This study systematically explores the complexities of test anxiety and its effects on students’ academic performance. Test anxiety is an immediate response to external stress and is closely linked to intrinsic factors such as personality traits, perfectionism, and metacognitive beliefs. These factors play crucial roles in the development and persistence of anxiety, particularly cognitive worry and intrusive thoughts, that significantly moderate the relationship between perceived control and academic outcomes. Moreover, this study evaluates various interventions for reducing test anxiety such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, imagery reframing, hypnosis, self-hypnosis, and biofeedback devices. Although these interventions have proven effective, their impact varies across discrete cultural contexts, educational levels, and individual traits; therefore, more personalized and adaptable strategies are needed. Moreover, the potential of pharmacological approaches such as prescribing placebos presents new opportunities for clarifying the psychological mechanisms of test anxiety and integrating these findings into practical treatments. Nevertheless, research gaps remain, particularly regarding causal relationships between test anxiety and academic performance. Anxiety is often viewed to cause poor performance, but the reverse can also occur. Future investigations should delve deeper into these dynamics and contemplate the roles of family and school environments, which are often overlooked. The sustainability and effectiveness of interventions can be enhanced by integrating family therapy with school collaborations. In summary, this study advances the existing knowledge of test anxiety and offers valuable insights for future investigations and interventions. It also emphasizes the need for optimized assessment tools and real-time, adaptive interventions to improve students’ academic resilience and performance.

Alcohol is a highly addictive substance, and long-term alcohol consumption can lead to mental disorders. Many patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) often relapse shortly after receiving treatment following a brief period of abstinence. Identifying the factors influencing relapse is crucial for follow-up treatment and nursing. At present, academic research on AUD and relapse primarily focuses on summarizing clinical symptoms and drug and non-drug treatment methods, with limited analysis of the factors that contribute to relapse. This paper reviews the current understanding of AUD and relapse, along with the assessment tools used, and examines the factors influencing relapse. The aims are to identify key relapse factors in patients with AUD after abstinence and to provide guidance for relevant research, as well as for developing individualized treatment and care plans.

Morgellons is a poorly understood entity and is characterized by cutaneous findings such as fibers emerging from the skin, which can cause secondary symptoms such as formication and itching. Morgellons is an understudied area with conflicting results; this imposes challenges to clinicians while navigating consultations and understanding, diagnosing, and treating Morgellons. This literature review summarizes the available data on the etiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and social media influence within Morgellons. Medical Subject Headings terms were used to systematically search PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE, and two independent reviewers screened the selected articles, revealing that Morgellons is poorly understood among the scientific community, with a population prevalence of 3.65/100,000. The etiology of Morgellons is controversial, and opinions among psychiatrists and dermatologists are conflicting. Some studies propose a biological origin linked to Lyme disease, whereas others view Morgellons as a delusional disorder without an underlying pathology. The conflicting views can be attributed to the lack of robust research with no consensus on an established pathophysiology, disease classification, or treatment guidelines. Herein, the majority of literature views Morgellons as a delusional disorder, wherein an underlying pathology triggers the delusional experience. However, further studies are required to accurately classify the disease and direct patients to the right specialists to ensure effective treatment and development of treatment guidelines. Nevertheless, a holistic treatment approach, integrating psychosomatic and dermatological modalities, is lacking.

After almost 3 years of battling against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the static infection prevention had evolved to a dynamic management model at the end of 2022. However, the considerable rebound from pandemic in some areas is generally accompanied by increasing public pressure and depression. Hence, we investigated the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health and sleep quality of college students in China by conducting a cross-sectional survey on undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students (n = 1105) through the Questionnaire Star survey platform. Demographic data, COVID-19-related stressors, information from four standardized scales (namely anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep), and other information were gathered through the survey. A total of 1120 questionnaires were collected, of which 1105 met the inclusion criteria. Most respondents were medical students (64%), and almost all of them had received the COVID-19 vaccine (99%). More people had been infected with COVID-19 (75%), with 33% showing mild to severe anxiety. A total of 54% of the respondents had mild to severe depression, 70% had moderate to severe perceived stress, and 28% had sleep disturbances. Further, analysis showed that the level of mental health was correlated with sleep. In addition, respondents from the medical specialty experienced more severe depression and anxiety (P < 0.01), and the increase in stress after the outbreak, in terms of anxiety and depression, became significantly more pronounced (P < 0.001). After the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the mental health level of college students was affected to some extent. The COVID-19 cases surge in some areas also resulted in psychological pressure and negative mental health among college students to a large extent even after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Despite the exigency to address the COVID-19 cases, attention must also be focused on the associated mental health problems, which require more systematic resolution from relevant authorities or departments.

Interpersonal relationships are of great significance to individuals, as positive relationships contribute to enhanced life satisfaction and mental health. To develop an effective scale for assessing interpersonal relationships, the Interpersonal Relationship Rating Scale was developed, and its reliability and validity were examined in a Chinese population. The initial items for the scale were formed through a literature search, clinical investigation, and expert interviews. A total of 461 valid responses were collected through the Questionnaire Star platform for exploratory factor analysis, leading to the extraction and naming of common factors. In addition, an offline questionnaire survey was conducted at a secondary vocational school in Nanjing, yielding 882 valid responses. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using Mplus 8.0 to assess the model fit. The comprehensive evaluation of the scale confirmed its reliability and validity. The Interpersonal Relationship Rating Scale was ultimately divided into four dimensions. Validated factor analyses indicated a well-fitted model (χ²/df = 7.59, Comparative Fit Index = 0.860, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.838, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.086). The scale demonstrated good internal consistency reliability, with an alpha coefficient of 0.903 and dimension-specific coefficients ranging from 0.674 to 0.909. Test-retest reliability for the total scale was 0.401, and for the dimensions, it ranged from 0.269 to 0.381 (P < 0.01). The scale also exhibited strong construct validity, criterion-related validity, and discriminant validity (P < 0.01). Overall, the Interpersonal Relationship Rating Scale is a reliable and valid tool for assessing interpersonal relationships in the Chinese population.

Patients with cancer pain are often subjected to a range of biopsychosocial conditioning factors, although the extent of their interactions remains unclear. This study aims to assess specific biopsychosocial dimensions using multidimensional questionnaires. Specifically, it analyzes the impact, correlation, and collinearity of factors such as pain, anxiety, depression, activities of daily living, and quality of life (QoL). The study focuses on the relationship between individual autonomy, depression, and anxiety, and their subsequent impact on mortality. This prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted over 1 year with 120 cancer patients. Data were collected utilizing the Brief Pain Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Short-Form-36 questionnaire and subsequently analyzed. The results reveal collinearity among the questionnaires and indicate that the loss of individual autonomy significantly worsens depression, though it does not have a comparable effect on anxiety. Statistically significant correlations were observed between depression and anxiety with mortality. The findings underscore the importance of early recognition of distress symptoms during the management of oncologic patients, alongside effective pain management. Mortality was strongly associated with high scores for depression and anxiety. Family caregiver support and social network involvement should be prioritized, and healthcare providers should promote individual autonomy to improve treatment outcomes. Although further research is needed, this study suggests that adopting a holistic approach to cancer care could not only improve QoL but also potentially extend life expectancy.

This study examined the role of spiritual coping strategies and the impact of social media on stress, depression, anxiety, and resilience in a campus community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spirituality, a sense of connection beyond oneself, often emerges during stress, illness, or confronting mortality, while resilience is the ability to adapt to challenges. Participants, including faculty, staff, and students, completed an online survey using various scales: the Spiritual Coping Strategies Scale; a revised Facebook Intensity Scale; the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21; and the Brief Resilience Scale. Findings showed that spiritual coping correlated with lower depression (r = −0.28, P < 0.01), anxiety (r = −0.12, P < 0.05), and stress (r = −0.18, P < 0.01) scores and higher resilience (r = 0.29, P < 0.01). Social media use, however, was associated with increased anxiety (r = 0.41, P < 0.01), depression (r = 0.26, P < 0.01), and stress (r = 0.31, P < 0.05) and decreased resilience (r = −0.28, P < 0.01). Age was positively associated with resilience (r = 0.20, P < 0.01) and less social media use (r = −0.46, P < 0.01). Gender differences were noted: females reported higher spiritual coping, non-religious coping and anxiety, and a trend toward lower resilience than males. Fostering resilience depends largely on having a strong spiritual connection or social network consisting of supportive family and friends. Promoting alternative ways to build meaningful connections may enhance mental health for students, faculty, and staff in a university setting.

Sleep is recognized as a crucial link between mental and physical health, bridging the unconscious and conscious realms. However, the impact of both physiological and pathological sleep on the progression of diseases with significant psychological burdens, such as psychosomatic disorders, remains insufficiently understood. Gaining a deeper understanding of this relationship would offer a more comprehensive insight into both the physiology and pathophysiology of sleep, as well as the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of psychosomatic conditions. This knowledge could also guide the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing the quality of life for patients affected by these disorders. This review aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep, sleep deprivation, and dreaming in relation to psychosomatic diseases, the dependency relationships that can be established between these factors, and the medical and psychological implications that the links found have in the assessment and treatment of patients. Using a broad PubMed database search, primary and secondary studies were analyzed to understand how scientific research on this issue has evolved over time and what are the missing elements in this interconnected relationship. The study revealed that psychosomatic illnesses are complex, multifactorial conditions, strongly influenced by both normal and pathological sleep. It also highlighted that therapeutic interventions targeting sleep pathophysiology can alleviate patients’ symptoms. In addition, the theoretical insights gained from this relationship serve as an initial step toward a comprehensive understanding of the connection between the mind and body.

Mental health disorders are a significant public health concern, and the dysregulation of menstrual cycles plays a role in the development of such disorders. Menstrual psychosis is a rare and generally self-limiting mental illness. The literature on menstrual psychosis is sparse and based mainly on case reports, retrospective studies, and reports from relatives, or prospective studies lacking adequate evidence regarding the menstruation timeline. Many case reports have emerged, providing additional information to clinicians about this disorder, since the phenomenon was first described and classified as menstrual psychosis by Krafft-Ebing in his monograph “Psychosis Menstrualis.” This case report contributes to the current literature on menstrual psychosis and highlights the potential of contraceptive medication for treatment.

Globus pharyngeus is a common condition characterized by a persistent or intermittent sensation of a lump in the throat, affecting 21.5 - 46% of the population. Its multifactorial etiology includes both physical causes, such as pharyngoesophageal irritation, and psychological factors, such as anxiety, making it a challenging condition to treat. This case report examines the phenomenon of globus pharyngeus and explores the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment option. We present the case of an 18-year-old male who lost nearly 30 kg of body weight due to his reliance on liquid consumption, as he was unable to swallow solid food because of the globus sensation. The chosen therapeutic intervention was hypnosis. By the fourth session of a planned 10-session program, the patient was able to consume solid foods without experiencing the globus sensation and began to regain weight. This case highlights the potential of hypnosis as an effective treatment option in the treatment of psychosomatic conditions, such as globus pharyngeus.