Psychosomatic Medicine

Impact of Sleep Quality on Amygdala Reactivity, Negative Affect, and Perceived Stress

A discussion of the article by Prather et al. in the May 2013 issue (Volume 75, Number 4) of Psychosomatic Medicine. From the article:

Sleep disturbance is a key behavioral risk factor for several medical illnesses including cardiovascular disease and diabetes and is implicated in the pathogenesis of psychopathology, most prominently mood and anxiety disorders. For instance, prospective studies find poor sleep to be a significant and independent contributor to major depressive disorder and a common residual symptom upon remission. How sleep affects health and, in particular, psychopathology risk remains unclear; however, recent experimental evidence points to enhanced sensitivity to stressful or negative emotional stimuli.

Participants: Aric A. Prather, PhD, lead author, Peter J. Gianaros, PhD, Associate Editor; and Martica Hall, PhD, discussant. Moderator: Victoria J. White, MA, ELS, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production. [Article] Impact of Sleep Quality on Amygdala Reactivity, Negative Affect, and Perceived Stress

Association Between Optimism and Serum Antioxidants in the Midlife in the United States Study

A discussion of the article by Boehm et al. in the January 2013 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. From the article:

...this study is one of the first of its kind to investigate how positive indicators of psychological health (i.e., optimism) and physical health (i.e., serum antioxidants) might be associated. This study also adds to the relatively limited literature on psychosocial factors and serum antioxidant status.

Participants: Julia K. Boehm, PhD, lead author; Anna L. Marsland, PhD, RN, Associate Editor; Suzanne Segerstrom, PhD, discussant. Moderator: Victoria J. White, MA, ELS, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production. [Article] Association Between Optimism and  Serum Antioxidants in the United States Study

Body Fat and Associations With Brain Structure and Function

As part of Psychosomatic Medicine’s Special Series on Neuroscience in Health and Disease, the September 2012 issue of the journal (Volume 74, Issue 7) features two papers and an editorial related to body fat and possible connections with brain structure and function. Participants: Neuroscience Special Series Editor Peter J. Gianaros, PhD, and authors Timothy D. Verstynen, PhD, and Andreana P. Haley, PhD. Moderator: Victoria J. White, MA, ELS, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production.

Article: Increased Body Mass Index Is Associated With a Global and Distributed Decrease in White Matter Microstructural Integrity

Article: Indirect Effects of Elevated Body Mass Index on Memory Performance Through Altered Cerebral Metabolite Concentrations

Parenthood and Host Resistance to the Common Cold

Participants: Willem J. Kop, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, and Rodlescia S. Sneed, MPH, lead author of article. Moderator: Victoria J. White, MA, ELS, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production. [Article]

Special Issue on Ambulatory Monitoring (Volume 74, Issue 4)

Participants: Willem J. Kop, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, and Thomas Kubiak, PhD, who guest edited the special issue with Arthur Stone, PhD. Moderator: Victoria J. White, MA, ELS, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production. [Table of Contents for Special Issue]