Journal of psychosomatic research
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Open-label placebo response - Does optimism matter? A secondary-analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
Open-label placebos (OLPs) have been found to elicit significant and clinical meaningful effects, but in comparison to deceptive placebo administration there is a lack of research regarding possible predictors. This study sets out to examine the effects of optimism and other personality-related variables on OLP responses. ⋯ Taken together, OLPs are effective, the underlying personality-related variables seem, however, to differ significantly from the deceptive placebo response. Therefore, the concept of "placebo responders" might depend on the route of placebo administration.
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Felt security in close relationships may affect individual adaptation responses to existential threat in severe illness. We examined the contribution of attachment security to demoralization, a state of existential distress involving perceived pointlessness and meaninglessness in advanced cancer. ⋯ Attachment security may protect from demoralization in advanced cancer. Its relative lack, particularly on the dimension of attachment anxiety, may limit adaptive capacities to deal with illness burden and to sustain morale and purpose in life. An understanding of individual differences in attachment needs can inform existential interventions for severely ill individuals.
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To systematically review of the available literature to (1) examine the association between death anxiety and hypochondriasis and (2) examine the association between death anxiety and medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). ⋯ All studies found a positive association of death anxiety with hypochondriasis and/or MUS. Acknowledging that death anxiety may play a prominent role in hypochondriasis/MUS populations, future research should address (potentially modifiable) determinants of death anxiety in these populations.
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Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been related with improved job satisfaction, wellbeing, health, and reduced workplace stress with employees. However, until now, synthesis of the evidence of the effect of MBIs on physiological indices associated with stress and ill-health has been lacking. Therefore the current systematic review aimed to synthesise the literature from employee samples to provide guidance for future investigations in terms of which physiological indicators and biological systems may be most impacted by MBIs. ⋯ Taken together, the findings suggest that MBIs are a promising avenue for intervention for improving physiological indices of stress. Our findings suggest that changes in daytime cortisol secretion and HRV coherence may be particularly influenced by MBIs. Future studies should aim to assess multiple physiological indices to confirm the current findings and further improve current understanding of which biological systems (and indices within these systems) show responses indicative of reduced stress due to MBI.
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The 'psychogenic' hypothesis has a long history in the field of infertility. The present study investigated whether anxiety or depressive symptoms are associated with probability of subsequent live birth in a cohort of infertile women from the general population. ⋯ Anxiety and depressive symptoms are not associated with probability of live birth in women with self-reported infertility in the general population.