No abstract

According to the transtheoretical model of behaviour change, individuals addicted to psychotropic drugs typically cycle through a sequence of five discrete stages (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance) before achieving sustained long-term abstinence and moderation, respectively. A number of English-language questionnaires have been developed to assess client motivation in accordance with the stages of change approach. The present study aimed to expand the research on the transtheoretical model by establishing the factor structure of a German-language version of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) in a large sample of alcohol-dependent inpatients (n = 350). Furthermore, the relation of client motivation to alcohol use, self-efficacy and treatment outcome at 3-month follow-up was examined. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three separate dimensions of readiness to change (Taking Steps, Recognition, and Ambivalence). The factorial structure of the German-language SOCRATES corresponded almost exactly to that of the original version. Readiness to change accounted for 9.4% of the variance in treatment outcome. Moreover, readiness to change was positively related to pretreatment self-efficacy.

Blushing is considered to be one of the prime pathophysiological markers of social anxiety disorder, potentially mediated by serotonergic function. Therefore, in the present study 62 patients with social anxiety disorder and 62 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were investigated for the influence of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene variation (5-HTTLPR, rs25531) on blushing propensity as measured by the blushing propensity scale (BPS). The less active 5-HTTLPR genotypes were nominally significantly associated with increased blushing propensity in patients with social anxiety disorder as compared to controls with an equidirectional trend for the less active 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 haplotypes. Even when statistically controlled for influence of depression, this association remained significant. In summary, the present pilot study suggests a potential role of functional serotonin transporter gene variation in blushing propensity warranting replication and encouraging genetic analyses of further intermediate phenotypes of social anxiety disorder.

No abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Given the growing evidence of reduced heart rate variability in psychiatric diseases associated with emotional instability, we investigated cardiovascular autonomic modulation in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) during resting state, parasympathetic stimulation (metronomic breathing), and sympathetic stimulation (mental arithmetic stress test). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In 29 BPD outpatients and 30 controls, we recorded RR-intervals (RRI), blood pressure, skin conductance levels, and respiratory frequency during resting state, metronomic breathing, stress anticipation, stress exposure, and stress recovery. We calculated baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and parameters of heart rate variability, including the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), an index of cardiovagal modulation. <b><i>Results:</i></b> During resting state, BPD patients showed higher blood pressure and shorter RRI, as well as lower RMSSD and BRS than controls. Metronomic breathing increased RMSSD and BRS in BPD patients. During the stress exposure, BRS significantly decreased in controls, but not in BPD patients. Furthermore, BPD patients showed less cardioacceleration in response to stress exposure than controls. During stress recovery, we found increases in RMSSD and BRS in controls, but not in BPD patients. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our data show reduced cardiovascular autonomic modulation in BPD patients during resting state, psychophysiological relaxation, and stress exposure. The results indicate a vagal modulation deficit in this cohort. Breathing techniques, such as metronomic breathing, might be helpful to reduce stress and to increase vagal tone in BPD patients.