Diffusion MRI derived free-water imaging measures in patients with schizophrenia and their non-psychotic siblings.

Free-water imaging is a diffusion MRI technique that separately models water diffusion hindered by fiber tissue and water that disperses freely in the extracellular space. Studies using this technique have shown that schizophrenia is characterized by a lower level of fractional anisotropy of the tissue compartment (FA) and higher free-water fractional volume (FW). It is unknown, however, whether such abnormalities are an expression of pre-existing (genetic) risk for schizophrenia or a manifestation of the illness.

Intervention mechanisms of an experience sampling intervention for spousal carers of people with dementia: a secondary analysis using momentary data.

A psychosocial intervention for spousal carers of people with dementia promoted emotional well-being through self-monitoring and personalized feedback, as demonstrated in a previous randomized controlled trial. The mechanism behind the intervention effects is thought to lie in increased awareness of, and thus, engagement in behaviours that elicit positive emotions (PA). This secondary analysis tests the assumption by investigating momentary data on activities, affect, and stress and explores the relevance of personalized feedback compared to self-monitoring only.

Sahaj Samadhi Meditation versus a Health Enhancement Program for depression in chronic pain: protocol for a randomized controlled trial and implementation evaluation.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of comorbid chronic pain and depression, this comorbidity remains understudied. Meditation has demonstrated efficacy for both chronic pain and depression independently, yet there have been few studies examining its effectiveness when both conditions are present concurrently. Furthermore, while meditation is generally accepted as a safe and effective health intervention, little is known about how to implement meditation programs within or alongside the health care system.

Improving social functioning in community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled computer cognitive remediation therapy trial with six months follow-up.

Computerized cognitive remediation therapy (CCRT) has been found to generally improve cognition among patients with schizophrenia, but its effect on functioning has not been extensively studied. This study addressed this gap in the literature by investigating the effect of CCRT and its long-term efficacy among community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia. 157 Chinese patients with schizophrenia were recruited from communities and randomized to CCRT (n = 78) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 79) groups for 12 weeks with 4-5 sessions per week.

Interhemispheric connectivity and hemispheric specialization in schizophrenia patients and their unaffected siblings.

Hemispheric integration and specialization are two prominent organizational principles for macroscopic brain function. Impairments of interhemispheric cooperation have been reported in schizophrenia patients, but whether such abnormalities should be attributed to effects of illness or familial risk remains inconclusive. Moreover, it is unclear how abnormalities in interhemispheric connectivity impact hemispheric specialization.

Effect of self-monitoring through experience sampling on emotion differentiation in depression.

Background: Major depressive disorder has been linked to an inability to differentiate between negative emotions. The current study investigates whether emotion differentiation improves when individuals with major depressive disorder are required to report on specific emotions multiple times a day through the experience sampling method (ESM) - a structured self-report diary technique.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder participated in this study, of whom 55 used ESM for 6 weeks (3 days a week, 10 times a day).

Providers' competencies positively affect personal recovery of involuntarily admitted patients with severe mental illness: A prospective observational study.

Objective: There is limited research on the patient-provider relationship in inpatient settings. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of mental healthcare providers' recovery-promoting competencies on personal recovery in involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients with severe mental illness.

Methods: In all, 127 Dutch patients suffering from a severe mental illness residing in a high-secure psychiatric hospital reported the degree of their personal recovery (translated Questionnaire about Processes of Recovery questionnaire (QPR)) and the degree of mental healthcare providers' recovery-promoting competence (Recovery Promoting Relationship Scale (RPRS)) at two measurement points, 6 months apart.

Constructing a Reward-Related Quality of Life Statistic in Daily Life-a Proof of Concept Study Using Positive Affect.

Mental healthcare needs person-tailored interventions. Experience Sampling Method (ESM) can provide daily life monitoring of personal experiences. This study aims to operationalize and test a measure of momentary reward-related Quality of Life (rQoL).

Factors Associated With Specific Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Sexual Dysfunctions in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Study of Patients and Their Partners.

Background: Many women develop sexual problems after breast cancer (BC) treatment. Little is known about BC survivors with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) sexual dysfunction and their partners, and the factors associated with their sexual functioning.

Aim: To evaluate (i) patient-related and clinical factors associated with (a) specific DSM-IV sexual dysfunctions and (b) level of sexual functioning and sexual distress as reported by BC survivors and (ii) the association between the sexual functioning of BC survivors and that of their partners.

Efficacy of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Improving Sexual Functioning of Breast Cancer Survivors: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose We evaluated the effect of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on sexual functioning and relationship intimacy (primary outcomes) and body image, menopausal symptoms, marital functioning, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life (secondary outcomes) in breast cancer survivors (BCSs) with a DSM-IV diagnosis of a sexual dysfunction. Patients and Methods We randomly assigned 169 BCSs to either Internet-based CBT or a waiting-list control group. The CBT consisted of weekly therapist-guided sessions, with a maximum duration of 24 weeks.

Borderline and cluster C personality disorders manifest distinct physiological responses to psychosocial stress.

Background: Maladaptive emotional control is a defining feature of personality disorders. Yet little is known about the underlying physiological dynamics of emotional reactivity to psychosocial stress across distinct personality disorders. The current study compared subjective emotional responses with autonomic nervous system and HPA axis physiological responses to psychosocial stress in women with cluster C personality disorder (CPD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Impact of loneliness and depression on mortality: results from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam.

Background: Loneliness is highly prevalent among older people, has serious health consequences and is an important predictor of mortality. Loneliness and depression may unfavourably interact with each other over time but data on this topic are scarce.

Aims: To determine whether loneliness is associated with excess mortality after 19 years of follow-up and whether the joint effect with depression confers further excess mortality.

Effects of momentary self-monitoring on empowerment in a randomized controlled trial in patients with depression.

Background: Interventions based on the experience sampling method (ESM) are ideally suited to provide insight into personal, contextualized affective patterns in the flow of daily life. Recently, we showed that an ESM-intervention focusing on positive affect was associated with a decrease in symptoms in patients with depression. The aim of the present study was to examine whether ESM-intervention increased patient empowerment.

Experience sampling-based personalized feedback and positive affect: a randomized controlled trial in depressed patients.

Objectives: Positive affect (PA) plays a crucial role in the development, course, and recovery of depression. Recently, we showed that a therapeutic application of the experience sampling method (ESM), consisting of feedback focusing on PA in daily life, was associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms. The present study investigated whether the experience of PA increased during the course of this intervention.

Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for sexual dysfunctions in women treated for breast cancer: design of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a prevalent, long-term complication of breast cancer and its treatment and can be treated effectively with face-to-face sexual counselling. However, relatively few women actually opt for face-to-face sex therapy, with many women indicating that it is too confronting. Internet-based interventions might be a less threatening and more acceptable approach, because of the convenience, accessibility and privacy it provides.

Daily life stress reactivity in remitted versus non-remitted depressed individuals.

Background: Little is known about how daily life mood reactivity to minor stressors (stress reactivity) might change following major depressive disorder (MDD) treatment. We investigate whether (i) mood states and appraisals of daily stressors change after treatment; (ii) stress reactivity to event, activity, or social stress differs; (iii) stress reactivity depends on severity of residual depressive symptoms; and (iv) stress reactivity in individuals with remitted or non-remitted depression differ from that of never-depressed individuals.

Methods: Thirty depressed individuals participated in an experience sampling study before and after a treatment period of 18 months; 39 healthy individuals formed a comparison group.

Evaluation of a recovery-oriented care training program for mental healthcare professionals: effects on mental health consumer outcomes.

Objectives: To examine the effects of a recovery-oriented care training program for mental healthcare professionals on mental health consumer outcomes.

Methods: The Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM) and the Recovery-Promoting Relationship Scale (RPRS) were administered to a sample of 142 consumers with severe mental illness. A repeated measurement design with six measurement occasions was used.

A therapeutic application of the experience sampling method in the treatment of depression: a randomized controlled trial.

In depression, the ability to experience daily life positive affect predicts recovery and reduces relapse rates. Interventions based on the experience sampling method (ESM-I) are ideally suited to provide insight in personal, contextualized patterns of positive affect. The aim of this study was to examine whether add-on ESM-derived feedback on personalized patterns of positive affect is feasible and useful to patients, and results in a reduction of depressive symptomatology.

The serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the association between sleep quality and affect.

A link between sleep and affect is well-known. Serotonin (5-HT) is associated with the regulation of affective as well as sleep-related processes. A functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with serotonergic functioning.

Depression, subthreshold depression and comorbid anxiety symptoms in older Europeans: results from the EURODEP concerted action.

Background: In the epidemiology of late life depression, few insights are available on the co-occurrence of subthreshold depression and comorbid symptoms of anxiety. The current study aims to describe prevalence patterns of comorbid anxiety symptoms across different levels of depression in old age, and to describe the burden of depressive symptoms and functional disability across patterns of comorbidity.

Methods: Respondents were older adults in the community, age 65-104 (N=14,200), from seven European countries, with in total nine study centres, collaborating in the EURODEP concerted action.