Self-reported dieting success is associated with cardiac autonomic regulation in current dieters

in Appetite (2012), 59(2)

Restrained eating, eating disorders and obesity have been associated with cardiac autonomic dysregulation. The current study investigated cardiac autonomic regulation in current dieters. Female students ... [more ▼]

Restrained eating, eating disorders and obesity have been associated with cardiac autonomic dysregulation. The current study investigated cardiac autonomic regulation in current dieters. Female students (N = 50) indicated if they were currently trying to control their weight and completed the Perceived Self-Regulatory Success in Dieting Scale (PSRS). Heart beat intervals were recorded during two 10 min relaxation periods from which parameters of vagal-cardiac control (high frequency power in normalized units, HF n.u.) and sympathovagal balance (ratio of low and high frequency power, LF/HF) were calculated. In current dieters, self-reported dieting success was positively associated with HF and negatively associated with LF/HF. These associations were independent of current body-mass and food deprivation (i.e. hours since the last meal). We conclude that vagal-cardiac control reflects self-regulatory strength, rather than nutritional status, in current dieters. [less ▲]

Perseverative thinking in depression and anxiety

in Frontiers in Psychology (2012), 3

The current study investigated the impact of worry and brooding as moderators of the tripartite model of depression and anxiety (TMDA). We hypothesized that both types of perseverative thinking would ... [more ▼]

The current study investigated the impact of worry and brooding as moderators of the tripartite model of depression and anxiety (TMDA). We hypothesized that both types of perseverative thinking would moderate the association between negative affectivity (NA) and both anxiety and depression. Complete data sets for this questionnaire survey were obtained from 537 students. Participants’ age ranged from 16 to 49 years with a mean age of 21.1 years (SD = 3.6). Overall, results from path analyses supported the assumptions of the TMDA, in that negative affectivity was a non-specific predictor for both depression and anxiety whilst lack of positive affectivity was related to depression only. Unexpectedly, perseverative thinking had an effect on the dependency of negative and positive affectivity. Worry was a significant moderator for the path NA – anxiety. All other hypothesized associations were only marginally significant. Alternative pathways as well as methodological implications regarding similarities and differences of the two types of perseverative thinking are discussed. [less ▲]

Heart rate variability biofeedback reduces food cravings in high food cravers

in Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (2012), 37(4), 241-251

Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback has been reported to increase HRV while decreasing symptoms in patients with mental disorders. In addition, associations between low HRV and lowered self ... [more ▼]

Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback has been reported to increase HRV while decreasing symptoms in patients with mental disorders. In addition, associations between low HRV and lowered self-regulation were found in non-clinical samples, e.g., in individuals with strong chocolate cravings or unsuccessful dieting. The current study aimed at decreasing food cravings with HRV-biofeedback in individuals frequently experiencing such cravings. Participants (N = 56) with strong or low food cravings associated with a lack of control over eating were selected from the local community. Half of the participants with strong cravings (craving-biofeedback; n = 14) performed 12 sessions of HRV-biofeedback while the other half (craving-control; n = 14) and a group with low cravings (non-craving-control; n = 28) received no intervention. Subjective food cravings related to a lack of control over eating decreased from pre- to post-measurement in the craving-biofeedback group, but remained constant in the control groups. Moreover, only the craving-biofeedback group showed a decrease in eating and weight concerns. Although HRV-biofeedback was successful in reducing food cravings, this change was not accompanied by an increase in HRV. Instead, HRV decreased in the craving-control group. This study provides preliminary evidence that HRV-biofeedback could be beneficial for attenuating dysfunctional eating behavior although specific mechanisms remain to be elucidated. [less ▲]

Does disgust increase parasympathetic activation in individuals with a history of fainting? A psychophysiological analysis of disgust stimuli with and without blood-injection- injury association.

in Journal of Anxiety Disorders (2012), 26(8)

People with blood-injection-injury fear can faint when being confronted with blood, injections or injuries. Page (1994) holds that people with blood-injury phobia faint, because they are disgust sensitive ... [more ▼]

People with blood-injection-injury fear can faint when being confronted with blood, injections or injuries. Page (1994) holds that people with blood-injury phobia faint, because they are disgust sensitive and disgust facilitates fainting by eliciting parasympathetic activity. We tested the following two hypotheses: (1) Disgusting pictures elicit more disgust in blood-injection-injury anxious people with a history of fainting than they do in controls. (2) Disgust causes parasympathetic activation. Subjects were 24 participants with high blood-injection-injury fear and a history of fainting in anxiety relevant situations and 24 subjects with average blood-injection-injury fear and no fainting history. We analyzed self-reported feelings of disgust, anxiety and faintness and reactions in heart rate, skin conductance, blood pressure and respiratory sinus arrhythmia during the confrontation with disgusting pictures with and without blood content.We did not find any evidence that the blood-injection-injury anxious subjects were more disgust sensitive than the control subjects and we also did not find any evidence that disgust elicits parasympathetic activation. [less ▲]

Rumination and age: some things get better

in Journal of Aging Research (2012), 267327

Rumination has been defined as a mode of responding to distress that involves passively focusing one’s attention on symptoms of distress without taking action. This dysfunctional response style ... [more ▼]

Rumination has been defined as a mode of responding to distress that involves passively focusing one’s attention on symptoms of distress without taking action. This dysfunctional response style intensifies depressed mood, impairs interpersonal problem solving and leads to more pessimistic future perspectives and less social support. As most of these results were obtained from younger people, it remains unclear how age affects ruminative thinking. Three hundred members of the general public ranging in age from 15 to 87 years were asked about their ruminative styles using the Response Styles Questionnaire (RSQ), depression and satisfaction with life. A Mokken Scale analysis confirmed the two-factor structure of the RSQ with brooding and reflective pondering as sub-components of rumination. Older participants (63 years and older) reported less ruminative thinking than other age groups. Life satisfaction was associated with brooding and highest for the earlier and latest life stages investigated in this study. [less ▲]

Evidence-based recommendations for the development of obesity prevention programs targeted at preschool children

in Obesity Reviews (2012), 13(Suppl 1), 129-132

As previously discussed in other papers in this Supplement of Obesity Reviews, the Toybox intervention was developed using an evidence-based approach, and refined through pilot testing. As part of that ... [more ▼]

As previously discussed in other papers in this Supplement of Obesity Reviews, the Toybox intervention was developed using an evidence-based approach, and refined through pilot testing. As part of that evidence base, two pieces of work were carried out. First, a series of narrative reviews of educational strategies and psychological approaches explaining young children’s acquisition and formation of energy-balance related behaviours, and facilitating their management (Gibson et al1; Vögele et al2; Kreichauf et al3, all published in this supplement). Second, a systematic review to identify behavioural models underpinning school-based interventions in pre-school and school settings for the prevention of obesity in children aged 4-6 years (Nixon et al4; published in this supplement). The aim of this short paper is to summarise and translate the findings from these two reviews into practical evidence-based recommendations for researchers and policy makers to consider when developing and implementing interventions for the prevention of overweight and obesity in young (aged 4-6) children. [less ▲]

A systematic review to identify behavioural models underpinning school-based interventions in pre-primary and primary settings for the prevention of obesity in children aged 4-6 years.

in Obesity Reviews (2012), 13(Suppl 1), 106-117

The aim of this comprehensive systematic review was to identify the most important behavioural models underpinning school-based interventions aimed at preventing or counteracting obesity in 4-6 year olds ... [more ▼]

The aim of this comprehensive systematic review was to identify the most important behavioural models underpinning school-based interventions aimed at preventing or counteracting obesity in 4-6 year olds. Searching was conducted in April 2010, with relevant literature included in the review from 1995 up to and including the search date on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Library. Epidemiological studies relevant to the research question with controlled assignment of participants were included in the review, if they had follow up periods of six months or longer. Outcomes included markers of weight gain; markers of body composition; physical activity behaviour changes and dietary behaviour changes. A total of twelve individual studies were included in review. The most commonly used model was Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)/Social Learning Theory (SLT) either as a single model or in combination with other behavioural models. Studies that used SCT/SLT in the development of the intervention had significant favourable changes in one, or more, outcome measures. Those interventions that combine (a) high levels of parental involvement and interactive school-based learning and (b) that target physical activity plus dietary change, require further consideration in the development of useful interventions for children aged 4-6 years old. [less ▲]

Stressbewältigung bei Kindern und Jugendlichen.

in Meinlschmidt, G.; Schneider, S.; Margraf, J. (Eds.) Lehrbuch der Verhaltenstherapie: Materialien für die Psychotherapie., 4 (2011)

Körperliche und psychische Probleme, die durch Stress verursacht oder begünstigt werden, treten in zunehmendem Maß schon im Kindes- und Jugendalter auf (7 Kap. II/30). So leiden viele Kinder im ... [more ▼]

Körperliche und psychische Probleme, die durch Stress verursacht oder begünstigt werden, treten in zunehmendem Maß schon im Kindes- und Jugendalter auf (7 Kap. II/30). So leiden viele Kinder im Grundschulalter unter Stresssymptomen wie Nervosität, Unkonzentriertheit, Bauch- und Kopfschmerzen oder Schlafschwierigkeiten. Jugendliche berichten häufig über Kopfschmerzen, Schlafprobleme und Appetitlosigkeit, aber auch über Gefühle der Anspannung und Überforderung. Die Gründe dafür sind vielfältig, auch wenn die Belastung durch die Schule und soziale Konfliktsituationen mit Geschwistern, Eltern oder Freunden die am häufigsten von Kindern und Jugendlichen genannten Alltagsbelastungen sind. Dazu kommt, dass die Adoleszenz mit ihren vielfältigen körperlichen, psychischen und sozialen Veränderungen eine Lebensphase erhöhter Vulnerabilität für Belastungen darstellt, die erfolgreich bewältigt werden muss. Viele Kinder und Jugendliche bewältigen diese Anforderungen mit Strategien wie Problemlösung, Suche nach sozialer Unterstützung und Ablenkung erfolgreich und nützen die Erfahrung in der Auseinandersetzung mit der Belastung, um ein Bewältigungspotenzial aufzubauen. Andere fühlen sich überfordert und zeigen Fehlanpassungen bzw. reagieren mit Resignation, Aggression, Ruminieren und passiver Vermeidung. Insgesamt sprechen die derzeitigen empirischen Befunde dafür, dass durch die Förderung günstiger Bewältigungsstrategien Belastungssymptome reduziert und das Gesundheitsverhalten oder der Verlauf bereits aufgetretener chronisch-körperlicher Erkrankungen günstig beeinflusst werden (Lohaus et al. 2006a). Wie bei Erwachsenen auch (7 Kap. II/30, Kap. IV/37) bedarf es dazu eines breiten Angebots innerhalb eines Stressbewältigungstrainings. Beispielsweise sind Programme, die nur Entspannungsverfahren oder Problemlösetrainings als alleinige Interventionen einsetzten, langfristig wenig erfolgreich (Seiffge-Krenke u. Lohaus 2007). Deshalb integrieren erfolgreiche Stressbewältigungstrainings für Kinder und Jugendliche mehrere unterschiedliche Interventionsmethoden in multimodalen Programmen. Diese beruhen zum größten Teil auf dem Stressimpfungstraining (SIT) von Meichenbaum (2003; 7 Kap. II/30) und passen es kindgerecht an. Das SIT vermittelt Methoden der Entspannung und übt den Aufbau von sozialen Fertigkeiten und das Erlernen von schulbezogenen oder allgemeinen Problemlösestrategien. Wesentlich ist jedoch die kognitive Umstrukturierung, d. h. die Erfahrung, dass Belastungssituationen nicht als persönliche Bedrohung, sondern als lösbare Probleme bewertet werden sollen. Im vorliegenden Kapitel werden nur wenige ausgewählte übergeordnete Materialien vorgestellt und es wird auf eine Auswahl der wichtigsten deutschsprachigen diagnostischen Verfahren zur Erfassung von Bewältigungsstrategien und therapeutischen Interventionen zur Stressbewältigung im Kindes- und Jugendalter verwiesen. [less ▲]

Stressbewältigung

in Meinlschmidt, G.; Schneider, S.; Margraf, J. (Eds.) Lehrbuch der Verhaltenstherapie: Materialien für die Psychotherapie, 4 (2011)

Das Thema Stressbewältigung (7 Kap. II/30) hat seit den 1960er Jahren einen rasanten Aufschwung genommen. Die damals beginnende Abkehr von dem bis dahin vorherrschenden biologisch-medizinischen Modell ... [more ▼]

Das Thema Stressbewältigung (7 Kap. II/30) hat seit den 1960er Jahren einen rasanten Aufschwung genommen. Die damals beginnende Abkehr von dem bis dahin vorherrschenden biologisch-medizinischen Modell, die zunehmende Unzufriedenheit mit der traditionellen Psychiatrie und die wachsende Bedeutung psychologischer Modelle und klinisch-psychologischer Interventionen haben dazu beigetragen, dass über die letzten 50 Jahre mehr als 4.000 wissenschaft liche Artikel zu diesem Th ema veröffentlicht wurden. Dabei finden sich die unterschiedlichsten Anwendungsbereiche, z. B. Stressbewältigung im Arbeitsbereich, in der Psychotherapie, in der Gesundheitsförderung und der medizinischen Versorgung, in der Paartherapie und in der Krisenintervention. Die Breite dieser Anwendungsbereiche ist sicherlich einer unter mehreren Gründen für die Unterschiedlichkeit der Interventionsmethoden, die unter dem Begriff Stressbewältigungstraining (z. B. Kaluza 2004) zusammengefasst werden. Üblicherweise beginnen die Stressbewältigungsprogramme mit einer allgemeinen Einführung zum Thema »was ist Stress«, ergänzt um eine Darstellung psychobiologischer Zusammenhänge und körperlicher Folgen vonchronischem Stress (7 Kap. IV/19). Die einzelnen Module beziehen sich dann auf spezifische Bereiche, die auch in anderen klinischen Kontexten von Relevanz sind. Dazu gehören Entspannungsverfahren (progressive Muskelrelaxation nach Jacobson, Meditation, autogenes Training, Biofeedback, Atementspannung; 7 Kap. IV/6), klinischpsychologische Interventionen (kognitive Umstrukturierung; 7 Kap. IV/11), Problemlösetraining, Training sozialerFertigkeiten (7 Kap. IV/10), Kommunikationstraining, Genusstraining (7 Kap. IV/8), Aufb au von Aktivitäten (7 Kap. IV/34)) und edukative Maßnahmen (Beratung zu Ernährung, Bewegung und Gesundheit sowie Techniken zur Optimierung von Arbeitsabläufen, Lernen oder Zeitmanagement). Bei aller Verschiedenartigkeit haben Stressbewältigungstrainings allerdings ein gemeinsames Ziel: die Förderung der körperlichen und psychischen Gesundheit und des Wohlbefindens durch eine Verbesserung der individuellen Kompetenzen zur Stressbewältigung. Genauer gesagt besteht das Ziel in der Erhöhung der Flexibilität im Umgang mit Belastungen. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen und den individuellen Bewältigungskompetenzen des Einzelnen gerecht zu werden, bedarf es eines breiten Angebots innerhalb eines Stressbewältigungstrainings. Deshalb integrieren die meisten Stressbewältigungstrainings mehrere unterschiedliche Interventionsmethoden in multimodale Programme. Wie bei anderen Interventionen auch, kann ein auf die einzelne Person zugeschnittenes Stressbewältigungstraining allerdings erst nach einer genauen Diagnostik der individuellen Voraussetzungen und Bedürfnisse durchgeführt werden. Im vorliegenden Kapitel werden nur wenige ausgewählte übergeordnete Materialien vorgestellt und es wird auf eine Auswahl der wichtigsten deutschsprachigen diagnostischen Verfahren zur Erfassung von Bewältigungsstrategien und therapeutischen Interventionen zur Stressbewältigung verwiesen. Verschiedene Bausteine zur Stressbewältigung können zudem – auf die individuellen Bedürfnisse eines Patienten angepasst – aus den o. g. Kapiteln zusammengestellt werden. [less ▲]

Psychometrische Evaluation der deutschen Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - Kurzversion (BIS-15) - Psychometric evaluation of the German Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - Short Version (BIS-15).

in Diagnostica (2011), 57(3), 126-133

Impulsivity is a personality trait which is characterized by rapid, unplanned actions regardless of possible negative consequences. One of the most widely used methods to assess impulsivity is the Barratt ... [more ▼]

Impulsivity is a personality trait which is characterized by rapid, unplanned actions regardless of possible negative consequences. One of the most widely used methods to assess impulsivity is the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11; Patton, Stanford & Barratt, 1995). The three factors nonplanning, motor, and attentional impulsivity can be measured sufficiently well with a short version of the BIS-11 (BIS-15; Spinella, 2007). The present study introduces the German version of this short version of the BIS-11. Reliability and factorial structure of this questionnaire were determined in a sample of predominantly university students (N = 752). The three-factorial solution was replicated. Internal consistency was good (Cronbach’s α = .81). Associations with another impulsivity questionnaire (UPPS) in a second study (N = 51) proved convergent validity. We recommend the BIS-15 for assessing impulsivity in German-speaking regions because of its good psychometric properties and economic procedure. [less ▲]