Juan F. Godoy

Gender differences in pressure pain threshold in a repeated measures assessment

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate gender differences in the pain threshold, considering the type of pressure point, its location and the repetition of the assessment. The pressure pain threshold was evaluated in 30 healthy volunteers (12 men and 18 women) in three assessment sessions separated by 15 min and 7 days, respectively. Each assessment session was in turn composed of two trials in each of which 24 different pressure points (symmetrically located), representing the 18 tender points for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and six control points, were assessed. Gender differences were found in the pain threshold for all of the points and the measures taken, women showing a lower pain threshold in comparison to men and being these differences more pronounced for control points than for tender points, the former reaching statistical significance in all cases. The analysis of the influence of repeated measures on gender differences in the pain threshold showed a distinct pattern of recuperation in men than in women, although only one difference in pain threshold was significant. The utility of the tender point concept to study gender differences in pain threshold and the mechanisms that may explain different patterns of recuperation between genders are discussed.

Self-regulation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) — the peak-to-peak variations in heart rate caused by respiration — can be used as a noninvasive measure of parasympathetic cardiac control. In the present study four strategies to increase RSA amplitude are investigated: (1) biofeedback of RSA amplitude, (2) biofeedback of RSA amplitude plus respiratory instructions, (3) respiratory biofeedback, and (4) respiratory instructions only. All four procedures produce a significant increase of RSA amplitude from the first physiological control trial compared to baseline. This increase is faster for the groups that received respiratory biofeedback and respiratory instructions only than for the two groups that received biofeedback of RSA amplitude, the increases being equivalent for the four groups in the third session. All subjects of the group that received biofeedback of RSA amplitude only reported respiratory strategies in order to achieve the increase in RSA. Possible clinical implications of these results for parasympathetic cardiac control and cardiovascular disorders are discussed.

Illness beliefs about cancer among healthy adults who have and have not lived with cancer patients.

BackgroundIllness representations have been proposed as key determinants for facing health risks and managing disease, and consequently for health outcomes.PurposeThis study aims to know and compare non-specialised illness representations of cancer among adults who had not suffered from cancer and who had/had not lived with cancer patients.MethodThe revised Illness Perception Questionnaire was adapted to assess illness perceptions among healthy people. Cancer representations were explored in a community-based sample of adults of both genders from different educational backgrounds and who had differing experience with cancer, none being a patient.ResultsThe participants’ beliefs about cancer included both biomedical and folk knowledge. Compared to age, sex, and educational level, family experience with cancer (having lived or not with a patient) had the strongest impact on the contents of the representations on cancer. Further, people with a family experience with the disease, compared to those not having a relative diagnosed with cancer, reported significantly more symptoms and stronger emotional impact.ConclusionsThis study allowed us to establish the perceptions on cancer of non-patients with no specialised knowledge. Findings may help in designing and implementing tailored preventive interventions taking into account family experience with the disease, as well as interventions aimed at enhancing family and social care and support given to cancer patients.

Cardiovascular effects of traffic noise : the role of negative self-statements

This study assesses cardiovascular and subjective effects of traffic noise and the mediator role that negative self-statements play. Eighty-four female students underwent a Physiological Reaction Test to two 15 min presentations of high intensity traffic noise (85-95 db) under two noise conditions, with and without negative self-statements. Half of the subjects were given specific instructions to increase the credibility of the self-statements. Dependent variables were heart rate (HR), blood volume pulse amplitude from both temporal arteries and subjective tension. Traffic noise provoked subjective tension and cardiovascular responses that did not habituate either within or between noise presentations. Negative self-statements had the greatest effect on HR. In fact, this response habituated to a second noise presented only when this condition was without negative self-statements. Instructions increased the effect of the self-statements only on the left temporal artery and also increased subjective tension. The implications of this physiological reactivity in psychosomatic problems and the importance of negative self-statements are discussed.

Physiological and subjective effects of traffic noise: The role of negative self-statements

This study assesses physiological and subjective effects of traffic noise and the mediator role that negative self-statements play. 84 female students underwent a Physiological Reaction Test to two 15 min presentations of high intensity traffic noise (85-95 dB) under two Noise conditions--with and without negative self-statements. Half of the subjects were given specific instructions to increase the credibility of the self-statements. Dependent variables were frontal EMG, electrodermal variables (conductance level and number of responses) and subjective tension. Traffic noise provoked subjective tension and physiological responses. Only the number of electrodermal responses habituated between noise presentations, the rest of the physiological variables did not habituate. Negative self-statements had the greatest effect on frontal EMG. In fact, only the noise with negative self-statements condition produced a significant EMG increase in the first part of the Test. Instructions increased subjective tension and also increased the effect of the self-statements on the electrodermal variables. The implications of these results for psychosomatic problems and the importance of negative self-statements are discussed.

Clinical outcomes of a coping with stress training program among patients suffering from schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: a pilot study.

This study evaluated the clinical effects of an intervention aimed at enhancing specific self-efficacy for coping with stress (CSSE) among patients with psychosis. Fourteen patients, 21–60 years old, diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder voluntarily participated and were randomly assigned to a training and a control group. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-24 was used to assess psychotic symptoms (primary outcomes) at baseline, post-intervention, and three- and six-month follow-ups. The participants also completed self-reports on well-being and satisfaction with intervention outcomes (secondary outcomes) at post-intervention and at the two follow-up assessments. Trained patients showed a significant decrease in all measures of psychotic symptoms (for disorientation, not significant (NS); effect sizes up to d = 4.80). This decline in symptoms remained significant at the follow-ups, with clinical enhancements on some of the subscales. By contrast, control participants showed no significant change in their symptoms. Short- and long-term overall well-being and satisfaction with outcomes were higher among the participants who received the training program. Our findings point out the relevance of enhancing CSSE among patients with psychosis, along with enhancing their coping skills for managing their illness. We conclude that CSSE training should be considered in future therapeutic interventions for psychotic disorders.

Discrimination between and among schizophrenics and other pathologies using a Spanish version of the Whitaker index of schizophrenic thinking

A Spanish version of Forms A and B of the Whitaker Index of Schizophrenic Thinking (WIST) was administered to two sets of subjects. In the first study, the WIST was administered to 147 subjects of both sexes grouped into one of six categories: acute paranoid schizophrenic, acute nonparanoid schizophrenic, chronic paranoid schizophrenic, chronic nonparanoid schizophrenic, normal, and university student. Results revealed significant group differences; schizophrenics scored significantly higher. Further, chronic schizophrenics, regardless of the existence of paranoia, scored higher than acute subjects. In the second study, a heterogenous group of schizophrenics was compared to heroin addicts and depressed subjects (total N = 93). Significant group differences again were noted; the schizophrenics scored higher than the two other clinical samples.