The Laughter of Ticklishness Is a Darwinian Feature Related to Empathy in Both Genders: Self-Esteem in Men and Sexism in Women

The theory of false alarm for laughter could explain the involuntary laugh when someone is tickled. To put this hypothesis to the test, we handed out a questionnaire (180 items) with two hundred university students. Our main results are: In women who like being tickled, we discover components related to pleasure, erotism, feeling of affection, arousal, uncontrollability, domination, sexism and Darwinian (golden ratio) and psychological traits (empathy, low schizotypy and external locus of control) that are not present in the laughter at a stumble. The relation of both types of laughter with sense of humor is also differential. In men who like being tickled, we discover components related to masturbation, sexual fantasies, erotism, arousal, domination, sexist humour and Darwinian (square chin, feeling of masculinity) and psychological traits (empathic stress, low schizotypy, external locus of control and overall self-esteem). The relationship between being tickled and self-esteem shows a double aspect in men: It is positive in men who like being tickled and negative in men who do not like being tickled. For women there is not a relationship between self-esteem and tickling. Our conclusion is that laughter of ticklishness is a Darwinian feature related to empathy.

Psychotherapy in anorexia nervosa: What does the absence of evidence mean?

Psychological treatment in anorexia nervosa(AN) is disheartening. Psychotherapy is the "treatment of choice" for adults though this recommendation is grounded on the absence of good quality clinical studies. This paper seeks to address the question of why improvements in the psychological treatment of AN have been thwarted, and why one of the best treatments available for adult patients is specialist supportive clinical management that has entered the stage through the backdoor of nonspecific supportive treatments originally serving as a placebo treatment assigned in randomized clinical trials to control for non-specific aspects of true psychosocial treatments. The possibility that most of the psychopathological features that characterise the AN symptoms profile could be best understood as the direct consequences of emaciation would enhance the utility of research with animal models for generating new hypothesis to improve AN treatment.

Risk Factors and Gender Differences for Depression in Chilean Older Adults:A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the National Health Survey 2016–2017

Depressive disorders are recognized as one of the most common mental health conditions across different age groups.However,the risk factors associated with depression among older people from low-and middle-income countries remains unclear.This study aims to identify socio-demographic,health and psychosocial-related factors associated with depression in Chilean older adults.A cross-sectional study was carried out in a representative sample of 1,765 adults aged≥60 years participants from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016–2017.Depres-sion was assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview(CIDI-SF).Associations between the exposure variables and depression were investigated using Poisson regression analyses.The mainfindings indi-cated that women showed higher likelihood of depression than men(Prevalence Ratio(PR)=2.6[95%CI:1.40;4.89]).An increased likelihood of depression was found in older adults with chronic pain,multimorbidity(≥2 diseases),previous diagnose of depression,high perception of stress,financial stress,and difficulties for social par-ticipation.In women,higher likelihood of depression was found for those with the frailty phenotype(PR:8.53[95%CI:1.68;43.32]),rheumatoid arthritis(PR:2.41[95%CI:1.34;4.34]),insomnia(PR:2.99[95%CI:1.74;5.12])and low self-rated well-being(PR:4.94[95%CI:2.26;10.79]).Men who were divorced(PR:7.10[95%CI:1.44;34.90])or widowed(PR:10.83[95%CI:3.71;31.58]),obese(PR:5.08[95%CI:1.48;17.42])and who had asthma(PR:7.60[95%CI:2.31;24.99])were associated with higher odds of depression.The currentfindings may have clinical implications for the early identification of older adults more susceptible to depression and also suggest the need to implement cultural and age-sensitive strategies to promote mental health in late life.

Dyslipidaemias and Physical Activity in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy people present movement difficulty and are liable to develop disorders associated with sedentary lifestyles such as dyslipidaemias and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess physical activity and the prevalence of lipid abnormalities in 29 children with cerebral palsy who were being treated in two care centers in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Physical activity was calculated using a survey. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides were determined. Forty-eight percent had at least one dyslipidaemia. The most frequent lipid abnormalities were hypertriglyceridaemia and low HDL-C. High prevalence of the atherogenic index was found. The physical activity of children was lower than recommended for their age. Sixty-two percent attended rehabilitation sessions, 10% attended sports classes, 14% rehabilitation plus sports and 14% did not engage in intentional physical activity. There is high frequency of lipid disorders in children with cerebral palsy. Greater participation in physical activity should be promoted in children to improve their metabolic status and quality of life, especially those suffering from cerebral palsy.