bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental stress and psychiatric disorder
Authors: Freeman Hugh
Published: May 2007

It has long been believed that environmental stress is an aetiological factor in psychiatric disorder, but the scientific investigation of this subject is extremely difficult, mainly due to the complexity of the intervening processes. Forms of stress which have been examined include noise, rapid social change, migration and crowding. The role of social stress remains problematic.
The role of aerobic exercise in the treatment of depression
Authors: Martinsen Egil W.
Published: May 2007

A search was made for exercise intervention studies with experimental designs on clinically depressed subjects. Nine studies were found and these were reviewed. The diagnostic categories were non‐bipolar depressions of mild to moderate severity. The results of all studies tended to point in the same direction. Aerobic exercise was more effective than placebo or no treatment, and it was as effective as other treatment methods: group psychotherapy, different forms of individual psychotherapy and meditation‐relaxation. Aerobic exercise was the most commonly used form of exercise, but divergent opinions exist regarding the importance of the aerobic element.
Premenstrual syndrome: What it is and what it is not
Authors: Robert B. , Greenblatt  , Teran Ana‐Zully , Barfield W. E. , Bohler C. S.
Published: May 2007

The syndrome is only definitive when resolution occurs with the onset of menses or soon thereafter. Manifestations of PMS include: nervousness, depression, irritability, insomnia, headaches, breast enlargement, abdominal bloating, oedema, gastrointestinal upsets, skin disorders antisocial behavior and psychosexual aberrations. Hormonal changes are probably the main etiological factor and the newest approach to management consists of inhibition of ovulation by means of estradiol implants. Although emotional and psychiatric symptoms are prominent, psychiatric treatment is disappointing. PMS is simply a response to biochemical and metabolic changes following ovulation; distressing PMS represents a psychological maladjustment to these hormonal tides.
Transdermal nitroglycerin in angina pectoris
Authors: Wheatley David
Published: May 2007

Stress is sometimes involved in cardiac patients when a number of different drugs are necessary for treatment that are taken in a variety of dose regimes. Any new method for drug delivery that can relieve some of this stress is therefore of interest. Such a preparation is glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in the form of a skin patch (Transiderm‐Nitro) and this was compared to placebo in a double‐blind cross‐over trial. Following a one‐week control period, patients were randomly allocated to three weeks treatment with placebo followed by three weeks with Transiderm‐Nitro (1–15 mg in 24 h) or vice versa. Analysis was performed on 77 cases, 37 in the placebo first group (group A) and 40 in the Transiderm‐Nitro first group (group B). Irrespective of treatment order, mean weekly anginal attack rates and GTN requirements were significantly less on the active patch than on placebo. Thus, there was a 21 per cent reduction in anginal attacks on placebo but 53 per cent reduction on Transiderm‐Nitro (p<O.OOl); while the mean GTN requirement was reduced by 29 per cent on placebo but 56 per cent on Transiderm‐Nitro (p<O.OOl). There were no significant changes in pulse rate or recumbent or upright blood pressure. Patients' preferences (blind) were in favour of Transiderm‐Nitro (p<O.OOl). The most frequent side‐effect was headache, which occurred in 22 per cent of patient; on Transiderm‐Nitro but in only 3 per cent on placebo (p<O.Ol). Skin rashes occurred in 5 per cent on Transiderm‐Nitro and 4 per cent on placebo (NS). This short‐term trial demonstrated highly significant effects from the transdermal GTN preparation in comparison to placebo.
Prolactin and stress
Authors: Fava Maurizio , Guaraldi Gian Paolo
Published: May 2007

There is evidence that stress influences prolactin secretion in animals and humans. Various situations and laboratory stressors can induce a significant increase in prolactin secretion.

In animal studies, adaptation to the stress seems to be accompanied by a diminished response of prolactin. This habituation to chronic stress displays a pattern that seems to be stressor‐specific.

In flight experiments with human subjects, a similar process of habituation in the prolactin response has been observed in pilots.

Given the fact that certain individuals might not habituate to chronic psychogenic stressful stimuli, their behavioral responses to stress might lead them to different neuroendocrine responses. This might explain the individual differences observed in the impact of stress on physical and psychological well‐being.

Prolactin might become an important tool in exploring the physiopathologic consequences of certain behaviour patterns and a useful neuroendrocine correlate of the individual response to what we define as stress.
Stress and the skin: Significance of emotional factors in dermatology
Authors: Koblenzer Caroline S.
Published: May 2007

This article reviews findings from clinical observation, developmental research, and research in the neurosciences that demonstrate the developmental significance of skin as an organ of perception, and the importance of appropriate tactile cutaneous stimulation within the context of the mother‐child relationship for healthy physical and emotional development. Psychological regression to that emotional developmental level in inherently predisposed individuals under stress is invoked to account for stress‐induced or stress perpetuated skin symptoms, and stress‐triggered pathophysiologic mechanisms are described. A classification of psychocutaneous disease is offered as a guide to evaluation and treatment and the possible operative psychopathophysiologic pathways are discussed.

Complete dermatologic evaluation and treatment must include consideration of possible stress effects and stress mechanisms; the somatopsychic effect‐as‐stress also cannot be ignored.
Some relationships of contrasting emotions to cardiovascular disorders
Authors: Rosenman R. H. , Swan G. E.
Published: May 2007

Although the central nervous system is critically involved in the regulation of blood pressure, the relationship of anxiety to hypertension remains unclear. However, anxiety is closely related to various habits that affect the cardiovascular system: diet, weight, alcohol, eating and drinking, cigarette smoking, caffeine and life events. There is a high prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in subjects with anxiety disorders, but there is little evidence for a common genetic factor. A number of psychosocial factors are significantly related to the individual risk of CHD and the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) relates certain personality and behavioral characteristics that are important in this respect.
Perceptual and cognitive deficit following coronary artery bypass surgery
Authors: Chandarana P. C. , Cooper A. J. , Goldbach M. M. , Coles J. C. , Vesely M. A.
Published: May 2007

Fifty‐seven patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were investigated pre‐ and postoperatively for changes in cognitive and perceptual functioning (delirium). Physical data were collected and personality and psychiatric assessments made using standard inventories. Manifestations of delirium were maximal by day 4 and had largely resolved by day 10. Cognitive deficit was significantly associated with a high score on ‘neuroticism’ and perceptual aberration, with increasing age and high scores on ‘dominant personality’ and ‘extraversion’. It is argued that postoperative delirium is multidetermined, being an interaction of physical, operative and psychological factors.
The effect of stress on melatonin and serotonin in rat brain
Authors: McIntyre Iain M. , Norman Trevor R. , Burrows Graham D. , Oxenkrug Gregory F.
Published: May 2007

The effect of immobilization, cold and immobilization plus cold stress on rat pineal indoles and brain serotonin (5‐HT) has been studied. Only combined immobilization and cold stress resulted in an increase of pineal melatonin and N‐acetylserotonin (NAS). Furthermore, the ratio of 5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid (5‐HIAA) to 5‐HT was significantly decreased in rats subjected to the combined stress. This effect was evident in the pineal as well as the hypothalamus and brainstem. Although showing no effect on melatonin, NAS, or the 5‐HIAA/5‐HT ratio, immobilization alone produced a significant increase in pineal 5‐HT concentration. This 5‐HT increase was also evident in the hypothalamus and brainstem. Synaptosomal 5‐HT uptake was examined as a functional test of 5‐HT activity, but was unchanged by the combined stress. Although cold alone did not significantly affect serum corticosterone levels, it did augment the corticosterone increase induced by immobilization. These results are discussed in the context of previous investigations of the endogenous monoamine oxidase inhibitor, tribulin.
The prevention and management of the psychiatric morbidity of natural disasters: An australian experience
Authors: McFarlane Alexander C.
Published: May 2007

This report examines the case for implementing preventive mental health strategies after disasters based on an analysis of the patterns of post‐traumatic morbidity identified after the “Ash Wednesday” bushfires in Australia. While a significant increase number of problems were identified which would tend to hinder the acceptance and implementation of any such preventive service. Also, the available objective evidence about the effectiveness of crisis intervention services following traumatic events remains tentative. Based on this experience, a series of recommendations are made about the future management of similar events.
Psychosocial personality traits and cigarette smoking among bronchial carcinoma patients
Authors: Kulessa C. H. E. , Blohmke M. , Jagschitz P. , Stelzer O. , Cooper C. L. , Eysenck H. J.
Published: May 2007

In a multicentre study, the Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ) was administered to patients in the diagnostic process for lung diseases, who later on turned out to have lung cancer or other chest disease. The study was controlled by a group of healthy persons. The most important results of the survey are relatively low values for extraversion in the carcinoma group (BCA) and relatively high scale values for extravertion both in the healthy (GKG) and in the sick (KKG) control groups. Higher neuroticism scale values are shown by younger carcinoma patients (BCA) in comparison with healthy (GKG) and patient control group persons (KKG). However, psychotocism scale values show just small differencesk between BCA on the one hand and the control groups (GKD and KKG) on the other. Finally the authors discuss whether the results of the study are more supportive of Cooper's stress hypothesis than of Eysenck's constitutional hypothesis as explanation for an important partial cause of carcinogenesis.
Psychosocial load and symptoms: An inquiry into their relationship with coping styles
Authors: Vingerhoets Adj. J. M. , Menges Louwrens J.
Published: May 2007

Based on questionnaire data, 989 subjects were classified into one of the following four groups: (1) high‐load, many symptoms; (2) high‐load, few symptoms; (3) low‐load, many symptoms; and (4)low‐load, few symptoms. Using an ANOVA design (with “psychosocial load” and “symptoms” as independent variables) the coping styles of these four groups were studied. In spite of substantial differences in coping between males and females, the pattern of findings was very similar for both sexes. The factor “psychosocial load” yielded significant results for distancing and for positive thinking, personal growth, and humour (for females only). In addition, the factor “symptoms” showed significant effects for self‐blame, daydreaming and having fantasies and wishful thinking, emotionality. No significant interactions were found. The results are discussed in the light of current knowledge on coping styles as moderators of the stress‐illness relationship and on the relationship between coping and psychosocial load and symptoms, respectively.
Stress measurement
Authors: Krause Neal
Published: May 2007

Empirical findings from studies of stressful life events and well‐being have been disappointing. The difficulty with this literature may be attributed in part to basic problems in the measurement of stressful life events. The purpose of this article is to propose a measurement strategy that is based on stressors arising within social roles. Although social roles have figured prominently in stress measurement, the conceptual and methodological underpinnings of this research have not been explicated fully. An argument is made for developing measures that focus on stressors that arise in salient social roles. After examining the conceptual basis for the proposed measurement approach, methodological issues are addressed in an effort to provide practical guidance for testing this perspective in the field.
The availability of lethal methods for suicide and the suicide rate: A study in Japan
Authors: Lester David , Abe Kazuhiko
Published: May 2007

From 1950 to 1980 in Japan, estimates of the availability of medicaments, toxic domestic gas and motor vehicle exhaust, and firearms were strongly associated with the suicide rates using those methods. The results suggest that restricting access to lethal methods of suicide may reduce the suicide rate.
Sex differences in occupational stress and work satisfaction among physicians
Authors: Burke Ronald J. , Richardsen Astrid M.
Published: May 2007

This study examines sex differences in level and sources of experienced stress, as well as in antecedents and consequences of stress, in physicians. Two hundred and twenty‐eight female and 1859 male physicians completed questionnaires anonymously. Female and male physicians reported similar levels of overall stress and similar sources of stress. There was an indication that economic concerns were more important for male physicians. Female physicians practised medicine for a shorter period of time and earned less income. Male physicians worked more hours per week, had more patients and fewer days off. However, female physicians generally had more negative attitudes about health care and were less satisfied with the practice of medicine.
Train disaster survivors: Long‐term effects on mental health and well‐being
Authors: Lundin Tom
Published: May 2007

Disastrous train accidents have been relatively common in Sweden during the last three decades. Between the years 1970 and 1978 more than 20 serious accidents occurred. In total 70 persons were killed and 396 were officially registered as somatically injured. This article presents a retrospective follow‐up study using questionnaires. Both the somatic injuries and the different psychological stressors and stress effects are presented. The need for psychological support together with a low rate of drug usage was prominent. The two main stressors for survivors after a train accident seemed to be personal bereavement and somatic injuries.
Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) as an indicator of job strain
Authors: Netterstrøm Bo , Sjøl Anette
Published: May 2007

As a part of the WHO‐initiated MONICA project 248, 50‐ and 60‐year‐old men participated in a study on the relations between HbA1C (glycated haemoglobin) and job stress indicators. The participants answered a questionnaire on work, social and health conditions and underwent clinical examinations which included measurements of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and HbA1C. Using the demand—control model for measuring job strain suggested by Karasek, we classified the employed participants according to those who had suffered job strain and those who had not. This was done in two different ways. The subjective classification was based on the participants' statements regarding demand and control in their job, whereas the objective one was based on job title, mode of payment, etc. The levels of HbA1C were significantly higher among participants with objective job strain, high daily coffee consumption and low alcohol consumption. Coronary risk factors and subjective job strain did not correlate significantly with the level of HbA1C.
Quantification of the colonic mucous cell population during protracted stress in rats
Authors: Rubio Carlos A , Huang Cum B , Porwit Anja , Kock Yvonne , Stenling Roger
Published: May 2007

The mucins contained in goblet cells of the descending colon of rats were histochemically labelled by Alcian blue pH 2.5 and quantified in an image analyzer (Cortex Controller) in 55 Sprague‐Dawley rats. After transportation to the stress laboratory, 25 rats were compelled to swim for two consecutive hours/day either only once (five rats), for one week (five rats), two weeks (five rats), four weeks (five rats) or eight weeks (five rats). Twenty‐five additional rats were only transported to the stress laboratory (i.e. ‘sham‐handled’) controls, either once (five rats), one week (five rats), two weeks (five rats), four weeks (five rats) or eight weeks (five rats). The remaining five rats were ‘untransported’ resting rats (i.e. day 0). The results were expressed in per cent of Alcian blue stain cells/total mucosa analyse. When various time intervals were compared with those of day 0 (i.e. horizontal study) it was found that two hours and one, two weeks swimming resulted in a significantly decreased percentage of mucin‐containing cells (p < 0.001). Contrariwise, a significantly increased mucous‐cell population was found after eight weeks swimming. ‘Shamhandled’ rats had at two and eight weeks a significantly increased (p < 0.001) percentage of mucous‐producing cells. Swimming and ‘sham‐handled’ controls were compared at each time interval (i.e. vertical study). The results indicated that swimming rats had a significantly lower (p < 0.001) percentage of mucin‐containing cells than transported rats had at day 1 and at one, two and eight weeks. It is concluded that during the first two weeks of daily physical stress, the mucin‐cell population of the descending colon of the rat is reduced. This is followed by a hyperproduction of mucin‐containing cells. A similar hyperproduction was found at 8 weeks in control rats, suggesting that the mucin‐cell population may be altered even in the absence of physical stress. The possibility that protracted transportation acted as a psychical stress in our control rats should be considered.
Personality variables as moderators between hassles and subjective indications of distress
Authors: Farné Mario , Sebellico Andreina , Gnugnoli Denis , Corallo Anna
Published: May 2007

The research was designed to investigate the moderating effect of some personality traits on subjective distress caused by daily hassles. The traits were internal locus of control, repression, ego strength, and barrier (as studied and defined by S. Fisher). The last two variables were negatively correlated both with the somatic and emotional distress indications and with the frequency of hassles reportED; internal locus of control showed an inverse relationship only with frequency of hassles. The hypothesis is formulated that ego strength and barrier are personality factors influencing not only the outcomes of coping (ie the stress response), but also event appraisal.
Acute catecholaminergic responses to mental and physical stressors in man
Authors: Oleshansky M. A. , Meyerhoff J. L.
Published: May 2007

The measurement of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) levels has provided a means to assess sympathetic and adrenal medullary responses to stressors. To address the issue of specificity of these responses to mental or physical stress, we measured plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) levels in male volunteers who underwent either exhaustive graded treadmill exercise or a 30 min stressful interview. We found that graded treadmill exercise to exhaustion (mean duration of exercise 15.2 ± 0.7 min) was associated with similar increases in both NE (239 per cent) and EPI (201 per cent) immediately after completing exercise. Elevated values rapidly returned to baseline levels after exercise. In response to the 30min stressful interview where subjects remained seated throughout the stressor, there were smaller but highly significant increases in plasma levels of both NE (67 per cent) and EPI (82 per cent) within the first 10min of the interview. By the last 10min of the interview, EPI levels were already returning to baseline values while NE levels remained elevated throughout and for at least 5min after the exam. These findings demonstrate that a stressful interview is associated with increases in both NE and EPI levels which are qualitatively similar to the responses to a physical stressor.
Surgery as a psychological stressor: Paradoxical effects of preoperative emotional state on endocrine responses
Authors: Salmon Peter
Published: May 2007

It has long been argued that surgery is a form of psychological stress and that the response to it should therefore be modifiable by psychological means. In particular, it has been suggested that preoperative worry should reduce the stressfulness of surgery. Endocrine responses to surgery may enable a more valid test of this theory than the measures more commonly used. A series of studies has provided evidence consistent with the theory. Preoperative anxiety correlated with lower postoperative levels of circulating cortisol and adrenaline. Furthermore, preoperative psychological procedures designed to reassure patients and reduce anxiety have increased cortisol or adrenaline responses. Programmes of preoperative reassurance should be evaluated carefully until it is known whether the increased stress response compromises recovery.
Pituitary–adrenocortical response following repeated adrenocorticotropin secretagogue administration in the rat
Authors: Scaccianoce Sergio , Cigliana Giovanni , Nicolai Raffaella , Navarra Domitilla , Muscolo Luisa A. A. , Angelucci Luciano
Published: May 2007

In the adult male Wistar rat with a pharmacological block of endogenous CRF release, exogenous CRH (0.3 μg/kg iv), administered 15 or 30 min after a first equal dose, was unable to further stimulate adrenocortical activity above the level attained with the first peptide injection. This pituitary–adrenocortial refractoriness towards CRH was not evident when the second CRH injection was performed 60 min after the first. In the same experimental conditions, exogenous vasopressin (AVP) (0.3 μg/kg iv) did not produce any adrenocortical activation. However, AVP (0.3 μg/kg iv), injected 15 min after a first similar dose, induced a small increase in plasma corticosterone concentrations. CRH pretreatment was found to greatly potentiate the adrenocortical effect of AVP injected 15–105 min later. These results, while confirming the refractoriness of the pituitary to responce to CRH after a prior stimulation with the same secretagoue, indicate that the adrenocortical response to CRH is regained 60 min after the first stimulation. Moreover, CRH activates a mechanism that greatly potentiates the secretagogue effect of AVP for a considerable time.
Portuguese version of the OSI: A study of reliability and validity
Authors: Cunha Rita C. , Cooper Cary L. , Moura M. Isabel , Reis M. Emilia , Fernandes Paula
Published: May 2007

This research note investigates the reliability of the Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI) in its Portuguese version as well as the validity of four of its scales — job satisfaction, mental ill health, physical ill health and Type A behaviour. Estimates of reliability obtained by the average item–total correlation coefficients are all statistically significant. Acceptable convergent validity was also found for the job satisfaction, mental ill health and physical ill health scales.
Clinical and experimental effects of informational stress
Authors: Cristea A. , Restian A.
Published: May 2007

Under certain conditions, information may become stressful. In the initial stages of our research we found that informational stress can result in fatigue, anxiety, sleeplessness, and excitability. Later we found further symptoms, such as tachycardia, palpitations, chest pain, abdominal pain, increase or decrease of appetite, diarrhoea or constipation, muscle cramps, back pain, headache, tremor, dizziness, diaphoresis, tics, and so on. Some of these symptoms might be the result of cathecholamine increased secretion, others of a decrease of endogenous opioids. Because in the initial stage of stress analgesia may occur, we studied the clinical and experimental evolution of the pain threshold and its clinical manifestations. We found that after the initial analgesia, there follows a stage of hyperalgesia; the symptoms of this stage very much resemble those of the opioid abstinence syndrome. The evolution of this syndrome is enhanced by naloxone, an opioid antagonist, and it is attenuated by clonidine and propranolol, used in the treatment of opioid abstinence syndrome. Thus we demonstrated that in the latter stage of stress, there is diminished secretion of endogenous opioids and an acute tolerance to them.
Diet, cholesterol and heart disease: Epidemiological illusion or delusion?
Authors: Stehbens William E.
Published: May 2007

Currently the lipid hypothesis dominates research in atherogenesis and fundamental defects in the epidemiological approach lie at the crux of the cholesterol controversy. Causal knowledge is indispensable in science and logically cause should be used as the sole prerequisite without which the disease cannot occur rather than synonymously with risk factors, which are non‐specific, non‐causal factors related to coronary heart disease (CHD) rather than atherosclerosis. The incidence of CHD (a surrogate of end‐stage atherosclerosis) is not a specific disease, nor a suitable monitor for the severity of atherosclerosis. Nor is it the correct parameter or end‐point in epidemiological studies of the cause of atherosclerosis commencing in infancy, if not in utero. Other epidemiological defects include the use of fallacious monocausal mortality rates, assumed causal role of risk factors, fallacious dietary data, non‐specificity of statistical correlations and selection bias for familial hypercholesterolaemia, failure to take note of inconsistencies in evidence and the lack of corroborative pathological and experimental evidence, since the vascular lesion of familial hypercholesterolaemia and the cholesterol‐fed rabbit are lipid storage phenomena and not atherosclerotic. These deficiencies in CHD epidemiological methodology provide defective and fallacious data requiring vigorous scientific reappraisal of the lipid hypothesis and open debate.
Personality variables as moderators between hassles and objective indications of distress (S‐IgA)
Authors: Farnè Mario A. , Boni Paola , Corallo Anna , Gnugnoli Denis , Sacco Franca L.
Published: May 2007

The moderation exerted by two personality variables on objective signs of distress, represented by S‐IgA concentrations, was investigated; the stressors analysed were daily hassles and the personality variables were ‘barrier’ (B, as studied and defined by S. Fisher) and ‘repression’ (R, the defence mechanism as measured by the Welsh's MMPI‐R scale). The results show: (1) that the effect of daily hassles on S‐IgA concentrations was very clear and significant; and (2) that this stress response was substantially moderated by the R mechanism, while the B variable exercised no moderation. In a previous research on the relationship between daily hassles and subjective indications of distress, both somatic and emotional, the reverse action by the two personality factors was observed (Stress Med. 1992, 8, 161–165). Some data are presented in order to achieve an interpretation of these opposite results.
Irritable bowel syndrome: The role of psychosocial factors
Authors: Drossman Douglas A.
Published: May 2007

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder of intestinal function characterized by variable symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. The spectrum of severity ranges from mild symptoms, not worthy of clinical attention, to intense and continuous symptoms associated with impaired health‐related quality of life and high health care use. Psychosocial disturbance is commonly found among patients with irritable bowel, but until recently, its precise role in the disorder was uncertain. The data now suggest that irritable bowel is not a psychiatric disorder per se, but psychosocial factors including life stress, psychiatric comorbidity and abnormal illness behavior, among others, influence how the illness is experienced and acted upon. Patients with mild symptoms usually respond to education, reassurance, dietary modification and, when needed, antimotility agents. However, patients with more severe symptoms, who usually have greater psychosocial disturbance, will also require behavioral interventions, and possibly psychopharmacological agents. In sum, a graduated, multicomponent plan of care that includes dietary, behavioral and pharmacological treatments is recommended.
Psychological aspects of the treatment of duodenal ulcer
Authors: Fisher Shirley
Published: May 2007

Previous published research1 established that psychoneurotic symptoms were raised in gastrointestinal patients but that those patients with treated duodenal ulcers were found to have lower levels of psychological disturbance and better quality of life than treated oesophagitis patients. One explanation of the difference associated with treatment is that the patients with duodenal ulcer perceived that they had better control over their symptoms as compared with the oesophagitis group. This in turn would suggest that the perceived efficacy of drug treatment is a critical factor in the lives of patients. It would follow that the form of drug treatment regimen should be an important factor in level or perceived control and hence in psychological state and quality of life. This study is specifically addressed to drug treatment regimes in duodenal ulcer patients. Results showed that treatment regimes have an important effect. Those patients on intermittent drug therapy were more likely to suffer psychological disturbance and had reduced self‐assessed quality of life compared with those on continuous or maintenance therapy. Patients who complied with their therapy benefited further in terms of psychological symptoms and quality of life.
Financial dealers on Wall street and in the city of London — is the stress different?
Authors: Kahn Howard , Cooper Cary L. , Elsey Sharon P.
Published: May 2007

This article describes a pilot study of financial dealers working on Wall Street, New York which would allow a comparison to be made between them and dealers working in the City of London on the sources of stress, personalities, type A behaviour, coping techniques and alcohol consumption. Other than for demographic data, few differences were found between dealers on Wall Street and either dealers in the City of London in general or dealers working for US‐owned financial institutions in the City of London.
Functional dyspepsia: Physiology, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Dotevall Gerhard
Published: May 2007

Old classical studies and new investigations support the theory that functional dyspepsia (FUD) is a psychosomatic disorder with multifactorial genesis, where psychological, social and cultural factors interact with biological variables. In FUD there is a high frequency of symptoms from other organs, as well as mental symptoms. Drugs are not found to be effective in FUD except as placebo treatment. However, if depression is associated with FUD, an antidepressant agent may be useful. The treatment of FUD as well as other functional gastrointestinal disorders should be focused on psychological intervention and stress management. There is evidence of beneficial effects from short‐term psychotherapy in patients with symptoms of FUD in combination with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The demand‐control‐support model: Methodological challenges for future research
Authors: Kristensen Tage. S.
Published: May 2007

The demand‐control‐support model was developed by R. Karasek and his colleagues during the 1980s. The model operates with three main dimensions: job demands, job decision latitude and job social support. According to the model, workers with jobs characterized by high demands, low decision latitude and low social support (so‐called iso‐strain) have a higher risk of poor psychological well‐being and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The model has been tested in relation to CVD in 16 epidemiological studies of which only two have been negative. Moreover, the model has been used in studies with a large number of other endpoints. Recently the model and the methods used in connection with the model have been criticized by several research workers. In this article the studies on iso‐strain and CVD are reviewed and a number of methodological problems are discussed. It is recommended that future studies are prospective and use non‐representative population samples of well‐chosen occupations. Each of the key variables ‐job stressors, stress and sickness ‐ should be measured in three independent ways in order to increase the methodological and theoretical strength of the research performed.
Changes in urinary cortisol associated with hypthalamically elicited restlessness
Authors: Kojima Kyojl , Hguchi Shun , Tashiro Nobutada
Published: May 2007

Using unanaesthetized and free‐moving mature female cats, we examined changes of cortisol levels in 24‐hr urine accompanying emotional behaviour such as restlessness elicited by electrical stimulation of the anteromedial hypothalamus(AMH). Urine was collected every 24 hr for 9 consecutive days and stimulation was applied for only the middle 3 days with chronically implanted electrodes placed in the AMH. Cat urine was hydrolysed with β‐glucuronidase and sulphatase; the levels of free cortisol, glucuronide and sulphate were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The mean (fSD) of the total cortisol level calculated in terms of the creatinine level in the 3 days before stimulation was 13.04 ± 4.89 ng/mg creatinine; the mean for the 3 days during stimulation was 19.06 ± 7.56 ng/mg creatinine; and the mean for the 3 days after stimulation was 13.97 ± 4.10 ng/mg creatinine. The cortisol level during stimulation showed a significant increase compared with that before stimulation (p < 0.05) and almost recovered to the prestimulation level 3 days after stimulation. These results indicate that the emotional behaviour such as restlessness induced by AMH stimulation in cats may have some relation to emotional stress.
Inventorying stressing life events as related to health change in the elderly
Authors: Bieliauskas Linas A. , Counte Michael A. , Glandon Gerald L.
Published: May 2007

A 54‐item inventory of stressing life events (SLE) was developed for assessing their prevalence in elderly populations. The SLE was sensitive to numerous life changes in this population, although only 11 of the items were reported as occurring in the previous 6 months by 10 per cent or more of the study participants. Scores on the SLE were shown to be significantly related to seeking of physician services in managed care settings and to seeking of emergency medical services regardless of setting. Stressing life events may thus have significantly greater impact on health change in the elderly than they do in younger populations.
Psychophysiological study of hypertension in black, Indian and white African students
Authors: Somova L. I. , Diarra K. , Jacobs T. Q.
Published: May 2007

The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that behavioural stress is associated with hypertension in developing countries. It forms part (students only) of a large study on the population of South Africa. The cross‐sectional study involved 2902 black, white and Indian African students, stratified by year of study, gender and ethnicity. Harburg's anger‐coping scale and James' active coping scale (JHACS) were used. For assessment of socioeconomic status a coefficient of family instability (CFIS) was used. Traditional risk factors of hypertension (family history, alcohol consumption, smoking, urbanization) and biological parameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, body mass and skinfold, glucose tolerance) were taken. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure higher than 160/95 mmHg. A significant association between suppressed anger, high CFIS and blood pressure level in all three ethnic groups was found, most strongly expressed in male black students. The risk for hypertension was increased if this construct was combined with high JHACS score and/or poor performance at the university. After controlling for biological variables, this psychological construct still had strong association with blood pressure level/hypertension incidence in black males only. The person‐environment interaction (gender, ethnicity, years of study, urbanization) might thus represent a behavioural stress that promotes development of hypertension in African developing countries.
Occupational stress in Australian business and professional women
Authors: Langan‐Fox Janice , Poole Millicent E.
Published: May 2007

Occupational stress was measured in 163 Australian managerial and professional women through the use of the self‐report measure the Occupational Stress Indicator. Normative data were obtained reporting scale reliabilities, and differences between women according to marital and parental status and most stressful roles. The wife role had the highest mean score for the ‘most stressful role’. Women with three or more children reported poorer physical health, and having parental status was associated with headaches, exhaustion, overating, smoking and drinking. Nonetheless, this group also had significantly high scores for job satisfaction. Having children under 18 years of age was associated with the experience of a decrease in sexual interst, as was having full‐time work status. Single women suffered poorer reported mental health than married women and scored highest for Type A behaviour.
Psychophysiological reactivity, depression, neuroticism and type a behaviour: An interactive effect?
Authors: Bertolotti Giorgio , Sanavio Ezio , Angelino Elisabetta , Seghizzi Paolo , Vidotto Giulio , Bettinardi Ornella , Zotti Anna Maria
Published: May 2007

The greater reactivity in Type A subjects is a controversial issue. It is possible that anxiety, neuroticism and depression interact with Type A behaviour pattern, giving rise to different psychophysiological reactivity. To evaluate this hypothesis we studied 70 Italian healthy male volunteers. All were blue‐collar workers. Cardiac health was confirmed by a detailed family and medical history. Individual assessment included the Structured Interview, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Depression Questionnaire (QD). To assess cardiac (rate‐pressure product) and electrodermic (skin conductance level) psychophysiological reactivity we used the following tasks: (1) Interactive Concentration Test (ICT); (2) Mental Arithmetic (MAT); (3) Workside Noises (WN). In Type A (A1 + A2) subjects a higher neuroticism score was associated with greater reactivity whereas in non A (X + B) subjects a lower neuroticism score was associated with greater reactivity. Subjects classified as Type A with lower depression scores had greater cardiovascular responses, whereas in non A subjects higher depression scores were associated with greater reactivity.
Anger and blame in three technological disasters
Authors: Solomon Michael J. , Thompson James
Published: May 2007

This article describes an investigation into the long‐term reactions of disaster survivors, including the extent of their psychological distress and the ways in which they apportion blame for what happened to them. Three technological disasters were chosen to cover a range of traumatic experiences and degrees of possible blame. The main results were the identification of continuing high levels of distreess, intermingled with high levels of specifically targeted anger, and blame which was relatively sharply focused on those named publicly as having caused the accidents. There were also strong fears of other disasters happening again and a widespread perception that justice was not done.
Determinants of attitudes toward multinational firms: Host arab society elites
Authors: Ajami Riad A.
Published: May 2007

Indigenous elites provide the crucial linkages between their domestic societies and the international economic order. The study attempts a measurement of the weight or salience of five personal variables to the process of attitude formation toward multinational firms among host Arab society elites. These variables are: (1) nationalism, (2) internationalism, (3) economic ideology, (4) confidence, and (5) satisfaction in direct personal contact.

It is hypothesized that these variables will have influence upon an elite's attitude toward multinational firms.

The result of the empirical study points out that an elite internationalism orientation, economic ideology preference, and satisfaction in direct personal contact with multinational firms will positively influence attitudes towards multinational firms (MNFs).
A perspective on planning and crises in the public sector
Authors: Bryson John M.
Published: May 2007

Five diagrams indicate how crises open up five different kinds of ‘opportunity space’. Expanded opportunity spaces involve, in effect, a relaxation of the ‘normal’ constraints around decision‐making in governmental systems. This perspective may allow for better prediction of crises, better choices during crises, and greater stability in solutions to crises.
Strategic awareness within top management teams
Authors: Hambrick Donald C.
Published: May 2007

‘Strategic awareness’ is viewed in two ways: the extent to which an executive's perception of the organization's strategy aligns (a) with the organization's ‘realized’ strategy and (b) with the chief executive's perception. Strategic awareness is positively related to hierarchical level, but differs across the three industries studied. Awareness is greater in organizations that have recently changed their strategies than in those that have not.
Strategies of effective low share businesses
Authors: Woo Carolyny. Y. , Cooper Arnold C.
Published: May 2007

Previous research has suggested that low share market businesses have dismal prospects. This study examines low share businesses which are effective. In particular, it examines the product‐market choices and competitive strategies of effective low share businesses, comparing them with two control groups: effective high share and ineffective low share businesses. Data are drawn from PIMS data bases and hypotheses are tested using cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. Effective low share businesses are found to locate in stable rather than protected environments. Their competitive strategies are strongly characterized by selective focus on specific strengths.
Performance differences in related and unrelated diversified firms
Authors: Bettis Richard A.
Published: May 2007

This paper investigates performance differences (in terms of ROA) between related and unrelated diversified firms. Two regression models of performance are estimated using a sample of 80 firms. Performance differences are associated with advertising expenditures, accounting determined risk, research and development expenditures and capital intensity. The models suggest that research and development expenditures are an important determinant in the performance advantage enjoyed by related diversified firms.
Planning executive succession: The effect of recruitment source and organizational problems on anticipated tenure
Authors: Brady Gene F. , Fulmer Robert M. , Helmich Donald L.
Published: May 2007

This study examines the anticipated tenure of the chief executive officer (CEO) from the incumbent's point of view. An analysis of approximately 1500 questionnaires returned by corporate presidents reveals that anticipated tenure is generally little affected by whether the CEO is recruited from within or from outside the organization. However, under conditions of formalized succession planning and when confronted with specific problems, such as modernizing operations, mandates to increase sales and merger operations, there exist differences in anticipated tenure between inside and outside recruited CEOs. These differences are discussed in terms of their implications to corporate level succession planning.
Diversification in British industry in the 1970s
Authors: Luffman G. A. , Reed R.
Published: May 2007

This work is original research which is based on data gathered from annual reports and accounts. It covers some 267 businesses which had the largest annual turnovers for manufacturing companies, within Britain, in 1971 and were still in existence in 1979. The data have been subjected to analysis to reveal preferred product‐market postures, movements in posture, effects of annual turnover size on strategies, and the effects of being located within specific industries.

In comparison with the work of D. F. Channon for the preceding twenty years it can be seen that, on the whole, the trend towards diversification has continued throughout the broad spectrum of British Industry.
Functional importance and company performance: Moderating effects of grand strategy and industry type
Authors: Hitt Michael A. , Ireland R. Duane , Stadter Gregory
Published: May 2007

The literature suggests that the appropriate combinations of functional importance (i.e., through resource allocations, type of activities) for high levels of company performance are affected by the type of grand strategy pursued by the firm and the firm's industry type. These relationships were examined for 93 industrial firms. Data on functional importance, grand strategy, and industry type were obtained from top executives while financial data were collected from the Compustat data files. The results showed that both grand strategy and industry type moderated the relationship between functional importance and company performance. These relationships were also examined for each grand strategy by industry type cell to provide data for further research.
Diversification entry: Internal development versus acquisition
Authors: Yip George S.
Published: May 2007

The economic theory of barriers to entry is integrated with the corporate strategy concept of relatedness, to develop a model of the choice between internal development and acquisition in diversification entry into new markets. The model is tested on original data collected for this study from PIMS Program participants. These original data cover the parent company characteristics, entry strategy and entry outcome for 59 entrants into 31 markets. These entry‐related data are merged with existing PIMS data on the structure of the entered markets and their incumbents. Results of binary regression analysis show that the choice between the two entry modes is well explained by measures of barriers and relatedness. Higher barriers are more likely to be associated with acquisition entry. Greater relatedness is more likely to be associated with direct entry.
Social demands as strategic issues: Some conceptual problems
Authors: Arcelus Francisco J. , Schaefer Norbert V.
Published: May 2007

We argue that business firms are faced with new and changing social demands, and that it will be advantageous to the firm to treat the social demands as strategic issues. However, responding to these social demands strategically requires the application of new managerial concepts and techniques. In this paper we extend conceptually the lead‐lag methodology of Ackerman and Bauer (1976), developed to deal with the evolutionary nature of social demands. Then we describe the problems of measurement, uncertainty and lack of common units of measures that have to be overcome before the responses to the social demands can be included in the strategic planning and budget process.