Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals to eliminate avoidant and safety-seeking behaviors that prevent self-correction of faulty beliefs, thereby facilitating stress management to ...reduce stress-related disorders and enhance mental health. The present review evaluated the effectiveness of CBT in stressful conditions among clinical and general populations, and identified recent advances in CBT-related techniques. A search of the literature for studies conducted during 1987-2021 identified 345 articles relating to biopsychosocial medicine; 154 (45%) were review articles, including 14 systemic reviews, and 53 (15%) were clinical trials including 45 randomized controlled trials. The results of several randomized controlled trials indicated that CBT was effective for a variety of mental problems (e.g., anxiety disorder, attention deficit hypersensitivity disorder, bulimia nervosa, depression, hypochondriasis), physical conditions (e.g., chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, breast cancer), and behavioral problems (e.g., antisocial behaviors, drug abuse, gambling, overweight, smoking), at least in the short term; more follow-up observations are needed to assess the long-term effects of CBT. Mental and physical problems can likely be managed effectively with online CBT or self-help CBT using a mobile app, but these should be applied with care, considering their cost-effectiveness and applicability to a given population. Keywords: Biopsychosocial approach, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Stress management
To examine the effectiveness of board games and programs that use board games, the present study conducted a systematic review using the PsycINFO and PubMed databases with the keywords "board game" ...AND "trial;" in total, 71 studies were identified. Of these 71 studies, 27 satisfied the inclusion criteria in terms of program content, intervention style, and pre-post comparisons and were subsequently reviewed. These 27 studies were divided into the following three categories regarding the effects of board games and programs that use board games: educational knowledge (11 articles), cognitive functions (11 articles), and other conditions (five articles). The effect sizes between pre- and post-tests or pre-tests and follow-up tests were 0.12-1.81 for educational knowledge, 0.04-2.60 and - 1.14 - - 0.02 for cognitive functions, 0.06-0.65 for physical activity, and - 0.87 - - 0.61 for symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present findings showed that, as a tool, board games can be expected to improve the understanding of knowledge, enhance interpersonal interactions among participants, and increase the motivation of participants. However, because the number of published studies in this area remains limited, the possibility of using board games as treatment for clinical symptoms requires further discussion. Keywords: Board game, Systematic review, Education, Cognitive function
•We assessed the association between hair cortisol and diurnal basal cortisol level.•Hair cortisol was moderately correlated with the integrated 30-day salivary cortisol.•Intra-individual hair ...cortisol stability was maintained for at least 4 months.•Mean salivary cortisol at bedtime was significantly correlated with hair cortisol.•Hair cortisol may reflect basal cortisol levels substantially over longer periods.
This study aimed to validate the association between hair cortisol and 30-day integrated salivary cortisol levels. Additionally, the intra-individual stability of the hair cortisol and the association between hair cortisol and salivary cortisol in several time domains were systematically explored. Twenty-four adults (15 men and 9 women, mean age: 22.7 ± 2.8 years) were asked to collect three saliva samples per day for 30 days, immediately after awakening (time 1), 30 min after awakening (time 2), and at bedtime (time 3). The hair sample was taken from the posterior vertex as close as possible to the scalp at the end of the 30-day study period. The area under the curve based on times 1 and 3 showed that cortisol levels in the 1 cm hair segment closest to the scalp were moderately correlated with the 30-day salivary cortisol levels (r = 0.41, p = 0.047). However, this correlation was not observed for the cortisol awakening response, diurnal slope, or other metrics in different time domains. The mean salivary cortisol at time 3 was significantly correlated with hair cortisol (r = 0.42, p = 0.041). Intra-individual stability of the hair cortisol was maintained for at least 4 months. Hair cortisol may reflect basal cortisol levels more substantially over longer periods (longer than 1 month and for at least 4 month), thus reflecting longitudinal cortisol production, rather than the day-to-day temporal cortisol response. Salivary cortisol is an ideal metric for short-term or day-to-day stress response. Researchers should select suitable metrics, such as hair cortisol for basal level (or trait) or salivary cortisol for response (or state), depending on the study objective.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively improves the clinical symptoms of social anxiety disorder. However, there are non-responders who cannot decrease their cost/probability bias ...significantly; hence, their social anxiety symptoms remain unaddressed. Mindfulness training and cognitive-behavioral approaches promote a reduction in cost/probability bias and social anxiety symptoms. This study examines the effectiveness of a four-session program of mindfulness and CBT (M-CBT) in a non-clinical sample of individuals with high social anxiety.
Participants were 50 Japanese undergraduate students (37 women and 13 men) randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 27) and a control group (n = 23). The intervention group underwent a four-session M-CBT program, while the control group did not receive any treatment.
A group × time analysis of covariances showed significant interactions in the negative cognition generated when paying attention to others in probability bias, fear of negative evaluation by others, dispositional mindfulness, depressive symptoms, and subjective happiness. M-CBT also produced significant pre-post improvements in the above outcomes with moderate to high effect sizes (ds = .51-1.55). Conversely, there were no interactions in social anxiety symptoms and self-focused attention.
These results indicate that M-CBT was effective for the negative cognition generated when paying attention to others in probability bias, fear of negative evaluation by others, dispositional mindfulness, depressive symptoms, and subjective happiness. The combination of mindfulness training with cognitive restructuring is proposed as potentially helpful for individuals with probability bias, leading to negative cognition from paying attention to others.
University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN CTR) UMIN000036763. Registered May 16, 2019.
Self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, and avoidance behavior are maintaining factors for social anxiety. In particular, cost bias and avoidance behavior predict social anxiety. It has been ...shown that the enhancement of trait mindfulness improves these maintaining factors. This study examines the relationships among trait mindfulness, self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, avoidance behavior, and social anxiety, and clarifies whether they mediate the relationship between trait mindfulness and social anxiety. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the relationships among these variables. Participants were recruited from three universities in Japan (January 2019–December 2019). Undergraduate students (
N
= 367) completed a set of self-report measures assessing trait mindfulness, self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, avoidance behavior, and social anxiety. Results of path analyses revealed that the hypothesized model’s goodness-of-fit indices had high values. Trait mindfulness showed a direct negative association with self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, avoidance behavior, and social anxiety. Moreover, trait mindfulness was negatively associated with social anxiety
via
self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, and avoidance behavior. These findings indicate that mindfulness plays an important role in social anxiety and provide impetus for future research involving clinical studies of mindfulness-based interventions for social anxiety.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal psychosomatic disorder that often develops and worsens with stress. Hence, it is important to treat it from both, its physical and mental aspects. ...We reviewed recent research on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)--one of the most widely studied psychological treatments for IBS--since it focuses on addressing the cognitions and behaviors associated with IBS symptoms, and combines diverse content, such as cognitive techniques, exposure, stress management, and mindfulness, whose effects have been widely studied. Research on CBT for IBS varies not only in terms of content of the interventions, but also in terms of implementation (individual or group, face-to-face or online). Internet-delivered CBT has recently shown the possibility of providing more accessible and cost-effective psychological intervention to IBS patients in formats, other than face-to-face. In recent years, many standardized scales that allow for IBS-specific psychological assessments have been used in clinical studies of CBT for IBS. Tools that competently deliver effective interventions and properly measure their effectiveness are expected to spread to many people suffering from IBS. Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome, Cognitive behavior therapy, Psychological assessment, Brain-gut axis
COVID-19 continues to have a global impact and has yet to converge. Behavioral restrictions in daily life are widespread, forcing changes to the behavioral patterns of people. Significant changes ...have also occurred in children's lives, raising concerns about mental health. The same is true for anxiety symptoms.
In this paper, we described the COVID-19 pandemic effects on mental health, summarized Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) as an applicability of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for COVID-19, and summarized ICBT's current state as a response for anxiety. An overview of previous intervention studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ICBT, showed that many studies were highly effective against anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, regarding the follow-up of ICBT's intervention effect, long-term effect maintenance was also clarified. It was likewise pointed out that ICBT may be used in the future since it is beneficial for children's anxiety symptoms in telemedicine.
Based on these results from previous studies, we discuss ICBT's applicability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, future measures and prospects for children's mental health during the pandemic are discussed in this study.
Summary This study investigated variations in salivary levels of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in a prolonged stressful situation (a two-week teaching practice). Thirty-three women for ...whom a two-week teaching practice at a kindergarten was scheduled were asked to collect saliva samples at awakening, 30 min after awakening, and bedtime at four time points: two weeks before the practice, the first week of the practice, the second week of the practice, and a few days after the practice. In addition, they completed questionnaires for assessing perceived stress and subjective moods on each day. A linear mixed model indicated that cortisol levels significantly increased during the first and second week of the practice compared with those before and after the practice period, and that DHEA levels significantly decreased after the practice period compared with those at the other time points. Further, cortisol awakening response after the practice period significantly reduced compared with that at the other time points. Scores of perceived stress and negative moods were also higher during the practice period. This study showed that prolonged stress affected cortisol and DHEA secretion during as well as after the stress period.
Background The Cognitive Scale for Functional Bowel Disorders (CS-FBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Behavioral Responses Questionnaire (IBS-BRQ) are a useful measures to assess cognitive-behavioral ...aspects in individuals with IBS. This study aimed to confirm the reliability and validity of the Japanese versions of the CS-FBD (CS-FBD-J) and IBS-BRQ (IBS-BRQ-J). Methods Participants comprised 192 students and 22 outpatients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There were 76 students who met the diagnostic criteria for IBS and two students who received treatment for IBS. Participants completed questionnaires containing the CS-FBD-J, IBS Severity Index (IBS-SI), Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI), 24-item Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS-24), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS). Results Our exploratory factor analysis revealed that the CS-FBD-J had a unidimensional factor structure and that the factor loadings for two of the 25 items were less than 0.4. The IBS-BRQ-J had a two-factor structure, and the factor loadings for eight of the 26 items were less than 0.4. The confirmatory factor analysis for the 18-item version of IBS-BRQ-J showed that the model fit indices were not sufficient. The CS-FBD-J and IBS-BRQ-J had significant, moderate correlations with the IBS-SI and VSI in the IBS and control groups. Correlation between the DAS-24 and the CS-FBD-J was not significant. The CS-FBD-J and IBS-BRQ-J were significantly correlated to the HADS and SASS (IBS-BRQ-J) only in the IBS group. The scores of CS-FBD-J and IBS-BRQ-J showed significant group differences between the IBS patient group, non-patient IBS group, and control group. The internal consistencies of the CS-FBD-J and IBS-BRQ-J were high. The item-total correlation analysis for the CS-FBD-J and IBS-BRQ-J showed that the correlations between each item and the total score were significant. Conclusion This study confirmed the reliability and validity of the 23-item version of the CS-FBS-J and the 18-item version of the IBS-BRQ-J with the deletion of items with low factor loadings. Regarding the IBS-BRQ-J, two factor structures were confirmed (factor 1: behavior obsessed with abdominal symptoms, factor 2: avoidance of abdominal symptoms and associated difficulties) although the model fit of the structure needs further study. Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome, Cognitive scale for functional bowel disorders, Irritable bowel syndrome-behavioral responses questionnaire, Japanese version
Background
Social evaluative threat activates the HPA-axis system, namely cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) responses. Additionally, cognitive and behavioral models in social anxiety, which ...is aroused anxiety symptoms in social situations, indicate that negative cognitions have a role in the maintenance of symptoms. Thus, the present study examined the relationship between HPA-axis activity and cognitive features in social situations.
Method
We conducted the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) with 44 male participants and assessed HPA-axis responses, fear of negative evaluation, the estimated social cost, and self-perceptions of their speech performance, which are core negative cognitions in social situations.
Results
Results revealed that the cortisol-DHEA ratio significantly correlated with self-perceptions of participants’ speech performance (
r
= .30,
p
= .044) and the discrepancy between self-ratings and others’ ratings of the speech (
r
= .44,
p
= .003). After controlling for depressive symptoms, significant correlations remained (
r
= .39,
p
= .01 and
r
= .50,
p
= .001, respectively). In addition, the estimated social cost, assessed before the speech task, significantly correlated with both the AUCg cortisol (
r
= .38,
p
= .011) and cortisol-DHEA ratios (
r
= .40,
p
= .007).
Conclusion
These results suggest that estimating social costs in social situations, as well as distorted self-perceptions of that stressor, is related to dysfunctional endocrine regulation.
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