bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stress‐protective functions of positive experiences during the premenstrual period
Authors: Chaturvedi S. K. , Chandra Prabha S. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe present study aimed at studying the presence of positive emotions during the premenstruum. A positive premenstrual assessment form was constructed and administered to 48 female nursing students in the reproductive age group. Ratings were done using numerical and visual analogue scales. Forty‐six women reported experiencing at least some positive symptoms and two had none. Extremes of positive emotions were seen in 12–37 per cent of the women. The commonest emotions were a sense of well‐being in 75 per cent and feelings of excitement and relief in 62 per cent. Increased sexual desire was reported by 42 per cent. The implications of these positive perimenstrual changes are described in terms of a stress‐protective function regarding premenstrual distress and the premenstrual syndrome. It is likely that cultural factors may be involved in the stress‐protective functions of these positive experiences.
Measurement problems in estimating theoretically informed models of stress: A sociological perspective
Authors: Kaplan Howard B. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe estimation of theoretically informed models of stress require valid and unconfounded measures of the explanatory constructs that comprise the models. Psychosocial theoretical perspectives draw analytic distinctions between life circumstances, subjective evaluation of threat, adaptive/defensive/coping responses, and dysfunctional personal and social consequences. The theoretical considerations surrounding these constructs and the implications of these considerations for measurements decisions are reviewed. Further progress in understanding the stress process depends on increasingly sophisticated theoretical statements that permit finer delineation of explanatory constructs. Progress depends also on analytic techniques that permit the estimation of structural relations among latent constructs independent of the correlated errors between the observed variables.
Coping with stress, coping without stress, and stress with coping: On inter‐construct redundancies
Authors: Neufeld Richard W. J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIt is proposed that a proliferation of construct usage is risked by the routine separation of the constructs of ‘stress’ and ‘coping’, commonplace in the literature. Instead, stress, considered to be ‘an undesired state of the individual’, is seen as a byproduct of the ‘expenditure of energy in transacting coping responses’. The concepts employed in the preceding statement are elaborated upon and operationalized. A consequence of this position for stress measurement is that the latter becomes addressed to the stated properties of coping. Such properties can occur in various temporal locations vis‐a‐vis some ‘untoward event’. They may take place in advance of the event, in connection with ‘prophylactic coping’; during the event; or in connection with coping impelled by the aftermath of the event. Implications of the stated proposition for the structure of measurement devices are noted.
Stressful life circumstances: Concepts and measures
Authors: Moos Rudolf H. , Swindle Ralph W. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractConceptualizations of the role of life stressors in health and well‐being typically emphasize stressful events and tend to neglect the ongoing context in which events occur. We suggest that stress and coping theory will contribute more to research and clinical practice when stressful circumstances are conceptualized in terms of a person's life context, and assessed by examining chronic stressors and life events in specific life domains. We exemplify this broader perspective by presenting a new way to measure ongoing stressors, discrete life events, and social resources in multiple life domains, and by some relevant research on alcoholism and depression. Finally, we describe some applications of this approach to diagnosis and treatment, and to program planning and evaluation.
Controlling neuroticism in the measurement of stress
Authors: McCrae Robert R. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractTo assess stress — the demands placed on the individual by his or her environment — life‐event checklists and lists of daily hassles have been widely used. Such instruments are intended to reflect harmful, threatening, or challenging aspects of the environment, but they are likely to be strongly influenced by characteristics of the respondent, especially the personality disposition of neuroticism. Individuals high on this dimension perceive life as stressful, cope poorly, are dissatisfied with social supports, have low psychological well‐being, and make more somatic complaints. Relations among these variables may be due to the common influence of neuroticism rather than processes of stress and coping. Longitudinal designs and objective outcome measures can reduced the confounding effect of neuroticism. By including measures of neuroticism in their designs, researchers can increase their understanding of the mutual roles of stress and personality in determining mental and physical health. By measuring neuroticism in their clients, stress management practitioners can gain insight into the reports of stressful events and conditions their clients make.
Stress and anxiety: Conceptual and assessment issues
Authors: Endler Norman S. , Parker James D. A. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThere is considerable confusion and disagreement in the psychological and psychiatric literature regarding the meaning of stress and anxiety. The present discussion offers several important distinctions between the two constructs, and outlines some causal relationships between them. Special emphasis is placed on the methodological issues involved in assessing anxiety. The usefulness of distinguishing between state and trait anxiety is discussed, along with treating both of these constructs as multidimensional. The interactional model of anxiety is examined and some recent empirical support for this approach is reviewed. The discussion concludes with a brief summary of an interaction process model of anxiety, stress and coping.
Measurement and the stress process: Retrospect and prospect
Authors: Kaplan Howard B. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractAn overview of papers on measurement issues in research on stress suggests a number of common themes that characterize the current status of, and probable future directions for measurement of the stress process. More general issues relate to (1) the development of valid and reliable measures of theoretically differentiated constructs, and (2) the simultaneous measurement of the differentiated constructs in the estimation of theoretically informed multivariate causal models. These and other measurement issues have been related more specifically to particular explanatory constructs including vulnerability, life events, chronic role strains, evaluative significance, coping mechanisms, and stressful outcomes. Success in resolving these issues will determine in large measure progress of the research enterprise in increasing understanding of the press process.
Different stress responses to mental and physical stressors in healthy volunteers
Authors: Albus Margot , Müller‐Spahn Franz , Ackenheil Manfred , Engel Rolf R. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractTo evaluate the proportion of individual‐ (ISR) and stimulus‐specific response stereotypy (SSR), 63 healthy volunteers were exposed to different structured situations: (1) cold pressor test (CP); (2) noise; (3) mental arithmetic task (MA); (4) active relaxation (AR). Physiological parameters were quantified on‐line in 10‐sec periods. Norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were measured during rest and 2 min after the onset of each task. Subjective evaluation showed that CP, MA and noise were rated as similarly unpleasant. CP induced vasoconstriction, paralleled by an increase in NE and E secretion. Noise induced only a non‐specific increase in electrodermal activity. In contrast, MA led to a highly significant increase in heart rate and pulse wave velocity. Estimation of the variance components showed that the concepts of ISR and SSR coexist. Thus, our data show that the distinction between non‐specific and specific stress response is arbitrary and that ISR as well as SSR stereotypy plays an important role in autonomous responses to stressful stimuli.
Pain management training in the elderly: Matching interventions with subjects' coping styles
Authors: Fry P. S. , Wong Paul T. P. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe long‐term beneficial effects of pain management training in homebound elderly were investigated. Sixty‐nine elderly persons were given the Ways of Coping Checklist to determine their coping style. Those who preferred problem‐focused coping were presented with a problem‐focused intervention. Those with an emotion‐focused orientation were matched up with an emotion‐focused intervention. A control group was given a mixed‐focused intervention. Postintervention and follow‐up measures were taken in the 16th week and 24th week, respectively. All three intervention procedures resulted in reduced pain and anxiety, as well as increased satisfaction and adjustment. As predicted, interventions that matched the subject's coping styles were more effective than the control group, with problem‐focused intervention yielding the best results.
Coping with depression
Authors: Hordern Anthony 
Published: May 2007

AbstractPatients with depression often fail to recognize that they have an illness requiring treatment. Many non‐psychiatric clinicians also seem to be unaware of depressive illness as an entity and, in consequence, may prescribe a tranquillizer when an antidepressant is needed. Depressed mood is a leading symptom in only about 5 per cent of cases, and many depressive illnesses are masked by other symptoms. Stress is an important precipitating factor, as well as personality predisposition or a genetic tendency. Control of stress and other factors may be all that is required in mild cases, but in others the present antidepressant drugs available are adequate for the majority.
A validation study of the OSI on a blue‐collar sample
Authors: Cooper Cary L. , Williams Jan 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe Occupational Stress Indicator is a diagnostic research tool which assesses seven different aspects of the stress—strain relationship. On the outcome or strain side, it measures job satisfaction, mental health and physical health. On the stressor or independent variable side of the equation, it assesses sources of job stress, type A behaviour, locus of control and coping styles. It has been previously validated for white‐collar and professional groups and this article describes its validation for a blue‐collar sample.
Caffeinated beverage use among type a male patients suspected of CAD/CHD: A mechanism for increased risk?
Authors: Ketterer Mark W. , Maercklein Gail H. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe possible interrelationship of the ‘AIAI’ (i.e. aggravation, irritation, anger and impatience) of type A behavior and habitual caffeine use was examined as one plausible mechanism relating AIAI/TAB to coronary heart disease. Total daily caffeine intake was calculated be weighing the daily use of cups of coffee (1.0), glasses or cups of tea (0.5) and glasses, bottles or cans of pop (0.25) reported by 36 male patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Highversuslow groupings, according to two measures of type A behavior (the type A scale of the Jenkins Activity Survey and an ‘AIAI’ scale from the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist), were constructed and caffeine intake compared. The high AIAI group reported almost two more units (cups of coffee) per day, and was substantially younger than its counterparts. The influence of type A behavior on CAD/CHD may be mediated, in part or whole, by elevated caffeine intake.
Is there a causal relationship of anxiety, stress or cardiovascular reactivity to hypertension?
Authors: Rosenman Ray H. , Hjemdahl Paul 
Published: May 2007

AbstractCardiovascular responses constantly occur in the waking state, whether or not associated with perceived stress, and any type of emotional arousal similarly raises the blood pressure. Differences during all types of emotions are largely quantitative, and there does not appear to be any specificity of sympathoadrenal response to emotional stress. These responses may be physiological and homeostatic, rather than psychologically reactive and do not provide evidence to support causal roles for anxiety, stress and cardiovascular reactivity in the pathogenesis of sustained hypertension.
The interval form of carbon monoxide poisoning: Oxygen at high pressure treatment and prediction of occurrence
Authors: Konishi Hiroyuki , Shimizu Akira , Nishimura Tsuyoshi 
Published: May 2007

AbstractPatients suffering from the interval form of carbon monoxide poisoning, believed to recover only with difficulty, were successfully treated by application of oxygen at high pressure (OHP) treatment. Nine out of 10 patients responded well to the treatment and recovered to the level of normal daily life. The occurrence of this interval sequela of carbon monoxide poisoning is difficult to predict during the lucid interval. In two of our cases the findings of serial EEG examinations became worse during the lucid interval followed by the occurrence of clinical symptoms. In this article, first we show the results of the clinical course of 10 patients with OHP treatment, then report the method of prediction of the interval from by serial EEG examinations.
Stress induced sudden cardiac death: Can it be prevented?
Authors: Morse Donald R. , Martin John , Moshonov Joshua 
Published: May 2007

AbstractPreviously, psychosomatically induced death relative to stress, hypnosis, mind control, and voodoo was discussed. In this article, emphasis is on one aspect of that — stress induced sudden cardiac death (SCD). A brief review is presented of the sympathetic aspects of the acute stress response and stress induced SCD. Findings from previous studies are presented to highlight sympathetic aspects of the acute stress response. This is followed by a presentation of various strategies to prevent or decrease the possibilities for stress induced SCD. These include long‐term measures (eg diet control, smoking control, hypertension control, stress management strategies) and immediate measures (eg calm, controlled approach, elicitation of the relaxation response, selected use of drugs, and heart rate variability monitoring). Relative to prevention strategies, findings are presented both from previous studies and new investigations.
Toward the standardization of life stress assessment: Definitional discrepancies and inconsistencies in methods
Authors: McQuaid John R. , Monroe Scott M. , Roberts John R. , Johnson Sheri L. , Garamoni Gregory L. , Kupfer David J. , Frank Ellen 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThere has been considerable controversy about methods for assessing life stress. However, self‐report checklists and interview‐based measures (the predominant approaches used in current research) differ in several respects, ranging from basic definitions through theoretical assumptions. Most research comparing these two approaches has focused on global comparisons in predicting disorder, which fail to take into account more specific information on how the methods vary. The present article outlines three stages of assessment for life stress: definition, operationalization, and quantification. Detailed examination of these stages with a sample of depressed patients helps to demonstrate in an explicit manner how self‐report checklists and interview‐based methods differ at successive stages of the measurement process. Data are presented that indicate large endpoint discrepancies attributable to specific differences in the definitional and operational procedures used in the two assessment approaches. The nature of the discrepancies found is discussed, along with the implications for assessing life stress and testing its implications for health and well‐being.
Diet of women with severe premenstrual syndrome and the effect of changing to a three‐hourly starch diet
Authors: Dalton Katharina , Holton Wendy M. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractFollowing a large meal there is a transient and large increase in the metabolic clearance rate of progesterone.1 Progesterone receptors do not bind to molecules of progesterone in the presence of adrenalin,2 which is released when the blood glucose level is low. While awaiting their first appointment, 84 women with severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) completed a questionnaire detailing all food and drink consumed on seven consecutive days. The average daytime interval between starch‐containing foods was 7 hours, with an overnight interval averaging 13 ½ hours. This suggested that women with PMS might benefit from shorter food intervals between starch‐containing foods and avoidance of large meals. On receipt of their questionnaires women were advised to follow a three‐hourly starch diet, which was beneficial in 54 per cent with improvement in a further 20 per cent. The diet alone proved effective in 19 per cent, who needed no additional medication for full relief of premenstrual symptoms.
Stress and isatin: Effects on the serotonergic system
Authors: Norman Trevor R. , Burrows Graham D. , McIntyre Iain M. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIn experimental models stress produces a number of endocrine and biochemical changes. The identification of a monoamine oxidase inhibiting substance in normal human urine which is raised in stressful situations has been of heuristic importance. This compound, known as tribulin, has been characterized by mass spectrometry as indole‐2, 3‐dione (isatin) which in part is responsible for the effects of tribulin. Some properties of isatin are reviewed and its effects on the serotonergic system in rats are described. Isatin produces similar effects to cold immobilization stress in rats, lending further support to the notion that this compound may be an important mediator of stress responses.
Stress theory and therapeutic practice
Authors: Thompson James 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThere are many theories of stress, though few lead to detailed treatment techniques. These theories are often simple and non‐theoretical. They are based on the notion of a passive structure bearing a heavy weight. There is a need for more active models, which measure a person's capacity to cope with the demands of the environment. Learning theories have often provided a basic paradigm and vocabulary for stress research. Conditioning models certainly have explanatory power, though they cannot always account for some features of stress reactions. Nonetheless, conditioning provides a rationale for a treatment approach which has shown a good record of success. New developments in the treatment of post‐traumatic stress disorder, in which patients are directly exposed to the feared stimulus, show promising early results. These findings strongly suggest that successful treatment of traumatic stress should include exposure techniques as a main part of a program of rehabilitation.
Dehydroepiandrosterone protects stressed mice from encephalitis by the attenuated west‐nile virus
Authors: Ben‐Nathan D. , Feuerstein G. , Danenberg H. D. , Kobiler D. , Olshevsky U. , Lustig S. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractPrevious studies have demonstrated that dehydroepiadrosterone (DHEA) bears an immunomodulating effect, and while having no antiviral activity in vitro, is capable of protecting against lethal viral infections. In the present study the effect of DHEA on protection from stress‐induced infection was examined. Mice were exposed to cold stress, isolation stress or dexamethasone injections and inoculated with the attenuated non‐invasive WN‐25 encephalitis virus. DHEA treatment prevented the induction of encephalitis and decreased mortality rate from 67 per cent, 75 per cent and 67 per cent to 22 per cent, 32 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively. Postponement of the onset of disease, reduced virus levels in the brain on day 7, increased mean time of death, and prevention of spleen and thymus involution was also observed. The protective effect is mediated probably by counteraction of stress‐induced immunosuppression that appears during viral infections. We suggest that DHEA may act as an ‘antistress’ agent, an agent that is effective in protection against viral infection by blocking stress‐induced immunosuppression.
Plasma ACTH, beta‐endorphin, prolactin, growth hormone and luteinizing hormone levels after thermal stress, heat and cold
Authors: Vescovi P. P. , Casti A. , Michelini M. , Maninetti L. , Pedrazzoni M. , Passeri M. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIn the present study we have examined the response of ACTH, beta‐EP, PRL, GH and LH to heat and cold exposure (90° and 4°C, respectively) in eight young healthy subjects. Sauna‐induced hyperthermia resulted in an increase of plasma ACTH, beta‐EP, PRL and GH, but the exposure to cold did not stimulate the secretion of these hormones. This study indicates that hyperthermia represents a form of stress which can trigger a well‐defined neuroendocrine response, whereas cold exposure, at least under these experimental conditions, is unable to elicit significant hormonal changes.
Could stress help understand the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa?
Authors: Kahn J. P. , Gross M. J. , Mejean L. , Burlet C. , Laxenaire M. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe determinism and pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains to a large extent unknown. The nosographic debate is rather ideologically orientated, and neurobiological as well as psychodynamic or systemic hypotheses have been suggested and developed. Recent advances in neurobiology and the concept of ‘psychosocial stress’ could therefore provide an integrative approach which allows consideration of both neurobiological determinants of behavior and various psychological or interpersonal influences, as well as life events. Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), a hypothalamic neuropeptide, plays a major role both in the mechanisms underlying the stress response and in the regulation of eating behavior. The authors present an experimental study which was conducted in anorectic patients and age‐and sex‐matched healthy volunteers. They investigated the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) reactivity to a neurotropic stimulation of the HPA axis at the hypothalamic and suprahypothalamic levels (NST). The HPA axis reactivity was assessed by repeated measures of salivary cortisol. There were significant differences in the responses of the anorectic group and the control group.
A comparison of endocrine reactions to different types of acute stressors in rural and urban black populations
Authors: Malan Nicolaas T. , Eloff Frederick C. , Pretorius Petrus J. , Van Der Merwe J. Sanette , Huisman Hugo W. , Laubscher Petrus J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractMoving from a rural setting to an urban environment is a stressful experience. This situation will most likely result in changes in lifestyle and health. Changes in endocrine reactivity may contribute to the development of western‐type diseases in urban communities. In this study it was found that individuals in the process of urbanization exhibit significantly higher endocrine reactivity than rural communities during acutely stressful situations.
Stress among primary teachers: Individuals in organizations
Authors: Proctor John L. , Alexander David A. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe following article is based on a survey of over 250 class teachers working in 30 primary schools in a large regional authority in Scotland. The study aimed to: (i) establish the prevalence and nature of occupational stress among primary school teachers, and (ii) determine the relationship between stress, anxiety and organizational phenomena. The data were collected by means of a specifically designed questionnaire and standardized measures of psychiatric morbidity. These important data are discussed in terms of their implications for training, organizational change and the direction of future research.