Previous studies of the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic widespread pain (CWP) or fibromyalgia have not examined the role of familial or genetic factors. The goals ...of this study were to determine if symptoms of PTSD are related to CWP in a genetically informative community-based sample of twin pairs, and if so, to ascertain if the association is due to familial or genetic factors. Data were obtained from the University of Washington Twin Registry, which contains 1042 monozygotic and 828 dizygotic twin pairs. To assess the symptoms of PTSD, we used questions from the Impact of Events Scale (IES). IES scores were partitioned into terciles. CWP was defined as pain located in 3 body regions lasting at least 1 week during the past 3 months. Random-effects regression models, adjusted for demographic features and depression, examined the relationship between IES and CWP. IES scores were strongly associated with CWP (P<0.0001). Compared to those in the lowest IES tercile, twins in the highest tercile were 3.5 times more likely to report CWP. Although IES scores were associated with CWP more strongly among dizygotic than among monozygotic twins, this difference was not significant. Our findings suggest that PTSD symptoms, as measured by IES, are strongly linked to CWP, but this association is not explained by a common familial or genetic vulnerability to both conditions. Future research is needed to understand the temporal association of PTSD and CWP, as well as the physiological underpinnings of this relationship.
Abstract Objective This study examined if associations between body mass index (BMI) and mental and physical health were independent of genetic and familial factors. Method Data from 2831 twins (66% ...female) were used in an epidemiological co-twin control design with measures of BMI and mental and physical health outcomes. Generalized estimating equation regressions assessed relationships between BMI and health outcomes controlling for interdependency among twins and demographics. Within-pair regression analyses examined the association of BMI with health outcomes controlling for genetic and familial influences. Results Adjusted analyses with individual twins found associations in women between BMI and perceived stress ( P = .01) and depression ( P = .002), and the link between BMI and depression ( P = .03) was significant in men. All physical health outcomes were significantly related to BMI. Once genetic and familial factors were taken into account, mental health outcomes were no longer significantly associated with BMI. BMI in women remained related to ratings of physical health ( P = .01) and body pain ( P = .004), independent of genetic and familial influences. Conclusion These findings suggest that genetic and familial factors may account for the relationship between increased weight and poor mental health.
We used quantitative genetic methods to evaluate whether sleep quality, pain, and depression symptoms share a common genetic diathesis, to estimate the genetic and environmental sources of covariance ...among these symptoms, and to test for possible causal relationships.
A community sample of 400 twins from the University of Washington Twin Registry completed standardized self-report questionnaires. We used biometric modeling to assess genetic and environmental contribution to the association between sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, pain measured by the Brief Pain Inventory, and depression symptoms measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory. Trivariate Cholesky structural equation models were used to decompose correlations among the phenotypes.
Heritability was estimated at 37% (95% confidence interval = 20%-51%) for sleep quality, 25% (9%-41%) for pain, and 39% (22%-53%) for depression. Nonshared environmental influences accounted for the remaining variance. The genetic correlation between sleep quality and pain had an rg value of .69 (95% confidence interval CI = 0.33-0.97), rg value of .56 (95% CI = 0.55-0.98) between pain and depression, and rg value of .61 (95% CI = 0.44-0.88) between depression and sleep quality. Nonshared environmental overlap was present between pain and sleep quality as well as depression and sleep quality.
The link between sleep quality, pain, and depression was primarily explained by shared genetic influences. The genetic factors influencing sleep quality and pain were highly correlated even when accounting for depression. Findings support the hypothesis of a genetic link between depression and pain as well as potential causality for the association of sleep quality with pain and depression.
This meta-analysis systematically examined the association of reported psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with functional somatic syndromes including fibromyalgia, chronic ...widespread pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, temporomandibular disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome. Our goals were to determine the overall effect size of the association and to examine moderators of the relationship.
Literature searches identified 71 studies with a control or comparison group and examined the association of the syndromes with traumatic events including abuse of a psychological, emotional, sexual, or physical nature sustained during childhood or adulthood, combat exposure, or PTSD. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Planned subgroup analyses and meta-regression examined potential moderators.
Individuals who reported exposure to trauma were 2.7 (95% confidence interval = 2.27-3.10) times more likely to have a functional somatic syndrome. This association was robust against both publication bias and the generally low quality of the literature. The magnitude of the association with PTSD was significantly larger than that with sexual or physical abuse. The association of reported trauma with chronic fatigue syndrome was larger than the association with either irritable bowel syndrome or fibromyalgia. Studies using nonvalidated questionnaires or self-report of trauma reported larger associations than did those using validated questionnaires.
Findings are consistent with the hypothesis that traumatic events are associated with an increased prevalence of functional somatic syndromes. The analyses also highlight limitations of the existing literature and emphasize the importance of prospective studies, examining the potential similarities and differences of these conditions, and pursuing hypothesis-driven studies of the mechanisms underlying the link between trauma, PTSD, and functional somatic syndromes.
Abstract
Objective
The relationship between migraine and cognitive symptoms in Veterans is a complex issue, made more challenging by the high prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in this ...population. This study examined the relationship between migraine, TBI, and subjective cognitive function.
Method
Participants included 338,217 Veterans enrolled in the Million Veteran Program who completed the Medical Outcomes Study Cognitive Functioning Scale Revised (MOS-Cog-R), a self-report measure of cognitive functioning. Veterans were categorized into the following groups: (1) both migraine and TBI history (n = 7828), (2) migraine-only (n = 22,252), (3) TBI-only (n = 24,078), and (4) no history of migraine or TBI (n = 284,059). MOS-Cog-R scales were compared across groups using the Kruskal-Wallis Test for omnibus differences and Dunn’s test and Cliff’s Delta for effect size calculations of differences between groups.
Results
The migraine/TBI group reported the highest prevalence of cognitive symptoms across all domains (range: 76.1% for confusion to 90.5% for forgetfulness). In contrast, the no migraine/TBI group had the lowest prevalence of cognitive problems (range: 32.0% for confusion to 63.7% for forgetfulness). All omnibus group differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001), and nearly all pairwise comparisons were significant, except for some of the migraine-only vs. TBI-only group comparisons.
Conclusion
Results showed a “dose–response” relationship between diagnostic group and subjective cognitive symptoms, such that the migraine/TBI group fared the worst, followed by the TBI-only and migraine-only groups, and finally the no migraine/TBI group. Findings set the stage for follow-up work to be conducted within MVP that will address the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive distress in this population.
Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly used to treat binge eating. The effects of these interventions have not been reviewed comprehensively. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought ...to summarize the literature on mindfulness-based interventions and determine their impact on binge eating behavior. PubMED, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched using keywords binge eating, overeating, objective bulimic episodes, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, meditation, mindful eating. Of 151 records screened, 19 studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies showed effects of large magnitude. Results of random effects meta-analyses supported large or medium-large effects of these interventions on binge eating (within-group random effects mean Hedge’s
g
= −1.12, 95 % CI −1.67, −0.80,
k
= 18; between-group mean Hedge’s
g
= −0.70, 95 % CI −1.16, −0.24,
k
= 7). However, there was high statistical heterogeneity among the studies (within-group
I
2
= 93 %; between-group
I
2
= 90 %). Limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Chronic fatigue syndrome: a review Afari, Niloofar; Buchwald, Dedra
The American journal of psychiatry,
02/2003, Letnik:
160, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Chronic fatigue syndrome is an illness characterized by disabling fatigue of at least 6 months, accompanied by several other symptoms. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about ...chronic fatigue syndrome.
The case definition, prevalence, clinical presentation, evaluation, and prognosis of chronic fatigue syndrome are discussed. Research on the pathophysiology and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome is reviewed.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome experience significant functional impairment. Pathophysiological abnormalities exist across many domains, suggesting that chronic fatigue syndrome is a heterogeneous condition of complex and multifactorial etiology. Evidence also is beginning to emerge that chronic fatigue syndrome may be familial. Although chronic fatigue syndrome has significant symptom overlap and comorbidity with psychiatric disorders, several lines of research suggest that the illness may be distinct from psychiatric disorders. Patients' perceptions, attributions, and coping skills, however, may help perpetuate the illness. Treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome is symptom-based and includes pharmacological and behavioral strategies. Cognitive behavior therapy and graded exercise can be effective in treating the fatigue and associated symptoms and disability.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is unlikely to be caused or maintained by a single agent. Findings to date suggest that physiological and psychological factors work together to predispose an individual to the illness and to precipitate and perpetuate the illness. The assessment and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome should be multidimensional and tailored to the needs of the individual patient.
Autonomic nervous system functioning, measured with heart rate variability (HRV), is associated with emotion regulation and likely contributes to binge eating. This study examined the link between ...HRV and binge eating severity and analyzed changes in HRV as a marker of emotion regulation in individuals with binge eating. Participants (n = 28) with obesity and loss of control eating reported overeating and loss of control episodes and completed an HRV assessment at rest and during a mental stressor. At rest, lower time-domain HRV was linked to more severe loss of control (SDNN B = −0.18, p = 0.03). Frequency-domain HRV was associated with more severe overeating (LFn B = 14.92, p = 0.03; HFn B = −14.81, p = 0.04). Frequency-domain HRV differed between resting and stressed conditions (p's < 0.001). Findings contribute to understanding emotion regulation in binge eating and guide future research and novel intervention development.
•Lower autonomic nervous system flexibility is related to higher severity of loss of control eating.•Lower parasympathetic nervous system and higher sympathetic nervous system activity are linked to more severe overeating.•Heart rate variability may mark changes in emotion regulation capacity in individuals with obesity and loss of control eating.
•Individuals with a history of PTSD Criterion A trauma had more pain and more PTSD-like symptoms.•Pain and PTSD-like symptoms were also present in the context of stressful life events.•The link ...between pain and PTSD-like symptoms was largely independent of Criterion A trauma.•Treating physical and emotional problems in chronic pain patients is critical to improve outcomes.
Chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently co-occur, and research suggests that these 2 conditions exacerbate one another producing greater impact on normal functioning in combination than separately. The influence of traumatic experiences on both pain and PTSD has been shown, but the nature of this interplay remains unclear. Although Criterion A trauma is required for the diagnosis of PTSD, whether the association between PTSD and chronic pain is dependent on Criterion A is underexplored. In this observational cohort study, we examined the association between pain and PTSD-like symptoms in the context of Criterion A trauma in 5,791 men from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry. Correlations and mixed-effects regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version symptoms and multiple indicators of pain from the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire across trauma history and chronic pain conditions. 53.21% of the participants experienced trauma consistent with DSM-IV Criterion A for PTSD. The associations between pain indicators and PTSD-like symptoms was stronger for individuals with a history of trauma but remained robust for individuals without trauma history. Small but significant interactions between past trauma and pain indicators and PTSD-like symptoms were observed. Findings were similar in a subsample of participants with history of chronic pain conditions. The relationship between PTSD-like symptoms and indicators of pain were largely independent of trauma consistent with Criterion A, highlighting the need to better understand and address stressful life events in chronic pain patients and pain concerns in individuals reporting trauma.
This article demonstrates that the relationship between PTSD-like symptoms and indicators of pain is largely independent of trauma consistent with Criterion A. This finding highlights the need to better understand and address stressful life events in chronic pain patients and pain concerns in individuals reporting trauma.
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