OBJECTIVE: Patients with gynecological cancer commonly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods to cope with the disease. However, despite the existence of treatment strategies, the effect of fear and anxiety caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on attitudes about CAM use is unclear. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of fear and anxiety experienced by patients with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic on their attitudes towards the use of CAM. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study that included 177 women with gynecological cancer; participants were recruited from a social networking site for cancer patients in Turkey between June and December 2021. Data were collected using an online survey that included the Personal Information Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Attitude Towards Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson's correlation test, and simple linear and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. RESULTS: During the pandemic, 55.4% of the participants reported using CAM methods, but only 22.6% were using CAM before the pandemic. The participants who used CAM during the pandemic also scored higher on the fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety scales (20.69 ± 5.37 and 13.09 ± 6.29, respectively) compared to the participants who did not use CAM (9.29 ± 2.72 and 6.35 ± 2.06, respectively). Fear of COVID-19 accounted for 52% of the CAM attitude score, while coronavirus anxiety accounted for 15% of the CAM attitude score. Fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety together accounted for 53% of CAM attitude. CONCLUSION Gynecological cancer patients with high levels of COVID-19-related anxiety and fear during the pandemic used CAM more. Given that the psychological effects of the pandemic will continue in the coming years, CAM use should be evaluated as a coping strategy, especially due to the COVID-19-related anxiety and fear experienced by patients with gynecological cancer. While the rational and effective CAM methods should be supported, strategies should be developed to prevent misuse of CAM and its interference in prescribed medical treatments. Please cite this article as: Uslu-Sahan F, Yesilcınar I, Kurt G, Hancer E, Guvenc G. Effects of COVID-19 fear and anxiety on attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine use in women with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4): 377-384.
Humans ; Female ; COVID-19 ; Pandemics ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Anxiety/psychology* ; Attitude ; Neoplasms ; Fear ; Complementary Therapies/psychology*

Pathological anxiety is among the most difficult neuropsychiatric diseases to treat pharmacologically, and it represents a major societal problem. Studies have implicated structural changes within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and functional changes in the communication of the PFC with distal brain structures in anxiety disorders. Treatments that affect the activity of the PFC, including cognitive therapies and transcranial magnetic stimulation, reverse anxiety- and fear-associated circuit abnormalities through mechanisms that remain largely unclear. While the subjective experience of a rodent cannot be precisely determined, rodent models hold great promise in dissecting well-conserved circuits. Newly developed genetic and viral tools and optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques have revealed the intricacies of neural circuits underlying anxiety and fear by allowing direct examination of hypotheses drawn from existing psychological concepts. This review focuses on studies that have used these circuit-based approaches to gain a more detailed, more comprehensive, and more integrated view on how the PFC governs anxiety and fear and orchestrates adaptive defensive behaviors to hopefully provide a roadmap for the future development of therapies for pathological anxiety.
Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders/therapy* ; Fear/psychology* ; Humans ; Neural Pathways ; Prefrontal Cortex

OBJECTIVES: To explore the psychological status of medical staff in the epidemic period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to analyze its influential factors. METHODS: A total of 373 medical staff from Xiangya Hospital and the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were enrolled for this study. The General Sociological Data Questionnaire, Symptom Check-List 90 (SCL-90), and self-designed public opinion response questionnaire were used to assess general sociological data, mental health scores, and ability to respond to COVID-19 related public opinion information of medical staff. The mental health scores of medical staff with different general sociological data and public opinion information coping abilities were compared. Influential factors of mental health were analyzed. RESULTS: The average score of 10 factors in SCL-90 of 373 medical staff was less than 2 points. 14.21% medical staff had one or more factor scores more than two points, including 11.26% with terror symptoms, 7.77% with compulsive symptoms, and 5.63% with anxiety. The main sources of COVID-19 information for medical staff included WeChat, microblog, Jinri toutiao, TV and radio. 66.22% medical staff regularly verified information about COVID-19 through official websites or formal channels. A great deal of COVID-19 information in WeChat could make medical staff nervous (34.05%), anxious (30.29%), and insecure (29.22%). 68.63% medical staff sometimes were worried about getting infected because they knew information about COVID-19. Different departments of medical staff, getting cough or having a fever recently, and the degree of fear of infection had an impact on the SCL-90 score of medical staff, the differences were all statistically significant (all <0.05). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the impact of COVID-19 information on their life in WeChat, getting cough or having a fever recently, insomnia-early caused by COVID-19 information in WeChat, different departments, and the degree of fear of infection COVID-19 were the influential factors for the mental health of medical staff (all <0.05). CONCLUSIONS During the epidemic of COVID-19, medical staff suffered from psychological problems to various degrees. It is necessary to establish a psychological assistance platform and guide the direction of public opinion correctly to promote the mental health of medical staff.
Anxiety ; Betacoronavirus ; China ; Compulsive Behavior ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Fear ; Health Status ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; psychology ; Mental Health ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The world is now plagued by a pandemic of unprecedented nature caused by a novel, emerging, and still poorly understood infectious disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Wu and McGoogan, 2020). In addition to the rapidly growing body of scientific and medical literature that is being published, extensive public reports and stories in both the traditional media and social media have served to generate fear, panic, stigmatization, and instances of xenophobia (Zarocostas, 2020).
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/psychology* ; Fear ; Health Education ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Panic ; Pneumonia, Viral/psychology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Social Media ; Trust

Although extensively studied, the exact role of sleep in learning and memory is still not very clear. Sleep deprivation has been most frequently used to explore the effects of sleep on learning and memory, but the results from such studies are inevitably complicated by concurrent stress and distress. Furthermore, it is not clear whether there is a strict time-window between sleep and memory consolidation. In the present study we were able to induce time-locked slow-wave sleep (SWS) in mice by optogenetically stimulating GABAergic neurons in the parafacial zone (PZ), providing a direct approach to analyze the influences of SWS on learning and memory with precise time-windows. We found that SWS induced by light for 30 min immediately or 15 min after the training phase of the object-in-place task significantly prolonged the memory from 30 min to 6 h. However, induction of SWS 30 min after the training phase did not improve memory, suggesting a critical time-window between the induction of a brief episode of SWS and learning for memory consolidation. Application of a gentle touch to the mice during light stimulation to prevent SWS induction also failed to improve memory, indicating the specific role of SWS, but not the activation of PZ GABAergic neurons itself, in memory consolidation. Similar influences of light-induced SWS on memory consolidation also occurred for Y-maze spatial memory and contextual fear memory, but not for cued fear memory. SWS induction immediately before the test phase had no effect on memory performance, indicating that SWS does not affect memory retrieval. Thus, by induction of a brief-episode SWS we have revealed a critical time window for the consolidation of hippocampus-dependent memory.
Animals ; Cues ; Electroencephalography ; Electromyography ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; physiology ; Fear ; psychology ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; physiology ; Light ; Luminescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory Consolidation ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Sleep Deprivation ; Sleep, Slow-Wave ; physiology ; Time Factors ; Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

PURPOSE: To examine the psychometric properties of a Turkish version of the Diabetes Fear of Injecting and Self-testing Questionnaire (D-FISQ). METHODS: Forward-backward translation of the D-FISQ from English into Turkish was conducted. Original English and translated forms were examined by a panel group. Validity was investigated using content, confirmatory factor analysis, and divergent validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach α values, item-total correlations, and intraclass correlations. The sample comprised 350 patients with diabetes. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 for Windows and LISREL 8. RESULTS: The content validity index for the panel members was .90, which indicated perfect content validity; items in D-FISQ were clear, concise, readable, and distinct. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original construct of the D-FISQ. All items had factor loadings higher than the recommended level of .40. The D-FISQ scores were discriminated by the level of anxiety. Reliability results were also satisfactory. Cronbach α values were within ideal limits. Item-total correlation coefficient ranged from .72 to .86. In terms of test-retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient was found to be over .90. CONCLUSIONS: D-FISQ is a valid and reliable questionnaire in assessing needle-prick fear among Turkish patients with diabetes. We recommend performing the Turkish D-FISQ in determining and screening patients with diabetes who have fear related to self-insulin injection and finger-prick test. Thus, health care professionals should be aware of the potential consequences of injection fear such as insulin misuse and poor self-monitoring of blood glucose, which may have unfavorable effects on optimal diabetes management.
Anxiety/etiology ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring/psychology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy/*psychology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy/*psychology ; *Fear ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage ; Injections/psychology ; Insulin/administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Care/psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires/standards ; Translations ; Turkey

PURPOSE: In Korea, most elderly with dementia receive care from family members, yet little research is available on the experience of dementia-related anxiety in middle-aged female caregivers for a family member with dementia. The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of dementia-related anxiety in middle-aged female caregivers for family members with dementia. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted. A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit participants. Twelve middle-aged women (40-59 years, mean age = 51.90 years) who were family caregivers were interviewed from February 2014 to August 2014. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using Giorgi's method. RESULTS: The essential structure of the phenomenon was a fear of losing self-identity. The main essence was represented by six components: keenly feeling the effects of aging because of memory deficit, continuous comparison of the family member's behavior with that of the participant's, Finding it painful to see a family member with dementia as he/she does not know how this will end, not knowing the conclusion of the disease process, reducing the risk of dementia, and trying to change one's lifestyle from what it used to be in the past. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides the essential structure of the experience on dementia-related anxiety that caregivers of a family member with dementia have. The findings could help healthcare providers and researchers have better understanding of dementia-related anxiety and give more attention to the caregivers to relieve their anxiety
Adult ; Anxiety/*etiology ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Dementia/*psychology ; Family/*psychology ; Family Relations ; Fear ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Self Concept

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the cognition and emotional response of the public in Zhejiang province during the epidemic of human H7N9 avian influenza and provide scientific support for group psychological intervention under public health emergency.

METHODS57 communities in 19 counties from Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Lishui district of Zhejiang province were selected as survey sites using stratified clustered sampling method from March, 2013 to April, 2014. 2 319 ordinary civilians were chosen using convenience sampling method and 390 individuals who had close contact history with H7N9 avian influenza patients, 109 family members of patients and 281 medical workers, were selected using census method. The inclusion criteria for subjects were: subjects aged over 10 years; could complete the questionnaire independently or with the help of the investigators. A total of 2 709 subjects were surveyed by avian influenza risk perception and response questionnaire, negative emotion questionnaire was also used to see their cognition and negative emotion related to the disease. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the interrelationship between public risk perception, response and negative emotions.

RESULTS95.10% (2 576)of the subjects have sensed the risk of epidemic and 91.00% (2 465) of the subjects have taken preventive measures in 2 709 subjects. The positive rate for depression, neurasthenia, fear, anxiety and hypochondriasis were 36.40% (986) , 37.21% (1 008) , 79.70% (2 159) , 33.41% (905) , 27.69% (750) respectively (χ(2)=1 935.89, P<0.001) ;the P(50)(P(25)-P(75)) of the depression scores of patients' family members, medical workers and the general public were 0.50 (0.00-0.83), 0.17 (0.00-0.67), 0.17 (0.00-0.50) (H= 7.27, P=0.03) ; the neurasthenia scores were 0.20 (0.00-0.60), 0.2 (0.00-0.40), 0.00 (0.00-0.20) (H= 64.74, P<0.001) ; fear scores were 0.83 (0.33-1.17), 0.33 (0.17-0.67), 0.33 (0.17-0.83) (H=30.03, P< 0.001) ; anxiety scores were 0.17(0.00-0.50), 0.00(0.00-0.33), 0.00(0.00-0.17) (H=51.82, P<0.001). The neurasthenia, fear, anxiety scores (P(50)(P(25)-P(75))) for females among the public were 0.00(0.00-0.20), 0.50(0.17-0.83), 0.00(0.00-0.17), which were higher than those of male's (0.00(0.00-0.20), 0.33(0.00-0.67), 0.00(0.00-0.17)) (χ(2) values were 5.26, 27.52, 8.29, P<0.05); Among medical staff, the depression, neurasthenia, fear, anxiety and hypochondriasis scores for females were 0.33(0.00-0.67), 0.20(0.00-0.40), 0.50(0.17-0.83), 0.00(0.00-0.33), 0.00(0.00-0.50) respectively, which were higher than those of males'(0.00(0.00-0.50), 0.00(0.00-0.40), 0.33(0.17-0.50), 0.00(0.00-0.17), 0.00(0.00-0.00))(χ(2) values were 7.22, 7.97, 14.46, 4.93, 5.22, P<0.05); for the family members of the patients who were in poor mental conditions when doing self-assessment, their depression and neurasthenia scores were 0.50(0.08-0.96), 0.30(0.00-0.55), which were higher than those of people in good mental conditions (0.17(0.00-0.83), 0.20(0.00-0.60)) (χ(2) values were 12.95, 11.20, P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the subjects' risk perception level was positively correlated with depression, neurasthenia, fear, and hypochondriasis, with the correlation coefficients 0.07, 0.07, 0.08, 0.04, respectively (P<0.05) ; the subjects' risk response level was also positively related with depression, neurasthenia, fear, anxiety and hypochondriasis, and the correlation coefficients were 0.09, 0.09, 0.12, 0.05, 0.04, respectively (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe general public was highly concerned about the epidemic of H7N9 avian influenza and developed certain levels of negative emotions. The female, equal or over 60 years old, those with poor educational level, agricultural related occupation and poor physical and psychology health were risk factors of disease related negative emotions. The subject's risk perception and response level was positively related with depression, neurasthenia, fear and hypochondriasis.

Anxiety ; China ; Depression ; Epidemics ; Family ; Fear ; Female ; Humans ; Hypochondriasis ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; psychology ; Male ; Neurasthenia ; Occupations ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The AIDS epidemic in men who have sex wlth men (MSM) in recent years showed a sharp upward trend, looking for behavioral intervention strategies should be imperative. Fear appeals by fear prompted intervention received intervention information, provide a new breakthrough to achieve better effect of propaganda and intervention. After over 70 years development, the Fear Appeal generated from the driver model that proposed the fear decided the effectiveness of behavior intervention, to the extended parallel process model theory which integrated protection motivation theory and parallel process theory, both of which believed the fear is just one of the estimators, suggested fear is the key factor. The fear appeal theory is turning to be even more comprehensive and accurate. As an important theoretical basement, the fear appeal is still developing, and need more work to make it perfection.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; psychology ; Fear ; Health Promotion ; methods ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different tilt angles of head-up tilt test (HUTT) and different responses to HUTT on the psychological fear in children undergoing the test.

METHODSHUTT was performed on children with unexplained syncope or pre-syncope (107 cases: 52 males and 55 females), aged 5.5-17.8 years (mean 12.0±2.8 years). All subjects were randomly assigned to undergo HUTT at an angle of 60°, 70° or 80°; the negative cases underwent sublingual nitroglycerin-provocation HUTT at the same tilt angle. The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale was used for self-assessment of psychological fear in subjects during HUTT at the end point of the test.

RESULTSThe positive rate, hemodynamic changes and distribution of response types showed no significant differences between children at tilt angles of 60°, 70° and 80° (P>0.05). The greater the tilt angle, the higher the degree of psychological fear in children undergoing the test, but there were no significant differences between them (P>0.05). The degree of psychological fear in children who showed a positive response to HUTT (n=76) was significantly higher than that in children who showed a negative response (n=31) (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHUTT can cause psychological fear in children undergoing the test, and the degree of psychological fear increases in children tested at tilt angles from 60° to 80°, but the differences have no statistical significance. A positive response to HUTT can significantly increase the psychological fear in children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Fear ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tilt-Table Test ; psychology