Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
Bekhradi, R., Vakilian, K.
Background: Test anxiety is a common problem among Iranian students. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of aromatherapy with lavender on test anxiety. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed from June 2012 to July in Arak 186 female students, who were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. After obtaining written informed consents from the participants, they were asked to complete the Test Anxiety Scale once at baseline and once following the intervention. The students in the intervention group received aromatherapy for seven nights. For this purpose, five to six drops of lavender were poured on a cotton ball and held at a 5 cm distance from the nose for 5 min. On the other hand, no intervention was applied for the control group. For statistical analysis, t-test and Chi-square test were performed. Results: The findings showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of mild [30 (49.2%)and 25 (58.1%), respectively], moderate[18 (29.5%) and15 (35.7%), respectively], or severe [2 (3.3%) and 1 (2.4%), respectively] anxiety (P=0.232). However, the number of anxiety-free students was higher in the intervention group (n=11), compared to the controls (n=2)(P=0.03). Conclusion: The obtained findings showed that aromatherapy with lavender could increase the number of anxiety-free students. However, no significant difference was found in the severity of test anxiety between the two groups. Copyright © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers.
Current Women's Health Reviews, 12(2) : 137-140
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Homeopathic, plant-based medicines
Blake, M., Waloszek, J. M., Schwartz, O., Raniti, M., Simmons, J. G., Blake, L., Murray, G., Dahl, R. E., Bootzin, R., Dudgeon, P., Trinder, J., Allen, N. B.
Objective: Sleep problems are a major risk factor for the emergence of mental health problems in adolescence. The aim of this study was to investigate the post intervention effects of a cognitive-behavioral/mindfulness-based group sleep intervention on sleep and mental health among at-risk adolescents. Method: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted across High schools in Melbourne, Australia. One hundred forty-four adolescents (aged 12-17 years) with high levels of anxiety and sleeping difficulties, but without past or current depressive disorder, were randomized into either a sleep improvement intervention or an active control 'study skills' intervention. Both programs consisted of 7 90-min-long group sessions delivered over 7 weeks. One hundred twenty-three participants began the interventions (female - 60%; mean age - 14.48, SD - 0.95), with 60 in the sleep condition and 63 in the control condition. All participants were required to complete a battery of mood and sleep questionnaires, 7 days of wrist actigraphy (an objective measure of sleep), and sleep diary entry at pre-and-post intervention. Results: The sleep intervention condition was associated with significantly greater improvements in subjective sleep (global sleep quality [with a medium effect size], sleep onset latency, daytime sleepiness [with small effect sizes]), objective sleep (sleep onset latency [with a medium effect size]), and anxiety (with a small effect size) compared with the control intervention condition. Conclusion: The SENSE study provides evidence that a multicomponent group sleep intervention that includes cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies can reduce sleep initiation problems and related daytime dysfunction, along with concomitant anxiety symptoms, among at-risk adolescents. Copyright © 2016 American Psychological Association.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(12) : 1039-1051
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Bluth, K., Campo, R. A., Pruteanu-Malinici, S., Reams, A., Mullarkey, M., & Broderick, P. C
Mindfulness, 7(1) : 90-104
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Universal prevention
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Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Mindfulness based therapy
Boals, A., Murrell, A. R., Berntsen, D., Southard-Dobbs, S., Agtarap, S.
Event centrality, the extent to which one perceives a stressful or traumatic event as central to one's identity, has been shown to be one of the predictors of PTSD symptoms. Boals and Murrell (in press) found that an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based, therapist-led treatment resulted in significant decreases in event centrality, which in turn led to decreases in PTSD symptoms. In the current study, a version of this treatment was administered using a modified expressive writing intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to learn core components about either ACT, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or baseball (control) via audio analogs. The ACT and CBT groups then attempted to apply what they learned in two subsequent expressive writing sessions, while the baseball group wrote about a neutral topic. The results revealed that participants in the ACT and CBT conditions evidenced significant decreases in event centrality, if they followed the writing instructions correctly, in comparison to the control group. However, there were no group differences in changes in PTSD symptoms. These results suggest that principles of ACT and traditional CBT expressed using a modified expressive writing intervention hold great promise to help individuals recover from stressful experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 4(4) : 269-276
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art
Asikhia, O. A., Mohangi, K.
This study aimed at determining the use of problem-solving training in reducing mathematics anxiety among a group of senior secondary school students in Ogun State, Nigeria area. A 2 x 2 pre-test, post-test factorial design (treatment and gender) was used in the study. 120 students who had high scores on the mathematics anxiety scale were randomly selected from the 492 students which responded to the scale. Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale-Revised (MARS-R) by Plake and Parker (1982) was the instrument used in the study. Analysis of covariance was used to analyse the two hypotheses formulated and tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed a significant effect of treatment on participants' level of mathematics anxiety (F-ratio = 5.81, P < 0.05). Students exposed to treatment had reduced levels of anxiety in mathematics compared with those in the control group. The study also revealed that gender affected students' anxiety in mathematics significantly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).
Gender & Behaviour, 13(1) : 6547-6558
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Problem solving therapy (PST)
Bao, X., Jin, K.
Previous research has documented the beneficial effect of Tai Chi, but most of the studies focused on elders and patients with specific health conditions. The aim of the study was to test whether Tai Chi can help to improve self-concept in adolescents with a longitudinal study. The sample comprised 160 students from a Chinese middle school; half of students formed the experimental group and the rest formed the control group. A 1-year Tai Chi intervention was delivered in 60-minute sessions, five times a week. Both groups were instructed to complete the measure of self-concept at the beginning and end of the intervention. Statistical analysis shows the significant reduction of good behaviour, intellectual and school status, popularity and anxiety in the experimental group compared with the control group. The results suggest that the Tai Chi intervention could improve self-concept in adolescents.
International Journal of Psychology, 50(2) : 101-105
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Physical activity, exercise
Adler, A. B., Williams, J., McGurk, D., Moss, A., Bliese, P. D.
BACKGROUND: Resilience Training has the potential to mitigate mental health symptoms when provided during initial military training.
METHODS: The present study examined the impact of Resilience Training on US soldier well-being and attitudes during Basic Combat Training. Platoons were randomly assigned to Resilience Training or Military History provided during the first few days of Basic Combat Training. Surveys were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 3, 6, and 9 weeks.
RESULTS: The sample resulted in a total of 1,939 soldiers who completed at least the baseline and one follow-up survey. There were no significant differences between conditions in terms of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or sleep problems. However, while anxiety decreased in both conditions, the rate of decrease was faster in the Resilience Training condition. In contrast, Resilience Training had a slower rate of increase in group cohesion over time than the Military History condition. In addition, Resilience Training was associated with greater confidence in helping others and received more positive ratings than Military History.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that the brief Resilience Training studied here may have some utility in supporting mental health and peer support but may not benefit unit climate.
Applied psychology. Health & Well-being, 7(1) : 85-107
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
van-der-Zwan, J. E., de-Vente, W., Huizink, A. C., Bogels, S. M., de-Bruin, E. I.
In contemporary western societies stress is highly prevalent, therefore the need for stress-reducing methods is great. This randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of self-help physical activity (PA), mindfulness meditation (MM), and heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) in reducing stress and its related symptoms. We randomly allocated 126 participants to PA, MM, or HRV-BF upon enrollment, of whom 76 agreed to participate. The interventions consisted of psycho-education and an introduction to the specific intervention techniques and 5 weeks of daily exercises at home. The PA exercises consisted of a vigorous-intensity activity of free choice. The MM exercises consisted of guided mindfulness meditation. The HRV-BF exercises consisted of slow breathing with a heart rate variability biofeedback device. Participants received daily reminders for their exercises and were contacted weekly to monitor their progress. They completed questionnaires prior to, directly after, and 6 weeks after the intervention. Results indicated an overall beneficial effect consisting of reduced stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and improved psychological well-being and sleep quality. No significant between-intervention effect was found, suggesting that PA, MM, and HRV-BF are equally effective in reducing stress and its related symptoms. These self-help interventions provide easily accessible help for people with stress complaints.
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 40(4) : 257-268
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Mindfulness based therapy, Biofeedback, neurofeedback, audio/video feedback, Meditation
, Physical activity, exercise
Stallard, P., Skryabina, E., Taylor, G., Anderson, R., Ukoumunne, O.C., Daniels, H., Phillips, R., Simpson, N.
Public Health Research, 3(14) :
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Other service delivery and improvement interventions
Melnyk, B. M., Amaya, M., Szalacha, L. A., Hoying, J., Taylor, T., Bowersox, K.
PROBLEM: Despite the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders in university students, few receive needed evidence-based treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of a seven-session online cognitive-behavioral skill-building intervention (i.e., COPE, Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) versus a comparison group on their anxiety, depressive symptoms, and grade performance. METHODS: A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted from September 2012 to May 2013 with 121 college freshmen enrolled in a required one credit survey course. FINDINGS: Although there were no significant differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms between the groups, only COPE students with an elevated level of anxiety at baseline had a significant decline in symptoms. Grade point average was higher in COPE versus comparison students. Evaluations indicated that COPE was a positive experience for students. CONCLUSIONS: COPE is a promising brief intervention that can be integrated effectively into a required freshman course. Copyright © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc, 28(3) : 147-154
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Skills training, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Nguyen-Feng, V. N., Frazier, P. A., Greer, C. S., Howard, K. G., Paulsen, J. A., Meredith, L., Kim, S.
Psychology of Violence, 5(4) : 444
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Self-help
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Hintz, S., Frazier, P.A., Meredith, L.
Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(2) : 137
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)