No description available.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar os padrões de uso de "êxtase" na cidade de São Paulo. Os usuários foram recrutados através da técnica de amostragem snowball, também utilizada para o recrutamento do grupo controle, composto de indivíduos com estilo de vida semelhante aos primeiros mas que nunca haviam experimentado "êxtase" (não usuários). Usuários (52) e não usuários (52) foram entrevistados quanto às características sócio-demográficas e quanto ao uso de drogas psicotrópicas; usuários também responderam questões sobre circunstâncias de uso e efeitos do "êxtase". Através da Escala de Impulsividade de Barratt e dos Inventários de Depressão de Beck e de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (IDATE-traço) foram medidas impulsividade, depressão e ansiedade de ambos os grupos. Os dois grupos apresentaram características sócio-demográficas semelhantes: a maioria pertencia à classe média, era jovem, heterossexual, solteira e com nível superior. Entre os usuários o consumo de outras drogas psicotrópicas foi expressivamente superior. Outras características mais freqüentes no grupo de usuários foram a presença de tatuagens e piercings, a frequência a "raves" e a preferência pela música eletrônica. No Inventário de Depressão de Beck os usuários apresentaram pontuação significativamente menor quanto à depressão. Os resultados das escalas de impulsividade e ansiedade não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos. Os padrões de uso de "êxtase" dos usuários entrevistados são semelhantes aos padrões descritos por pesquisas realizadas na Europa e em Sidney: a maioria dos usuários consome um ou dois comprimidos a cada episódio de uso, apenas nos finais de semana ou férias, mais freqüentemente na companhia de várias pessoas, em ambientes ligados ao lazer noturno, como lugares para dançar, "raves" e festas. Os comprimidos são geralmente adquiridos de amigos ou conhecidos nesses locais. A maioria dos usuários associa "êxtase" a outras drogas psicotrópicas, particularmente maconha. As características sócio-demográficas dos usuários entrevistados e seus padrões de aquisição e consumo de "êxtase" indicam um caráter pouco marginal do uso. São sugeridas estratégias de Redução de Dano caso o uso de "êxtase" se difunda em São Paulo. / The present study was aimed at identifying patterns of ecstasy (MDMA) use in the city of São Paulo. Ecstasy users were recruited through the snowball technique. Using the same technique, a control group of subjects that had never tried the drug (non users) was recruited among individuals sharing with users a similar life style. Users (N=52) and non users (N=52) were interviewed in order to obtain socio-demographic data and data on use of psychoactive drugs; users were also questionned as to the circumstances surrounding their use of the drug. Besides, levels of anxiety, depression and impulsiveness were assessed through Spielberger's IDATE Trace Inventory, Beck's Depression Inventory and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Both users and non users revealed similar socio-demographic characteristics: most subjects were middle class young heterosexual single men and women who had a college degree. Multiple drug use was more frequent among users than among non users. Other features that were significantly more accentuated among users than among non users were the presence of tattoos and piercings, the frequency to raves and the preference for electronic music. Beck Inventory results pointed to significantly lower depression scores among users. No differences were observed between groups in anxiety and impulsiveness scores. Ecstasy consumption patterns among users are similar to those reported in Europe and Australia: most subjects take one or two pills per episode, during weekends or vacations, usually with company and in social gatherings such as dancings, raves and parties. The drug is predominantly acquired from friends or acquaintances in these same spots. Most users reported consuming ecstasy in combination with other psychoactive drugs, particularly marihuana. The socio-demographic features of users as well as the way they buy and consume the drug suggest that the present pattern of use is not connected to illegal or marginal activities. Harm reduction strategies are suggested in case of ecstasy's use increases and spreads among the young population of the city.

Les amis peuvent compter l'un sur l'autre lorsqu'ils sont confrontés à des problèmes, mais certaines discussions peuvent conduire à la co-rumination. La co-rumination apparaît tôt dans la vie et a été associée à diverses formes de symptômes anxieux et/ou à des désordres cliniques d’anxiété. Toutefois, peu d’études ont exploré l'association entre la co-rumination et les formes d'anxiété normative incluant l'anxiété d'état, de trait, de performance et la sensibilité à l'anxiété. Ce mémoire examine la relation entre la co-rumination et ces formes d'anxiété normative en tenant compte du sexe et de l'âge. Au total, 1204 enfants (âgés de 11 à 12 ans) et adolescents (âgés de 16 à 17 ans) ont été recrutés dans des écoles primaires et secondaires du Québec. Ils ont rempli des questionnaires mesurant la co-rumination et les quatre formes d'anxiété normative dans leurs classes. Les résultats ont révélé que la co-rumination était associée à une seule forme d'anxiété normative (sensibilité à l'anxiété) chez les enfants et à trois formes (trait, performance et sensibilité à l'anxiété) chez les adolescents. Ainsi, la co-rumination semble associée différemment à certaines formes d'anxiété normative en raison de facteurs développementaux. De futures études confirmatoires et longitudinales devraient examiner les hypothèses générées par les résultats de cette étude exploratoire. Au-delà des implications discutées dans l'article, ce mémoire présente des pistes de recherche potentielles et des considérations pour de futures études portant sur la relation entre la co-rumination et les différentes formes d'anxiété normative. / Friends can rely on each other when faced with problems, though these discussions may lead to co-rumination. Co-rumination occurs early in life and has been associated with various forms of anxiety symptoms and/or clinical anxiety disorders. However, a scarcity of literature has explored the association between co-rumination and forms of normative anxiety, including state anxiety, trait anxiety, test anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. This thesis examined the relationship between co-rumination and these forms of normative anxiety while considering sex and age. In total, 1204 children (ages 11 to 12) and adolescents (ages 16 to 17) were recruited from elementary and high schools in Quebec. Participants completed questionnaires measuring co-rumination and the four forms of normative anxiety in their classrooms. The results revealed that co-rumination was associated with one form of normative anxiety (anxiety sensitivity) in children and three forms (trait anxiety, test anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity) in adolescents. Thus, co-rumination may be differentially associated with various forms of normative anxiety due to certain developmental factors. Future longitudinal confirmatory studies should test the hypotheses generated from the findings of this exploratory study. Beyond the implications discussed in the article, this thesis features potential research avenues and considerations for future studies investigating the relationship between co-rumination and different forms of normative anxiety.

[pt] Os ratos Carioca com alto condicionamento (CAC) e Carioca com baixo condicionamento (CBC) são duas linhagens que são criadas seletivamente para altos e baixos níveis de congelamento, em resposta a sugestões contextuais previamente associadas ao estímulos elétricos nos membros. Essas duas linhas têm traços significativamente diferentes de respostas semelhantes à ansiedade, em diferentes protocolos comportamentais. O presente estudo utilizou ratos machos e fêmeas de CAC e CBC para investigar possíveis associações entre comportamento relacionado à ansiedade e ingestão de álcool. Quinina e sacarina foram utilizadas como soluções de controle do paladar. Os resultados indicaram que os ratos CAC tinham um fenótipo ansioso mais alto e os animais CBC tinham um fenótipo ansioso mais baixo, quando as duas linhagens foram comparadas com uma linhagem, selecionada aleatoriamente, que foi usada como grupo controle (CTR). Os ratos machos exibiram consistentemente maior congelamento condicionado do que as fêmeas. Os ratos CAC consumiram mais concentrações de álcool de 6 porcento e 10 porcento do que os ratos CBC em um teste de livre escolha de consumo e maior consumo na concentração de álcool 10 porcentp em um teste de escolha forçada. Ratos fêmeas CAC exibiram a maior quantidade de ingestão de álcool durante essas três condições, em comparação com ratos machos CAC e também consumiram mais quinina que ratos machos. Finalmente, ratos CAC exibiram menor consumo de sacarina em comparação com CBC e animais controle. No total, esses resultados revelaram diferenças entre os sexos no comportamento semelhante ao da ansiedade e no consumo de álcool, corroborando a hipótese de que existe uma relação positiva entre ansiedade e ingestão de álcool. / [en] Carioca High-conditioned Freezing (CHF) and Carioca Low-conditioned Freezing (CLF) rats are two linesthat are selectively bred for high and low levels of freezing in response to contextual cues that are previously associated with footshock. These two lines have significantly different traces of anxiety-like responses in different behavioral protocols. The present study used male and female CHF and CLF rats to investigate possible associations between anxietyrelated behavior and alcohol intake. Quinine and saccharin were used as taste control solutions.The results indicated that CHF rats had a higher anxious phenotype and CLF animals had a lower anxious phenotype when both breeding lines were compared with a randomly selected line that was used as a control group. Male rats consistently exhibitedmore conditioned freezing than females. CHF rats consumed more 6 percent and 10 percent alcohol concentrations than CLF rats in a free-choice test and more of a 10 percent alcohol concentration in a forcedchoice test. Female CHF rats exhibited the highest amount of alcohol intake during these three conditions compared with male CHF rats. Female rats also consumed more quinine than male rats. Finally, CHF rats exhibited lower saccharin consumption compared with CLF and control animals. Altogether, these results revealed sex differences in anxiety-like behavior and alcohol consumption,supporting the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between anxiety and alcohol intake. The Carioca breeding lines were developed for high and low defensive behavior in response to diffusecontextual cues that are associated with footshock but not to well-defined danger-related stimuli, corroborating the view that anxiety but not fear is associated with alcohol consumption.

[pt] Crenças disfuncionais sobre emoções negativas estão associadas à presença de sintomas como ansiedade, depressão, fadiga, medo de avaliação negativa, menor busca por apoio social e supressão emocional. A supressão é uma estratégia de regulação das emoções contraproducente, relacionada com dificuldades como menores níveis de entendimento emocional e aumento dos estados afetivos indesejados. Estas crenças estão relacionadas, ainda, com diferentes quadros clínicos, e podem se originar a partir de fatores ambientais, que exercem um papel central no aparecimento de sintomas referentes à presença das crenças. Elas atuam, também, como fator de risco e vulnerabilidade para certos grupos, já que podem levar a maiores taxas desses sintomas, com os quais parece haver uma relação bidirecional, conduzindo a desregulação emocional e estresse. O primeiro estudo endereçou participantes expostos a estes estressores ambientais, policiais militares, que constituem grupo de risco. Para verificação de dados de saúde mental nessa população, eles foram avaliados com relação às crenças sobre emoções, ansiedade, depressão, fadiga e medo de avaliação negativa. Diferenças significativas foram encontradas entre o grupo policial e o controle, com o grupo de policiais apresentando índices elevados de sintomas de fadiga, depressão e ansiedade com relação aos escores totais das escalas. Também, altas taxas de prevalência foram encontradas para a população policial para esses mesmos sintomas, que dobraram em comparação aos controles, o que aponta para a gravidade clínica destes sintomas. Acreditamos ser a primeira vez que dados de prevalência são relatados em forças policias, constituindo uma importante contribuição do presente estudo. A partir desses resultados, é possível sugerir programas para policiais que enderecem a saúde mental, em especial intervenções que contemplem a regulação das emoções, visando gerenciamento dos sintomas mais graves. O segundo estudo buscou por meio da validação brasileira do Questionário de Regulação Emocional para a população adulta, investigar a relação entre estratégias de regulação emocional, crenças sobre emoções e alexitimia, fatores emocionais que podem ter uma forte associação. A supressão emocional se apresentou uma estratégia pouco adaptativa pela associação com maiores níveis de crenças sobre emoções e alexitimia, merecendo maior atenção nos tratamentos pelos resultados encontrados no presente estudo, que corroboram com a literatura, e ainda, pela intensidade de sua presença em diferentes grupos clínicos. Além disso, acreditamos ser a primeira vez que é observada a relação entre os contructos de crenças disfuncionais sobre emoções negativas e alexitimia, e que as propriedades psicométricas do instrumento são investigadas na população adulta, o que representa a relevância do segundo estudo. Assim, de maneira geral, os resultados apontam para uma correlação entre as variáveis clínicas citadas, com uma influência mais sutil que o esperado das crenças no primeiro estudo, mas com associações em ambos que apontam para a presença das crenças como disfuncionais pela vinculação com maiores níveis de depressão, medo de avaliação negativa, supressão emocional e alexitimia. / [en] Dysfunctional beliefs about negative emotions are associated with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, fear of negative evaluation, less search for social support and emotional suppression. Emotional suppression is a counterproductive emotion regulation strategy related to difficulties such as lower levels of understanding and greater undesirable emotional states. Unhelpful beliefs are also related to different clinical conditions, and may also come from environmental factors. These beliefs act as a risk factor and vulnerability for certain groups, leading to higher rates of symptoms, emotional dysregulation and stress. The first study addressed participants exposed to such environmental stressors, namely military policemen. To investigate mental health data in this population, participants were assessed for beliefs about emotions, anxiety, depression, fatigue and fear of negative assessment. Results indicates high scores in the scales for fatigue, depression and anxiety, with high prevalence rates of these same symptoms in the at-risk group. To the best of out knowlwdge, this is the first time that fatigue prevalence rates are described in the literature. Considering what has been exposed so far, it is possible to suggest programs for policemen that address mental health, especially interventions that contemplate emotion regulation. The second study sought to validate the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for the Brazilian adult population, investigating the relationship between emotion regulation strategies, beliefs about emotions and alexithymia. The results point to a correlation between the mentioned clinical variables, albeit with a more subtle influence than expected in the first study. Furthermore, suppression is a strategy that deserves greater attention due to the high association with variables present in different clinical groups and with emotional difficulties, such as alexithymia and high levels of unhelpful beliefs. Emotional suppression was shown to be a non adaptative emotion regulation strategy, presenting correlations with high levels of beliefs about emotions and alexithymia. Considering the present results as well as the existing literature, emotional suppression should be adressed in future clinical trials. In addition, this is the first time that the relation between beliefs about emotions and alexithymia is observed and that the psychometic properties of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire are investigated in adult population. Thus, in general, results points to a correlation between the clinical variables cited above, with a more subtle influence of beliefs about emotions in the first study, but in both with associations that point to the dysfunctional nature of these beliefs, by presenting associations with high levels of depression, fear of negative evaluation, emotional suppression and alexithymia.

Bien que des émotions soient rapportées dans une vaste majorité de rêves, nous en savons encore peu sur les facteurs qui expliquent les variations d’une nuit à l’autre et d’une personne à l’autre dans l’expérience affective des rêves. Nous avons examiné la relation entre des variables de trait et d’état à l’éveil en testant des modèles multiniveaux destinés à prédire la valence affective des rêves de tous les jours. Des participants de la population générale ont complété des mesures de personnalité et d’historique de traumatismes, suivies de trois semaines de questionnaires quotidiens sur leur rappel de rêves, la valence des émotions rêvées, ainsi que leurs niveaux de stress perçu dans la journée et avant le coucher. Les effets intra-individuels étaient responsables d’une majorité de la variance en valence émotionnelle des rêves. L’anxiété de trait était la seule variable à prédire de façon statistiquement significative la valence émotionnelle des rêves au niveau inter-individuel. En accentuant le besoin de mesures plus affinées dans ce domaine de la recherche sur les rêves, nos résultats font ressortir des limites et biais méthodologiques associés à l’estimation rétrospective de l’affect général à l’éveil et en rêve, en plus de mettre en évidence des variables d’état qui pourraient mieux expliquer la variance intra-individuelle des émotions vécues dans les rêves de tous les jours. / Although emotions are reported in a large majority of dreams, little is known about the factors that account for night-to-night and person-to-person variations in people’s experience of dream affect. We investigated the relationship between waking trait and state variables and dream affect by testing multilevel models intended to predict the affective valence of people’s everyday dreams. Participants from the general population completed measures of personality and trauma history followed by a three-week daily journal in which they noted dream recall, valence of dreamed emotions, as well as their level of perceived stress for the day and prior to sleep onset. Within-subject effects accounted for most of the variance in the reported valence of dream affect. Trait anxiety was the only variable that significantly predicted dream emotional valence at the between-subjects level. While highlighting the need for more fine-grained measures in this research field, our results point to methodological limitations and biases associated with retrospective estimates of general dream and waking affect, and bring into focus state variables that may best explain observed within-subject variance in emotions experienced in everyday dreams.

The research project investigated whether victims of housebreaking experienced motivational, cognitive and emotional deficits central to the Learned Helplessness phenomenon. In keeping with the Reformulated Learned Helplessness theory the attributional style of victims, were also assessed. The State-Trait Inventory developed by Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg and Jacobs was administered to measure the anxiety levels of victims. Sub-goals served as illustration for the learned helplessness phenomenon. Three- hundred victims, using probability sampling techniques, were interviewed by means of an interview schedule. Support was found for cognitive and some motivational deficits and a common range of emotions experienced by victims. The majority of victims exhibited a global attnbutional style. Burglary victims did not show appreciably higher trait and state scores means, except for females in the 19-39 age group, when compared to a psychological norm. Environmental factors did play a role in rendering homes vulnerable. Recommendations addressing the fear of housebreaking were made at a therapeutic and practical level. / Sociology / M.A. (Criminology)

Background: Work-related stress (WRS) is associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP), changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and anxiety. Objective: To determine the feasibility of a follow-up study and treatment efficacy of the Reaset Approach on MSP, ANS and State-Trait anxiety. Methods: 15 subjects with WRS and MSP were assigned into 3 groups (Body, Head-Neck, Head-Neck-Body). Each group received a single 25 minute ‘Reaset Approach’ intervention. Heart rate variability (HRV), electro-dermal activity (EDA), State Trait Anxiety (STAI) and MSP were measured. Results: HRV parameters: SDNN increased in 13 of 15 subjects while SD1 and SD2 increased in 12 of 15 subjects. EDA reduced in 10 of 14 subjects. State Anxiety reduced in all subjects and Trait Anxiety reduced in 14 of 15 subjects. MSP reduced in all subjects after the intervention and were still lower three days afterwards. Conclusions: This pilot study determined that a follow-up study can ensue provided minor modifications are implemented and that the ‘Reaset Approach’ has an influence on the ANS, anxiety and MSP. Results do differ between groups. The intervention groups including the head and neck modalities demonstrated better results. / Hintergrund: Arbeitsbedingter Stress (ABS) ist verbunden mit muskelschmerzen, Veränderungen im autonomen Nervensystem (ANS) und Angst. Ziel: Machbarkeit einer Follow-up-Studie und Wirksamkeit der Behandlung des Reaset Ansatzes auf ANS, Muskelschmerzen und State und Trait- Angst bestimmen. Methoden: 15 Patienten mit ABS und Muskelschmerzen wurden in 3 Gruppen eingeteilt (Körper, Kopf-Hals, Kopf-Hals-Körper). Jede Gruppe erhielt eine einzige 25 Minuten dauernde 'Reaset Approach’-Behandlung. Herzfrequenzvariabilität (HRV), elektro-dermale Aktivität (EDA), State-Trait-Angstsinventar (STAI) und Muskelschmerzen (SF-MPQ) wurden gemessen. Ergebnisse: Die HRV-wert: SDNN ist bei 13 von 15 Probanden erhöht, während SD1 und SD2 bei 12 von 15 Probanden zugenommen hat. EDA war bei 10 von 14 Probanden reduziert. Die State-Angst hat bei allen Probanden und die Trait-Angst bei 14 der 15 Probanden abgenommen. Muskelschmerzen waren bei alle Probanden anschließend an und drei Tage nach der Intervention reduziert. Schlussfolgerung: Diese Pilotstudie hat gezeigt, dass eine Follow-up-Studie fortgesetzt werden kann, sofern kleinere Änderungen durchgeführt werden. Die 'Reaset Approach’ hat einen günstigen Einfluss auf die ANS, State-Trait-Angst und Muskelschmerzen. Ergebnisse zwischen den Gruppen sind unterschiedlich. Die Interventionsgruppen mit einschließlich der Kopf-Hals-Modalitäten zeigten bessere Ergebnisse..

Anxiety can be advantageous in terms of survival and well-being, yet atypically high levels may be maladaptive and result in the clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Several risk factors have been implicated in the manifestation of clinical anxiety, including cognitive biases. In recent years, a plethora of research has emerged demonstrating that anxious adults exhibit biases of attention for threatening stimuli, especially that which is biologically relevant (e.g., facial expressions). Specific components of attentional bias have also been identified, namely facilitated engagement, impaired disengagement, and avoidance. However, the majority of studies have focused on the spatial domain of attention. Furthermore, the area is under-researched in children, despite research demonstrating that symptoms relating to clinical and non-clinical anxiety follow a stable course from childhood through to adolescence and adulthood. Consequently, the aim of this thesis was to investigate how anxiety affects children’s visual attention for emotive, particularly angry, faces. In order to provide a more comprehensive understanding, the current research involved examining the role of temporal and spatial attention utilising rapid serial visual presentation with the attentional blink, and the visual probe paradigm, respectively. The main hypothesis was that high state and/or trait anxiety would be associated with an attentional bias for angry, relative to positive or neutral faces in both the temporal and spatial domains. In relation to the temporal domain, key findings demonstrated that high levels of trait anxiety were associated with facilitated engagement towards both angry and neutral faces. It was further found that all children rapidly disengaged attention away from angry faces. Findings related to the processing of angry faces accorded with the main hypothesis stated in this thesis, as well as research and theory in the area. The finding that anxious children preferentially processed neutral faces in an attentional blink investigation was unexpected. This was argued to potentially reflect this stimulus type being interpreted as threatening. Key findings regarding the spatial domain were that high trait anxious children displayed an early covert bias of attention away from happy faces and a later, overt bias of attention away from angry faces. The finding that high trait anxiety was linked to an attentional bias away from happy faces in a visual probe task was also unexpected. This was argued to potentially reflect smiling faces being interpreted as signifying social dominance, thus resulting in the viewer experiencing feelings of subordination and becoming avoidant and/or submissive. To conclude, this thesis has enhanced current knowledge of attentional bias in both the temporal and spatial domains for emotive stimuli in anxious children. It has demonstrated that higher levels of trait anxiety moderate children’s allocation of attentional resources to different stimulus types, whether these are threatening, positive, or neutral. This has important implications for evaluating past research in adults and children, and for further developing theoretical models of attentional bias and anxiety. It also offers important clinical implications, since attending towards or away from specific stimuli may affect the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Recently, a treatment that aims to modify attentional bias in anxious individuals has begun to be developed. In light of the present findings, it may be necessary to review this treatment so that anxious children are re-trained in the specific biases of attention demonstrated here.

The research project investigated whether victims of housebreaking experienced motivational, cognitive and emotional deficits central to the Learned Helplessness phenomenon. In keeping with the Reformulated Learned Helplessness theory the attributional style of victims, were also assessed. The State-Trait Inventory developed by Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg and Jacobs was administered to measure the anxiety levels of victims. Sub-goals served as illustration for the learned helplessness phenomenon. Three- hundred victims, using probability sampling techniques, were interviewed by means of an interview schedule. Support was found for cognitive and some motivational deficits and a common range of emotions experienced by victims. The majority of victims exhibited a global attnbutional style. Burglary victims did not show appreciably higher trait and state scores means, except for females in the 19-39 age group, when compared to a psychological norm. Environmental factors did play a role in rendering homes vulnerable. Recommendations addressing the fear of housebreaking were made at a therapeutic and practical level. / Sociology / M.A. (Criminology)