The effects of coloring therapy on patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD)has harmful effects on physical and mental health and quality of life.Coloring therapy has been reported to have a positive effect on improving patient anxiety and depression.But there are no reported clinical trials examining their effectiveness as a treatment for GAD.This study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of coloring therapy combined with conventional therapy in improving anxiety,depression,and positive and negative emotions with GAD.This randomized controlled study comprising 88 GAD patients was selected for intervention in different wards.The control group(n=45)was given conventional antianxiety medication and physical therapy,and the experimental group(n=43)received coloring therapy combined with conventional therapy.The Self-Rating Depression Scale,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Hamilton Depression Scale,Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),and Positive and Negative Affect Scale were assessed in both groups before and 3 weeks after the intervention.After the intervention,there were statistical differences in intra-and inter-group comparisons of anxiety,depression,and positive and negative mood scales in the experimental and control groups(p<.05).The minus in anxiety/positive emotions pre-and postintervention in the experimental group was statistically significant compared to that in anxiety/positive emotions pre-and postintervention in the control group(HAMA:d=1.45,95%confidence interval[CI](0.34,2.57),p=.011;SAS:d=3.87,95%CI(1.73,6.00),p=.001;positive:d=1.76,95%CI(0.17,3.34),p=.030).The minus in depressive/negative emotions pre-and postintervention in the experimental group was not statistically significant compared with that in depressive/negative emotions pre-and postintervention in the control group(p>.05).For GAD patients,adding coloring therapy based on conventional drug therapy and physical therapy can not only reduce depression and negative emotions but also have better effects on reducing anxiety and improving positive emotions than conventional therapy.

Generalized Anxiety and Major Depressive Symptoms of General Public in South Korea during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

The extent of viral spread and strategies in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic have been different in each country.There are overall increased mental health concerns in many countries but it is unclear what the general public individuals who do not have heighten vulnerability to stressors for existing mental diseases or significant physical illnesses were experiencing during the pandemic.We evaluated the stressors and mental health of general public in South Korea that has a relatively low confirmed cases and deaths.Responses on the on-line survey questions were used to assess the mental and physical symptoms in association with individuals’reported stressors.Individuals with the symptoms of the generalized anxiety disorder(GAD)were reported in 58.9%,and major depression(MD)in 23.2%,mostly in minimal to mild degrees,cut-off scores of 5 and 10,respectively by the validated screening tools,GAD-7 and PHQ-9.Both GAD and MD symptoms were in 21.5%of the respondents.The total number of stress had significant association with the scores of GAD-7,PHQ-9,physical symptoms,sleep difficulties and resilience(p<0.01).GAD scores were also associated with sleep difficulties(p<0.01)and raising young children(p<0.05).MD scores were associated with sleep difficulties,job-dissatisfaction,and educational level(p<0.05).The limitations of the study include small sample size,usage of smartphone or email,potential under-reporting by stigma in the socio-cultural context and evolving nature of pandemic.We conclude that keeping careful watch for mental symptoms,stressors,sleep difficulties and other physical symptoms are important even for the individuals without previous mental illnesses during the pandemic era.

Clinical Effect Observation of Jieyu Decoction in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of Jieyu decoction in treating generalized anxiety disorder with stagnation-heat in liver meridian type.Methods:There were 72 cases of generalized anxiety disorders outpatient and inpatient patients,and 36 in the control and treatment group.The control group was given oral Deanxit;the treatment group was given Jieyu decoction granules,and necessary psychological counseling was given to patients in both groups.Changes in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scoring scale,Hamilton scale(HAMA),dynamic electrocardiogram heart rate variability and other indicators were recorded and compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate of the control group was 76.5%,and the total effective rate of the treatment group was 80.0%.The curative effect of the treatment group and the control group was significantly higher than that before treatment(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the overall curative effect between the two groups(P>0.05).The HAMA scale score of the two groups was significantly lower than that before treatment(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the reduction rate of HAMA score between the two groups(P>0.05).The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with that before treatment(P<0.05).The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group after 8 weeks of treatment(P<0.05).Two groups of heart rate variability in 24 h period of standard deviation between the average normal R-R(SDNN),24 h per 5 min normal R-R period between the standard deviation(SDANN),root mean square of phase difference between adjacent R-R(RMSSD)and the number of cardiac 50 ms accounted for the percentage of the total number of cardiac(PNN50)than before treatment significantly increased(P<0.05),8 weeks after treatment the SDNN,SDANN than the control group no significant difference(P>0.05),RMSSD,PNN50 significantly difference compared with control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Jieyu decoction has good efficacy and high safety in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder of the type of liver meridian and heat stagnation,which is suitable for clinical promotion and application.

Frequency of Depression and Anxiety among Tuberculosis Patients

Objective: The aim of present study was to determine the frequency of depression and anxiety among tuberculosis patients. Methods: It was a descriptive study that had investigated the co-morbidity of depression and anxiety among tuberculosis patients with reference to gender. This study was conducted in Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre—Chest ward (TB clinic) from July 2014 to September 2014. Hundred diagnosed patients of tuberculosis (50 males and 50 females) were randomly selected. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) were used to assess the level of anxiety and depression. Results: Findings indicated that 56% tuberculosis (TB) patients had moderate to severe level of depression, whereas 65% TB patients had moderate to severe level of anxiety. Female patients had significantly high prevalence of depression as compared to males (t = –2.173, P –3.468, P Conclusion: Likelihood of depression and anxiety was frequent in tuberculosis patients. However, better management of these psychiatric morbidities may improve treatment adherence, illness perception and patient coping skills.