross-cultural adaption on psychological health through perceived stress. Findings of this study suggest that university educators ought to promote or make use of programs that cope with stress and boost optimism and resilience in order to support students not only adapt well to a new culture, but also keep good psychological health during the period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Einbezug der Väter in die stationäre Mutter-Kind-Therapie: „Mit Papa geht es besser“

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Obwohl Forschungsbefunde auf einen großen väterlichen Einfluss hinweisen, gibt es bislang kaum Interventionsprogramme und wissenschaftliche Studien, die den systematischen Einbezug von Vätern in die stationäre Mutter-Kind-Behandlung zum Gegenstand haben. Ziel der Arbeit Die Studie untersucht, wie sich der Einbezug von Vätern auf das Outcome stationärer Mutter-Kind-Behandlungen bei postpartalen psychischen Störungen auswirkt. In dieser Pilotstudie wird das Programm „Mit Papa geht es besser“ vorgestellt. Methodik Fünfzehn Partner/Kindsväter von behandelten Mutter-Kind-Dyaden durchliefen ein strukturiertes Begleitprogramm parallel zur Mutter-Kind-Behandlung („Mit Papa geht es besser“). Die Mütter in Behandlung wurden in einem Prä-post-Design zu ihrer Symptomatik (Symptom-Checklist 90, SCL-90), Mutter-Kind-Bindung (Parental Bonding Questionnaire, PBQ) und Partnerschaftszufriedenheit (Kurzversion des Partnerschaftsfragebogens, PFB-K) befragt. Diese Gruppe wurden mit einer historischen Kontrollgruppe von 30 behandelten Müttern verglichen, die die Behandlung wie bisher („treatment as usual“, TAU) durchliefen. Die Gruppen wurden post hoc mithilfe einer „Inverse-probability-of-treatment-weighting“(IPTW)-Schätzung von Propensity Scores (PS) balanciert. Ergebnisse Mütter in allen Versuchsbedingungen profitierten von der stationären Behandlung. Mütter in der Interventionsgruppe wiesen im Hinblick auf die Zielvariablen ein tendenziell verbessertes Outcome auf, insbesondere für die Veränderung der Partnerschaftszufriedenheit, die Unterschiede erreichten aber keine statistische Signifikanz. Schlussfolgerung Die Befunde weisen darauf hin, dass Mütter in stationärer Mutter-Kind-Behandlung vom Einbezug der Väter profitieren könnten. Die Intervention soll nun im Rahmen eines randomisierten kontrollierten Studiendesigns an einer größeren Stichprobe auf ihre Wirksamkeit überprüft werden.

The Influence of Anxiety on Response to Negative Sentiment Override Assessment Protocols During Couples Counseling

Negative sentiment override (NSO), or messages and experiences interpreted in an increasingly negative manner, is one way to explain dissatisfaction in romantic relationships. In addition, psychological factors, like anxiety, have been shown to increase levels of dissatisfaction. In the current study, we examined the extent that significant anxiety, determined by responses to the Symptom Checklist–90, influenced the endorsement of items on Gottman’s NSO scale. We examined the item characteristic curves (ICCs) of the individual items on Gottman’s NSO scale and then tested for differential item functioning between those with significant anxiety and those without significant anxiety for a sample of 262 individuals seeking counseling. Our results demonstrate different ICC patterns between those with anxiety and those without. More specifically, individuals with anxiety reported elevated NSO compared to individuals without anxiety. Implications of these findings are discussed.