Effectiveness and Safety of Electroacupuncture for Depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Review question / Objective: Is electroacupuncture a safe therapy for the treatment of depression? Is electroacupuncture effective for the treatment of depression, as compared with sham control, or conventional drugs？ Condition being studied: Depression is a mood disorder that causes sufferers to feel sadness, decreased interest, guilt, self-blame, loss of energy, and experience sleep disorders such as insomnia. People suffering from depression even feel they have no way out and have suicidal thoughts. In the United States, the prevalence of a major depressive disorder is 16.2%1-3. The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study identified major depression as the second leading cause of disability worldwide and a leading cause of the burden of suicide and ischaemic heart disease. At present, depression patients are mainly treated with antidepressants, but the efficacy is extremely unstable. Studies have shown that acupuncture can help improve symptoms in patients with depression, but these clinical studies have not been systematically evaluated, and further confirmation is needed to confirm the efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating depression.

Strategi Koping dan Stres pada Mahasiswa: Studi Pendahuluan Promosi Kesehatan Mental Berbasis Sekolah

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi kondisi kesehatan mental mahasiswa melalui desain penelitian cross-sectional survey. Instrumen dalam penelitian ini menggunakan open-ended questionnaire, perceived stress scale-10 (PSS-10), dan the Brief COPE Questionnaire. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa: 1) permasalahan kehidupan kampus, perasaan dan pikiran negatif, serta permasalahan relasi merupakan situasi sulit yang dihadapi oleh mahasiswa; 2) sebanyak 50.45% mahasiswa mengalami stres pada kategori sedang, 45.05% mengalami stres pada kategori tinggi, dan 4.5% mengalami stres pada kategori rendah; 3) strategi koping dapat memprediksi stres secara signifikan [F(14,96)=5.781; p<0.001]; dan 4) strategi koping jenis positive reframing dan active coping dapat memprediksi penurunan stres, sedangkan strategi koping jenis self-blame dan self-distraction dapat memprediksi peningkatan stres

Hidden in Plain Sight? Men's Coping Patterns and Psychological Distress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Individuals cope with stress using multiple strategies, yet studies of coping profiles are rare. We draw data from a longitudinal study of Australian men (n = 272; 30–37 years), assessed before (T1) and during (T2) a nation-wide COVID-19 lockdown. We aimed to: (1) identify men's multi-strategy coping profiles before and during the pandemic; (2) assess cross-sectional (T1-T1, T2-T2) and prospective (T1-T2) associations between profiles and symptoms of psychological distress (stress, anxiety, depression, and anger); and (3) examine relationships between coping profiles and appraisals of pandemic-related stressors and options for coping. In latent profile analyses of 14 coping strategies, three profiles emerged that were largely consistent across T1 and T2: (1) Relaxed Copers (low use of all strategies), (2) Approach Copers, and (3) Dual Copers (high avoidant and moderate-high approach-oriented strategies). Compared to Relaxed and Approach Copers, men who were Dual Copers had elevated psychological distress cross-sectionally before (T1) and during (T2) the pandemic, but not prospectively. Post hoc analyses suggested this was because many men changed coping profiles in the context of the pandemic. Men with stable (T1-T2) or new (T2 only) Dual Coping profiles experienced greater psychological distress and more negative appraisals of pandemic stressors and options for coping. In sum, at the sample level, the composition of men's coping profiles and associations with mental health risk were relatively stable over time and contexts; however, many men appeared to respond to pandemic conditions by changing coping profile groups, with mostly positive mental health outcomes. Of concern were men who adopted more avoidant strategies (e.g., denial, self-distraction, disengagement, substance use, and self-blame) under pandemic conditions. These Dual Coper men also engaged in commonly observable approach-oriented behaviours (e.g., planning, active coping, humour, seeking practical social support) that may mask their vulnerability to mental health risk. Our findings highlight the clinical importance of enquiring about escalating or frequent avoidant coping even in the presence of more active and interactive approach-oriented behaviours.

Self-Compassion Moderates the Mediating Effect of Self-Criticism in the Link Between Childhood Maltreatment and Psychopathology

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with psychological symptoms (i.e., psychopathology) among clinical and nonclinical samples. The mechanisms underlying this link have been understudied, especially among well-functioning adults. Arguably, exposure to CM may be translated into negative and critical self-appraisals and self-blame, reflected in high self-criticism. CM may also result in difficulty in extending kindness towards oneself, that is, low self-compassion. These characteristics are linked with elevated psychopathology. Nevertheless, no study has yet tested the extent to which self-criticism and self-compassion may serve as independent mechanisms linking CM and psychopathology and whether in this context self-compassion buffers the link between self-criticism and psychopathology. Here, we tested an integrative model in which the relation between CM and psychopathology was mediated by self-compassion and self-criticism, and the path between self-criticism and psychopathology was moderated by self-compassion. A convenience sample of 914 individuals completed online self-report questionnaires. Results indicated that CM was related to psychopathology through the mediation of self-compassion and self-criticism, with a significant interaction between self-criticism and self-compassion. Showing a moderated-mediational effect, the link between self-criticism and psychopathology was weaker under high than under low levels of self-compassion. Our findings highlight the importance of self-compassion, a robust resilience factor related to reduced psychopathology and moderating the link between self-criticism, a potent transdiagnostic risk factor, and psychopathology in the context of CM. These results thus provide empirical evidence for the relevance of compassion and mindfulness in counseling settings, particularly with CM survivors, who are at greater risk for psychopathology.

A Systematic Review of Caregiver Coping Strategies in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia

Caregivers of patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) often experience distressing symptoms related to their caregiving role. This review evaluates the existing literature on coping and their relationship to ALS and FTD caregiver psychological wellbeing. Published articles were identified via a systematic search of four databases (Cinahl Complete, Medline, Embase and PsycINFO). Overall, problem-focused coping strategies such as active coping and planning was used most often by ALS and FTD caregivers. Positive emotion-focused coping strategies such as acceptance were also frequently used by FTD caregivers. In contrast, dysfunctional coping strategies such as self-oriented reactions including self-blame, denial and self-preoccupation appeared to be the most salient coping strategy negatively impacting on caregiver psychological wellbeing. Six different coping measures were used and their psychometric properties were typically under-reported or satisfactory at best when reported. While coping is as an important aspect of caregivers’ experience, it remains unclear how the temporal dimensions of the coping process as well as stressor specificity influences psychological adaptation, and consequently, development of targeted caregiver intervention. The need for future studies to define the coping process more clearly in order to capture the unique stressors encountered by ALS and FTD caregivers throughout the different disease stages is emphasised.

STRATEGIJE PREVLADAVANJA STRESA KAO PREDIKTORI INTERNET ZAVISNOSTI

The aim of this study was to determinate the role of coping strategies in predicting internet addiction dimensions. The sample is conveniente and it consists of 597 subjects (63% women). The age of the subject ranges from 18 to 70 years, with an average age of 35.58 (SD=11.29). To measure a severity of compulsive internet use Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form; YIAT-SF was used, and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced; Brief COPE was used to measure how people cope with problems and stressful life events. Two separate hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. In both analyses, in first step the predictors were sociodemographic variables, and in second were ten types of coping strategies (Self-distraction, Active coping, Denial, Use of emotional support, Use of instrumental support, Behavioral disengagement, Venting, Positive reframing, Acceptance and Self-blame), while the criteria variables were different dimensions of internet addiction (Loss of control/Time management and Craving/Social problems). The results showed that both models are statistically significant. Significant predictor of dimension Loss of control/Time management in the first step is age (β = -.13, p = .001), and in second step are Self-distraction (β = .09, p = .018); Active coping (β = -.15, p = .001); Behavioral disengagement (β = .24, p < .001) and Self-blame (β = .13, p = .002). When it comes to Craving/Social problems, significant predictor of this variable in first step is age (β = -.11, p = .006), and in second are gender (β = .07, p = .041); Active coping (β = -.09, p = .044); Denial (β = .14, p = .001); Use of emotional support (β = -.16, p = .002) and Behavioral disengagement (β = .25, p < .001). So, based on the results, we can conclude that based on Self-distraction, Active coping, Behavioral disengagement, and Self-blame we can predict the difficulties in everyday functioning caused by internet use, but we can also predict an effect that excessive internet use could have on social relations and craving for the Internet based on Denial, Use of emotional support and Behavioral disengagement. The application of Confirmatory Factor Analysis suggested good construct validity of Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form. Keywords: coping strategies, internet addiction, internet use

Transformation of the Value-Semantic Sphere of Pathological Players in the Conditions of Rehabilitation

The spread of gambling addiction is one of the serious problems of modern society. A person involved in gambling creates preconditions for inevitable failure. Effective rehabilitation involves the reconstruction of the personality and aims to return the addict to a healthy and socially valuable life. The value-semantic sphere serves as one of the factors of psychological adaptation and the purpose of psychological correction of game addicts. The present research aimed to study the peculiarities of the transformation of the value-semantic sphere of pathological players in the context of a rehabilitation program. The research involved 42 pathological players undergoing a rehabilitation program for 6 months. We used methods: "Diagnosis of Interpersonal Relationships" by Leary; "Personality Time Perspective Questionnaire" by Zimbardo; "Meaning-Life Orientations" Leontiev; Stolin's Self-Ratio Questionnaire; "Morphological test of life values" by Sopov and Karpushina and personal data questionnaire. As a result of the study, the connection between the participation in the rehabilitation program and the change of the relationship profile of the pathological players to a more independent one was found. Changes in the time perspective of positive future, an increase of meaningfulness of life, an increase of the level of self-esteem, and a decrease of self-blame were revealed. The change of value from material provision to self-development and acceptance of oneself in the context of rehabilitation was revealed. As a result of the research, it was established that in rehabilitation conditions, the transformation of the value-semantic sphere of pathological players towards more adaptive is possible.

“It's Not You, It's Me”: Examining the Roles of Romantic Self-Blame and Social Support in Pathways From Peer Victimization to Emerging Adult Depressive Symptoms

Although experiences of adolescent peer victimization elevate risk for depressive symptoms during emerging adulthood, the mechanisms underlying this pathway are not well-understood. Drawing from attribution theory and models of relational schemas, the current study introduces romantic self-blame as a putative novel mechanism linking adolescent peer victimization to emerging adult depressive symptoms and evaluates perceived social support as a protective factor. A diverse sample of 350 emerging adults completed self-report measures of retrospective peer victimization, romantic characterological and behavioral self-blaming attributions, social support, and depressive symptoms. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesized two-factor structure of romantic self-blame. Additionally, conditional process models demonstrated that elevated romantic characterological—but not behavioral—self-blame partially explained the association between retrospective peer victimization and current depressive symptoms, particularly among those perceiving low social support. Results suggest that earlier peer victimization may alter emerging adults’ romantic appraisals in ways that increase distress, particularly in the absence of supportive interpersonal relationships.

Self-blame in major depression: a randomised pilot trial comparing fMRI neurofeedback with self-guided psychological strategies

Background Overgeneralised self-blame and worthlessness are key symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and have previously been associated with self-blame-selective changes in connectivity between right superior anterior temporal lobe (rSATL) and subgenual frontal cortices. Another study showed that remitted MDD patients were able to modulate this neural signature using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback training, thereby increasing their self-esteem. The feasibility and potential of using this approach in symptomatic MDD were unknown. Method This single-blind pre-registered randomised controlled pilot trial probed a novel self-guided psychological intervention with and without additional rSATL-posterior subgenual cortex (BA25) fMRI neurofeedback, targeting self-blaming emotions in people with insufficiently recovered MDD and early treatment-resistance (n = 43, n = 35 completers). Participants completed three weekly self-guided sessions to rebalance self-blaming biases. Results As predicted, neurofeedback led to a training-induced reduction in rSATL-BA25 connectivity for self-blame v. other-blame. Both interventions were safe and resulted in a 46% reduction on the Beck Depression Inventory-II, our primary outcome, with no group differences. Secondary analyses, however, revealed that patients without DSM-5-defined anxious distress showed a superior response to neurofeedback compared with the psychological intervention, and the opposite pattern in anxious MDD. As predicted, symptom remission was associated with increases in self-esteem and this correlated with the frequency with which participants employed the psychological strategies in daily life. Conclusions These findings suggest that self-blame-rebalance neurofeedback may be superior over a solely psychological intervention in non-anxious MDD, although further confirmatory studies are needed. Simple self-guided strategies tackling self-blame were beneficial, but need to be compared against treatment-as-usual in further trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10526888