Purpose:
To examine the effects on anxiety of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) among youth with anxiety disorders.
Method:
Systematic review and meta-analytic procedures were employed to ...synthesize experimental and quasi-experimental studies authored between 1980 and 2015.
Results:
The search yielded five studies from five countries reporting results for a total of 188 youth between the ages of 5 and 18 (mean age 13.26) who met criteria for an anxiety disorder. Risk of bias varied across studies. Meta-analytic results suggest a moderate and significant effect (g = .62; 95% confidence interval = 0.20, 1.04, p = .004). Heterogeneity was moderate (I
2 = 47.22) and not statistically significant (Q = 7.58, df = 4, p = .11), thus moderator analyses were not warranted.
Discussion:
The findings of this review suggest that MBIs for the treatment of anxiety in youth with anxiety disorders are effective.
Despite growing interest in psychopathic personality features in juvenile offenders, few studies have examined the relationship between childhood trauma and psychopathy. The present study utilized ...two datasets: 253 adolescents in a residential facility for juvenile offenders in Pennsylvania and 723 institutionalized delinquents in Missouri. Zero-order correlations and linear regression techniques were employed for boys and girls to examine the relationships between trauma, assessed using the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Version 2 (MAYSI-2) Traumatic Experiences Scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and psychopathy as measured by the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) and the Psychopathic Personality Inventory–Short Form (PPI-SF). Results indicate that psychopathy is significantly correlated with childhood trauma. For the Missouri data, trauma significantly predicted psychopathy scores for both boys and girls. These results suggest that nuanced understanding of traumatic history of these adolescents may not only be a pathway to psychopathy but also a critical part of their overall assessment and treatment plan.
Anxiety has significant consequences for maternal and infant health, and Mexican immigrant mothers are at significantly high-risk. This study examined whether maternal depressive symptoms and trauma ...are related to anxiety symptoms in perinatal Mexican immigrants. Data were collected from 103 Mexican women residing in the Midwestern United States who were pregnant or up to two years postpartum. Half were aged 30–34. The majority had two or more children and low socio-economic status. Linear regression analyses predicted current anxiety symptoms from current maternal depression symptoms, trauma history, and socio-demographics. Anxiety symptoms were significantly related to depressive symptoms (B = 0.87, 95% CI 0.73, 1.01) and trauma. Compared to women with no trauma history, women who experienced more than ten traumas had increased anxiety symptoms (B = 7.15, 95% CI 0.34, 13.96). Perinatal Mexican women with higher depression symptoms and trauma have increased anxiety symptoms, increasing the need for more comprehensive screening.
We applied critical race theory’s concept of intersectionality to analyze the experiences of discrimination among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the United States, across race, ...gender, and sexuality. We collected tweets from October 2016 through December 2017 using the hashtag #thisis2016 on the social media platform, Twitter. Data were scoped down to 3,156 tweets and were coded by four members of our research team—all of whom identify as Asian American female social workers. Only intersectional themes related to the convergence of race, gender, and sexuality among APIs are reported in this article. These six themes include the following: (1) API women are perceived to be exotic and are overtly sexualized, (2) API women are expected to be passive, (3) API men are perceived to be weak and asexual, (4) Both API men and women are the objects of racialized violence and sexual harassment, (5) Queer APIs have unique experiences of sexualized harassment and violence, and (6) APIs are the subjects of neocolonialist attitudes. Taken together, these themes portray an intersectional understanding of the Asian American experience that counteracts stereotypes of Asians as the “model minority,” who do not experience racialized, sexualized, and gendered microaggressions.
Purpose:
Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is an intervention used to treat alcohol and nicotine dependence that delivers cue exposure therapy using a virtual reality environment; however, ...little is known about the effects of these interventions.
Method:
We used systematic review methods to examine the effects of VRET on alcohol or nicotine dependence, craving, and substance use with persons with current nicotine or alcohol dependence. We conducted a comprehensive search to retrieve published and unpublished intervention studies in 18 databases and other gray literature sources. Studies were screened, and data were extracted by two independent reviewers.
Results:
Five studies including 212 participants were included. Effects were found for alcohol and nicotine dependence and craving; however, significant methodological issues and high risk of bias were present across studies.
Conclusion:
Evidence of effects of VRET is sparse, and methodological flaws and gaps in reporting were identified. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Asian Americans have a history of discrimination and othering in the US. In October 2016, journalist Michael Luo put out a call for Asian Americans to tweet racist encounters using the hashtag, ...#thisis2016. The aim of this study was to examine the encounters shared by Asian Americans. Tweets between October 2016 and December 2017 were obtained via Twitter. The tweets were scoped down to 3,156 tweets to include those that appeared to answer the original call. A phenomenological approach was the overall framework with thematic content analysis applied to analyze the data. Tweets were categorized by type of racist encounter. The racist encounters included: microaggressions, denial of intra-ethnic differences, seen as other, verbal harassment, validation of anti-Asian racism, prejudice, verbal violence/attack, and model minority. Understanding the unique experiences of Asian American individuals, families, and communities helps to target policies, social services, and programming that takes these factors into account.
This Campbell systematic review sought to examine the effects trauma-informed schools on trauma symptoms/mental health, academic performance, behavior, and socioemotional functioning. Trauma-informed ...approaches include programs, organizations, or systems that realize the impact of trauma, recognize the symptoms of trauma, respond by integrating knowledge about trauma policies and practices, and seeks to reduce retraumatization. At least two of the three key elements of a trauma-informed approach must have been present: (1) workforce development; (2) trauma-focused services; and (3) organizational environment and practices, which differ from trauma-specific interventions designed to treat or otherwise address the impact/symptoms of trauma and facilitate healing. Although the authors conducted a comprehensive search to find studies testing trauma-informed approaches in schools, no studies met the inclusion criteria, indicating that there is a lack of evidence of trauma-informed approaches in schools.
In the bone marrow, CXCL12 and IL-7 are essential for B cell differentiation, whereas hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance requires SCF and CXCL12. Peri-sinusoidal stromal (PSS) cells are ...the main source of IL-7, but their characterization as a pro-B cell niche remains limited. Here, we characterize pro-B cell supporting stromal cells and decipher the interaction network allowing pro-B cell retention. Preferential contacts are found between pro-B cells and PSS cells, which homogeneously express HSC and B cell niche genes. Furthermore, pro-B cells are frequently located in the vicinity of HSCs in the same niche. Using an interactome bioinformatics pipeline, we identify Nidogen-1 as essential for pro-B cell retention in the peri-sinusoidal niche as confirmed in Nidogen-1−/− mice. Finally, human pro-B cells and hematopoietic progenitors are observed close to similar IL-7+ stromal cells. Thus, a multispecific niche exists in mouse and human supporting both early progenitors and committed hematopoietic lineages.
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•Murine peri-sinusoidal stromal cells co-express HSC and early B cell niche genes•HSCs and early B cells form specific interaction networks with PSS cells•Nidogen-1 is involved in pro-B cell retention in the peri-sinusoidal niche•Stromal cells with similar characteristics are present in human bone marrow
Balzano et al. show that bone marrow peri-sinusoidal stromal cells, which form the hematopoietic stem cell niche, also express B cell niche genes including IL-7 and Nidogen-1. Loss of Nidogen-1 expression specifically affects access of pro-B cells to IL-7, resulting in impaired expansion and differentiation of early B cells.
Adverse childhood events have been shown to impact individuals through adulthood, particularly the impact on relationships. This study aimed to examine intergenerational trauma exposure among a ...sample of parents living in a semi-urban Salvadoran community and the relationship between child trauma exposure with maternal perceived discrimination, internal strengths and external support. Survey data was collected from 49 mothers residing in El Salvador. Bivariate analyses and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between children’s exposure to adverse childhood events and parents’ exposure to adverse childhood events, while controlling for discrimination. The results of the regression analysis indicate that the maternal number of adverse childhood events and experience of discrimination as an adult explained 52.9% of the variance (
R
2
= 0.59, F(6, 43) = 10.18,
p
< .0001). The number of adverse childhood events was significantly predicted by maternal number of adverse events (
B
= 0.32, 95% CI = 0.17–0.48,
p
< .0001) and experience of discrimination as adults (
B
= 5.79, 95% CI = 3.51–8.07,
p
< .0001). Results suggest that parent exposure to adverse childhood events and parent experience with discrimination are related to the exposure to adverse childhood events of their children. Further research in this area is warranted to better understand the experiences of parents who have been exposed to childhood trauma and the day-to-day parenting challenges. Greater understanding of the impact of childhood trauma also encourages service providers to explore intergenerational interventions.
Latinx adults in the U.S. encounter barriers to quality behavioral healthcare despite high rates of trauma exposure and co-morbid mental health issues in clinical samples. Engaging Latinx adults in ...treatment requires understanding the clinical issues facing this population. This study analyzed clinical records from 120 Latinx adults referred for mental health assessment during a primary care visit. Nearly two-thirds met criteria for partial- or full-PTSD, which was significantly associated with higher rates of stress, depression and anxiety. Integrating behavioral health services within primary care settings serving Latinx adults to increase access to trauma-informed care for this population is discussed.
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