Validation of the German Purpose in Life Questionnaire (PLQ) in a healthy population and patients with cardiovascular disease.

In this cross-sectional study, a German translation of the subscale "Purpose in Life" (PLQ) from the Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB) was validated in a representative sample of participants from healthy and cardiovascular populations. The main objectives were to assess the reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity using a large and representative sample (N = 466 healthy sample, N = 247 patients with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), N = 70 patients with a cardiovascular disease (CVD)). The findings indicated that the German PLQ is a reliable and valid measure of positive psychological well-being, showing a positive correlation with health-related quality of life, optimism, and positive affect.

Atypical attention and saccade vigor in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Effective attention control is essential for behavioral adaptation to different environmental contexts. In Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) altered attention has been described in trauma-related and other emotional contexts. Nevertheless, atypical attention is also seen with neutral stimuli.

Larger comfortable interpersonal distances in adults exposed to child maltreatment: The role of depressive symptoms and social anxiety.

Previous studies report a preference for larger comfortable interpersonal distance (CIPD) in individuals with child maltreatment (CM) when being approached by others. Yet, research on approaching others, as opposed to being approached, as well as on potential effects of social anxiety and depression is lacking. We investigated if CM and depressive symptoms influence CIPD and if social anxiety mediates the possible association of CM and CIPD when approaching a female stranger.

Long-Term Follow-Up of HRQoL up to Six Years after Outpatient Phase-II Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves HRQoL; however, evidence on long-term HRQoL changes after CR, and their predictors, is missing. A total of 153 patients with complete HRQoL data in the short-form (SF)-36 Health Survey at CR entry, discharge and follow-up were included.

Differential associations of sex and age with changes in HRQoL during outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent the world's leading cause of death. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a widely applied concept of patients' perceived health and is directly linked to CVD morbidity, mortality, and re-hospitalization rates. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves both cardiovascular outcomes and HRQoL.

Longitudinal association between positive affect and blood lipids in patients following acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Unfavorable blood lipid profiles are robust risk factors in predicting atherosclerotic disease. Studies have shown that positive affect (PA) is associated with a favorable lipid profile. However, longitudinal studies regarding the course of PA and lipid profiles in myocardial infarction (MI) patients are lacking.

Predictors of gain in exercise capacity through cardiac rehabilitation: Sex and age matter.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a cornerstone of secondary prevention that improves cardiovascular outcomes. However, the determinants of treatment success are poorly understood.

Objectives: We investigated the associations of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), sex, age, employment status and housing situation with improvement in exercise capacity throughout CR.

Adults with a history of childhood maltreatment with and without mental disorders show alterations in the recognition of facial expressions.

Individuals with child maltreatment (CM) experiences show alterations in emotion recognition (ER). However, previous research has mainly focused on populations with specific mental disorders, which makes it unclear whether alterations in the recognition of facial expressions are related to CM, to the presence of mental disorders or to the combination of CM and mental disorders, and on ER of emotional, rather than neutral facial expressions. Moreover, commonly, recognition of static stimulus material was researched.

Individuals with and without child maltreatment experiences are evaluated similarly and do not differ in facial affect display at zero- and first-acquaintance.

Background: Individuals with a history of child maltreatment (CM) are more often disliked, rejected and victimized compared to individuals without such experiences. However, contributing factors for these negative evaluations are so far unknown.

Objective: Based on previous research on adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD), this preregistered study assessed whether negative evaluations of adults with CM experiences, in comparison to unexposed controls, are mediated by more negative and less positive facial affect display.

Differential associations of emotional and physical domains of the MacNew Heart with changes in 6-min walking test.

Aims: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a key component of secondary prevention in cardiac patients, contributes fundamentally to improved cardiovascular health outcomes. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) represents a widely employed outcome measure in CR, yet, its predictive properties on exercise capacity change during CR are poorly understood. Aim of this study was to examine the association between baseline HRQOL and its subdomains on improvement of exercise capacity during CR.

Sex and age as predictors of health-related quality of life change in Phase II cardiac rehabilitation.

Aims: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) not only improves cardiovascular outcomes, but also health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Unfortunately, CR is still underutilized, especially among women and older patients. Aim of this study was to highlight age- and sex-specific effects of inpatient CR on HRQOL.

The use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors increases the risk of bleeding in patients with assist devices.

Background: Bleedings are frequent and dreaded complications in heart failure patients with ventricular assist devices (VAD). Serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants are widely used to treat depression in these patients, though they are attributed an increased risk of bleeding due to their modification of hemostasis. Evidence on bleeding risk of VAD patients under SRI medication is scarce and limited.

Mental disorders, length of hospitalization, and psychopharmacy-New approaches to identify barriers to psychological support for patients with cancer.

Background: Despite abundant evidence that emotional distress is frequent in cancer patients and associated with adverse health outcomes, distress screening rates and adequate referrals to psychological support programs among those in need are insufficient in many cancer centers. We therefore aimed to analyze patient- and treatment-related barriers to distress screening and referrals to psychological support as a mandatory component of best-practice cancer care.

Method: In the present explorative study, latent class analysis was used to identify homogeneous subgroups among 4837 patients diagnosed with cancer between 2011 and 2019.

Interfering with fear memories by eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

Objective: Pharmacologic and behavioral interventions that block reconsolidation of reactivated fear memory have demonstrated only limited success in modifying stronger and long-standing fear memories. Given the efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in treating PTSD, pursuit eye movements are a promising and novel intervention for studies of human memory reconsolidation. Here, we examined the efficacy of pursuit eye movements in interfering with reconsolidation of conditioned fear memories.

Functional impairment in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious and debilitating condition often associated with significant impairments in daily functioning. To date, research on the complexity of functional impairment in individuals with PTSD is scarce and only limited. Yet, a quantitative synthesis and comprehensive review of existing evidence is needed to better characterize the magnitude of functional impairment in PTSD in distinct domains.

Quality of Life in Transitioned Trans Persons: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Background: Medical gender-affirming interventions (GAI) are important in the transition process of many trans persons. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between GAI and quality of life (QoL) of transitioned trans individuals.

Methods: 143 trans persons were recruited from a multicenter outpatient Swiss population as well as a web-based survey.

Gender Minority Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Transitioned Swiss Transpersons.

Compared to the general population, transpersons are exposed to higher levels of discrimination and violence. The stigmatization of transpersons can lead to physical and psychological problems. In particular, transindividuals exhibit a higher prevalence of depression compared to the cispopulation.

Limb amputation and other disability desires as a medical condition.

Some people have a profound dissatisfaction with what is considered an able-bodied state by most others. These individuals desire to be disabled, by conventional standards. In this Review, we integrate research findings about the desire for a major limb amputation or paralysis (xenomelia).

Quantification of subcortical gray-matter vascularization using 7 Tesla time-of-flight angiography.

Background The integrity of subcortical brain nuclei is associated with maintenance of regular cognitive performance levels and has been shown to be particularly affected by aging-related vascular pathology. This study aims to demonstrate applicability of high field strength magnetic resonance angiography at 7 Tesla (7T) for assessment of interindividual variation in subcortical vascularization. Methods Two healthy female subjects without known history of cerebrovascular disease or malformation, aged 43 and 86 years, respectively, were administered three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography at 7T.

Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3-β improves liver microcirculation and hepatocellular function after hemorrhagic shock.

Ischemia and reperfusion may cause liver injury and are characterized by hepatic microperfusion failure and a decreased hepatocellular function. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, a serine-threonine kinase that has recently emerged as a key regulator in the modulation of the inflammatory response after stress events, may be protective in conditions like sepsis, inflammation and shock. Therefore, aim of the study was to assess the role of GSK-3β in liver microcirculation and hepatocellular function after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (H/R).