The central theoretical argument of the study is that faith can heal or help counselees to cope with mood and anxiety disorders. In the meta-theoretical perspective a literature study of recent research on mood and anxiety disorders and the therapeutic approaches to each within the disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, and medicine was done. It was found that there are a number of different causes and treatments for depression and anxiety with different disciplines emphasising different perspectives. An empirical study consisting of qualitative structured interviews and observations of a selected group of counselees struggling with depression and anxiety was also carried out. It was established that faith had played a significant role in the healing of the counselee's depression and anxiety or in their ability to deal with their illnesses. The goal with the basis-theoretical perspectives was to explore what the Bible has to teach about 'depression", faith and healing and to research the revelation historical stance on this. Expositional studies of a selected core of biblical references pertaining to depression were undertaken and key biblical figures who suffered from “depression" were studied. It was concluded that although the Bible does not speak of depression and anxiety per se, it describes people who might have been suffering from it. Valuable insights that can be used in helping counselees to deal and/or cope with their depression and anxiety were gained by studying these biblical characters and passages (2 Corinthians 1:3-11, Philippians 4:4-13 and Lamentations). In the practice-theoretical perspective an integrative model which can be used by pastoral counsellors for dealing with depression in a faith-based context and for equipping depression sufferers to constructively deal with their depression and anxiety was developed. This was accomplished by utilising the basis- and meta-theoretical perspectives in a hermeneutical interaction to formulate a holistic faith-based model. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

Despite growing evidence that anxiety can be a significant problem in late-life, information regarding the use of mental health services by older adults for anxiety is lacking. The current research project consists of three studies focusing on this issue. The first study examines the rates of mental health service use among older adults with anxiety disorders and high levels of anxiety symptoms, as well as individual characteristics associated with this use. The second study examines various aspects of social support as correlates of anxiety disorders in older adults, and the role of social support as an enabling resource for mental health service use. Finally, the third study examines three important outcomes of service use among older adults: treatment satisfaction, perceived treatment effectiveness, and dropout. The data for these studies came from the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2), a national population-based survey that includes 12,792 respondents aged 55+ years. This research found that older adults with significant anxiety were less likely to use services than those with mood disorders, and that indicators of need for services were the strongest predictors of use. Lower levels of functional social support were related to the presence of anxiety disorders among older adults, and lower levels of perceived emotional/informational support and positive social interactions predicted greater use of services for adults throughout the lifespan. Finally, older adults were generally satisfied with services, perceived them as helpful, and were likely to remain in treatment. Analyses indicated that individual characteristics likely play only a small role in these outcomes. In general, this project provides new and important information that can inform policy, clinical work, and future research regarding late-life anxiety.

<p>Bruxism is an oral parafunctional habit involving clenching and grinding of the teeth that occurs mainly unconsciously, diurnally and nocturnally. It is considered an important contributory factor in the aetiology of myofascial pain (MFP) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The aetiology of bruxism is considered to be multifactorial, involving physiological and psychological factors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the subthreshold symptoms (subtle, prodromal, atypical and subclinical symptoms of which the severity precludes diagnosis as a disorder) of anxiety and bruxism in a sample of subjects using a spectrum model.</p>

The current research project has addressed the issue of the stress and anxiety experienced by Australian senior high school students as they prepare to undertake their final year examinations. Two studies were conducted. The first study looked at the feelings experienced by senior high school students, resources available to them to assist with exam preparation, resources actually accessed, and the strategies used to cope with examinations and associated feelings. Focus group interviews were conducted with 14 Year 11 and 13 Year 12 students from a public senior high school in Perth, Western Australia. Results indicated that students tend to most frequently report using avoidance strategies to cope with preparing and undertaking examinations, supporting previous research findings (e.g., Zeidner, 1996). The second study examined the effectiveness of a group based, cognitive behavioural program purposely designed to teach students strategies for coping specifically with test anxiety and also generalized anxiety symptoms. The program involved seven one-hour weekly sessions implemented with 31 Year 12 students who were undertaking their final year examinations. The program covered education about the nature and causes of stress and anxiety, relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, imaginal exposure and study skills training. The pre- and post-intervention scores on the TAI and RCMAS were analyzed using 2 (group) x 2 (gender) x 3 (symptom severity level) full factorial repeated measures ANOVAS. At pre-intervention, there were no significant differences between the treatment (N=31) and control (N=6), except for RCMAS Worry and Over Sensitivity, whereby the treatment group had a higher mean score, consistent with the greater ratio of female to male participants in the treatment group compared to the control group. At post intervention, the treatment group had reduced scores from preintervention levels for TAI Worry and Emotionality, RCMAS Total Anxiety, Physiological, Worry and Over Sensitivity and the Social Issues and Concentration subscales. In contrast, the post-intervention scores for the control group for these measures had increased from pre-intervention levels. However, there was no significant main effect for Group. Anecdotal program evaluation results from the treatment group students revealed that relaxation training was considered the most helpful aspect of the program. In contrast, at-home practice activities were considered the least helpful. A majority of participating students also reported that they believed the program would help them to manage stress and anxiety associated with examinations and other life stressors. Despite the lack of significant differences between the treatment and control groups in the current study, the pattern of results obtained generally followed that of previous research on the treatment of symptoms for test anxiety (e.g., Wessel & Mersch, 1994) and generalized anxiety (e.g., Kendall, 1994) employing a CBT approach. While the results of the current study may have been limited by the relatively small sample sizes of the treatment and control groups, the short- and longterm benefits of providing training in appropriate coping strategies for test anxiety, such as those involved in cognitive behavioural intervention, are further highlighted.

Anxiety disorder is prevalent and costly. But its diagnosis is underdeveloped and treatment ad hoc. This could be corrected if the neural mechanisms of anxiety were known. All anxiolytic medications produce a decrease in rodent hippocampal theta rhythm - so hippocampal theta could underlie some types of anxiety. But, a review (Chapter 2) showed that ethanol and other anxiolytics increase FM-theta in the human scalp EEG and have other properties unlike hippocampal theta. The experiments in this thesis, therefore, tested for other potential homologues (Chapter 3) of hippocampal theta in the human EEG. The phase of hippocampal theta activity is reset in a working memory task and not an equivalent reference memory task in rats. Furthermore, low doses ethanol increases and high dose ethanol (and other anxiolytics) decrease theta activity. So, EEG was recorded from 15 scalp sites while participants performed non-verbal working memory and reference memory tasks before and after ethanol administration and assessed for the presence of phase-reset and ethanol-related changes in 5-7Hz and 8-11Hz spectral power (chapter 4 and 5). There was little general evidence for stimulus-induced phase-resetting of the ongoing EEG activity (Chapter 6). Increased post-stimulus synchronization in the theta frequency range was accompanied by increases in post-stimulus spectral power - suggesting that the synchronised activity was evoked rather than reset. Across 3 experiments (Chapter 7), low dose ethanol (54.5-146.6[mu]g/l) increased 5-7Hz theta, while the highest dose (307[mu]g/l) reduced task-related-increases in 5-7Hz activity. These effects were noted across electrode locations including frontal-midline sites and particularly at the beginning of the delay period. The suppression of 5-7Hz activity also coincided with an impairment in working memory performance. The dose-response curve for 5-7Hz theta was as predicted from rat hippocampal work. This particular component, linked to high working memory load or task difficulty, is a potential of homologue hippocampal theta. A clear decrease in theta with high dose ethanol, of this type, has not been reported previously. Activity in the 8-11Hz range typically increased with all doses of ethanol. It is clearly not a homologue of hippocampal theta. This is consistent with previous reports of increased alpha with high doses of ethanol - although these have been accompanied by increased, not decreased, theta. There is a potential homologue of hippocampal theta that can be detected in the human EEG (chapter 8); but the observed changes in 5-7Hz activity cannot be localised and may not be related to the hippocampus. It is clear there is more than one type of theta within the human EEG - with opposing sensitivities to ethanol. Critically, these types were detected at a single site and apparently in phase with one another. The current data, together with the previous literature, suggest that theta can be generated concurrently in distinct networks that, under specific task demands, can become coherent and so produce synchonised activity. Future studies need to test higher doses of ethanol and other anxiolytics and use different experimental paradigms to further differentiate the theta systems in the human EEG. Human EEG could be useful for differentiating sub-types of anxiety, and the choice and effectiveness of interventions delivered.

Tez (Tıpta Uzmanlık) - Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı, 2005. / Bibliyografya var.

Thesis (Psy.D.)--Adler School of Professional Psychology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-94).

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/23). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis supervisor: David B. Watson. Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-181).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Duquesne University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 124-138) and index.