Immune fitness, defined as the adequate functioning of the immune system, is essential for maintaining health, preventing and resolving disease, and improving quality of life. The immune status questionnaire (ISQ) is a self-assessment tool developed to evaluate the type and frequency of seven common immune-related complaints. This review was conducted to provide a comprehensive overview of studies that utilized the ISQ and provide recommendations for its future improvement. A literature search on Google Scholar, supplemented by cross-referencing, identified 91 publications, of which 51 (from 38 independent studies) reported ISQ data and were included in this review. These studies were conducted in 14 countries, with the ISQ translated into six languages. They were cross-sectional and experimental studies involving healthy subjects or patient populations, with sample sizes ranging from 22 to 45,782 participants. Findings revealed that ISQ scores significantly differed across demographics (e.g., sex and age) and health status (e.g., obesity and diabetes). Significant correlations were found between ISQ scores and various health correlates, including positive correlations with lifestyle factors - such as regular physical activity, attaining a daily diet, and adequate sleep - and negative correlations with mood states such as anxiety and depression, alcohol use, hangovers, and smoking. In addition, the ISQ scores also showed associations with immune biomarkers indicative of systemic inflammation. The review also discusses the strengths and limitations of the ISQ, including its 12-month recall period, which may be adapted in repeated-measures designs. Potential improvements to the ISQ include incorporating additional characteristics such as duration, severity, and impact of immune-related complaints and refining the current scoring method. In conclusion, the ISQ is a simple, cost- and time-effective questionnaire to assess immune fitness. The ISQ can be successfully implemented in research and screening in clinical settings.

Researchers in the developing science of psychology initially adopted a naïve realist stance. In recent years, there has been a shift toward more nuanced positions, accompanied by new requirements in professional ethical codes. These developments have been influenced by social movements and associated changes in power dynamics within health, education, and social welfare. Changing views in the philosophies that underpin social science, along with the rise of social media, are also contributing factors. Psychological researchers have worked to understand the human condition by proposing and testing their models. However, new guidelines now require that they operate within the limits of their expertise. If they are to conduct research on a group of people who suffer from a specific health condition, they must include individuals affected by that condition as stakeholders. This represents a shift in which the expert’s ability to know what is going on in the mind of another person is increasingly questioned. The phenomenon of psychosomatic illness has long prompted tensions in the relationship between expert professionals and those who are suffering. However, there is now a further undervaluing of expert knowledge, alongside the growing expectation that individuals’ beliefs about their own suffering are just as valid as anyone else’s. Researchers must adopt a more empathetic stance, such as the one described by Edith Stein. Practitioners will need support in responding to these evolving expectations. Some examples of successful adaptations to these changes include the concept of neurodiversity and the recovery philosophy.

Depression is characterized by persistent depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, recurrent thoughts of death, and physical and cognitive symptoms. Godlewska and Harmer’s cognitive neuropsychological theory posits that cognitive dysfunction constitutes a core pathophysiological feature of depression, manifested through negative cognitive bias, memory impairment, and executive dysfunction. Prior studies showed that depression impairs memory, correlating with the severity of depressive symptoms. The hippocampus and cortex critically mediate memory encoding, retrieval, activation, and consolidation. Neurally, depression involves reduced hippocampal activation, prefrontal executive control dysfunction, hypoactivity in emotion-regulating regions, diminished cingulate gyrus activity and connectivity, and amygdala abnormalities. Memory impairment is linked not only to depression but also to systemic inflammation from physical diseases, which may disrupt central nervous system function and contribute to cognitive deficits. To elucidate memory impairment mechanisms in depression and guide precision therapies for cognitive rehabilitation, in this review, we introduce the psychological model and measurement tasks of memory and discuss different types of memory impairment in depression.

Letter to the Father is an intimate and revealing classic masterpiece about the complex relationship between Franz Kafka and his father. In this work, he exposed his feelings and thoughts stemming from his daily family and professional life, rooted in the difficult paternal interactions he experienced. The study of empathy, which involves both emotional and cognitive dimensions, can be analyzed through this narrative. The aim of this study is to understand empathy as presented in Letter to the Father, with a focus on the cognitive and emotional aspects of this behavior. The specific objectives are to identify the emotional and cognitive aspects of empathy between the characters and to characterize these behaviors in Franz Kafka based on inferences drawn from his writing. This research is exploratory and bibliographic in nature, involving a literature review, reading, logical organization of data, thematic discussion, and writing, with an inductive methodology. It is suggested that this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between family experiences and the development of emotional and cognitive aspects of empathy while also emphasizing the importance of nurturing welcoming and respectful environments for healthy emotional growth.

Understanding human consciousness has long been a central focus of scholarly inquiry across disciplines. While conventional perspectives often attribute cognition solely to the brain, both ancient wisdom and modern research suggest that the heart also plays an integral role in this complex interplay. This paper explores the hypothesis that thoughts originate in the mind, traverse the heart, and subsequently influence the body. Drawing from ancient philosophical traditions, contemporary neurocardiological insights, and Qur’anic teachings, this research presents a holistic framework of consciousness that bridges the physical and metaphysical realms. By challenging the conventional brain-centric view of consciousness, it proposes an alternative understanding of the thoughts that originate in the mind, pass through the heart, and subsequently influence other parts of the body. Through an examination of historical perspectives, recent neurocardiological studies, and extraordinary medical cases, this study aims to advance a more integrated understanding of human consciousness and behavior.

Constipation, a prevalent gastrointestinal issue, has been linked to neurological health through the gut-brain axis (GBA). This study investigated the genetic association between constipation and white matter (WM) microstructure using a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Genetic instruments for constipation were derived from the FinnGen study (41,124 cases and 371,057 controls). Summary statistics for diffusion tensor imaging parameters, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), were obtained from the UK Biobank (33,292 subjects). The primary MR analysis used the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, with supplementary analyses including weighted median, constrained maximum likelihood, and robust adjusted profile score methods. Sensitivity analyses, including Cochran’s Q test and MR-Egger regression, assessed heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Two WM imaging-derived phenotypes showed significant causal associations with constipation. Specifically, a higher second MD principal component of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) showed a significant protective effect against constipation (odds ratio [OR]=0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.58 - 0.87, p=7.55×10−4). Conversely, higher FA in the anterior corona radiata (ACR) increased constipation risk (OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.11 - 1.60, p=2.13×10−3). No significant causal effect of constipation on WM microstructure was found. All supplementary analyses corroborated the IVW results, indicating robustness and consistency. Sensitivity analyses showed low heterogeneity and no significant directional pleiotropy. This study provides strong evidence for a genetic association between specific WM microstructures and constipation, emphasizing the role of the SLF and ACR in the GBA. These findings highlight the need to consider neurological factors in understanding and managing constipation and warrant further research into the underlying mechanisms and broader implications of the GBA.

Psychosomatic refers to an illness in which stress causes or exacerbates physical symptoms, and it may occur in transient or along with more acute mood disorders. The current study aimed to enhance understanding of the prevalence and cultural factors affecting psychosomatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety in China and Pakistan. A comparative cross-cultural study was conducted using a non-probability sampling technique. A total of 1633 samples were collected, including 598 healthy controls (300 from China and 298 from Pakistan) and 1035 patients (521 from China and 514 from Pakistan). Three assessment tools were utilized: Psychosomatic symptom scale (PSSS), patient health questionnaire-9, and generalized anxiety disorder-7. There were significant differences in the symptoms of patients and control groups with psychosomatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety in both countries. Post hoc testing revealed that Pakistani patients with mood disorders reported more psychosomatic symptoms than Chinese patients (p<0.001), whereas the Chinese control group had more psychosomatic symptoms than the Pakistani control group (p=0.001). Analysis of PSSS ratings in Chinese patients demonstrated a strong correlation between “depressed mood” and “loss of interest.” Pakistani PSSS displayed strong correlations on the somatic subscale and psychological subscale. In the present study, Pakistani patients exhibited higher levels of psychosomatic complaints, depression, and anxiety compared to Chinese patients. Notably, network analysis reveals that Pakistani patients displayed more physical symptoms, whereas Chinese patients experienced more psychological symptoms.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound psychological impact on healthcare workers worldwide, including midwives across various levels of the healthcare system. This study aims to evaluate the psychological strain experienced by midwives in the region of Thessaly, Greece, due to the pandemic. Specifically, it examines levels of burnout while considering perceived stress, depression, and psychological resilience, as well as demographic, socio-economic, and occupational factors. This epidemiological study explores the extent of psychological distress among midwives in Thessaly during the COVID-19 crisis. Data collection was conducted between February and March 2021, involving 102 midwives, with a primary focus on burnout symptoms. Data were collected from three electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Information was gathered through a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic and professional characteristics, alongside validated assessment tools, including the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Beck depression inventory, and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Statistical analysis was conducted using multifactorial linear regression to identify factors influencing midwives’ mental health during the pandemic. Midwives experiencing high stress and burnout had an increased risk of depression, whereas psychological resilience was identified as a crucial protective factor against depressive symptoms. Midwives in Thessaly, Greece, have faced substantial psychological distress, with their overall mental well-being significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings emphasize the need for targeted psychological support and preventive interventions for midwives, particularly in ongoing or future public health crises.

Risk-taking (RT) behaviors play a key role in addiction and drug-related disorders. It is necessary to assess RT among young people, as they represent a key demographic vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse. The aim of the present study was to validate and normalize the 18-item scale assessing youth RT behavior (RT-18) in a sample of substance abusers undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). In the present study, we employed a descriptive design and aimed to validate the RT-18 scale. The statistical population of the research included all substance-abusing (dependent) patients under MMT in Rasht, northern Iran. Using consecutive sampling, 220 patients were selected from three addiction treatment clinics and provided informed and voluntary consent to answer the RT-18 scale and the brief substance craving scale (BSCS). The test-retest reliability of the RT-18 scale was 0.74. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of RT-18, RT, and risk assessment (RA) subscales were 0.70, 0.88, and 0.55, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the modified two-factor structure for abusers under MMT provided a good model fit (β2/degree of freedom = 2.74; weighted root mean square residual = 0.897; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.915; comparative fit index = 0.91; root mean square error of approximation = 0.061). The total RT-18 score was significantly correlated with BSCS scores (r = 0.26; p<0.01), but explained only a small proportion of variance (F [1,218] = 6.34; p=0.013). The results of the present study indicate that the Persian version of the RT-18 scale has acceptable reliability coefficients and may be used reliably in outpatient addiction treatment settings to assess RT behavior. However, the reliability coefficient of the RA subscale was low, and the total RT-18 score displayed limited predictive value for substance craving scores.

Functional seizures (FSs) are a subset of functional neurological disorders frequently misdiagnosed due to their clinical overlap with neurological conditions. Unlike epileptic seizures, they occur without abnormal neuronal discharges and manifest through diverse motor, sensory, and cognitive symptoms. This case report presents the diagnostic trajectory of a patient initially misdiagnosed with stroke-related motor symptoms and later epilepsy, subsequently reevaluated at Ramos Mejía Hospital in Buenos Aires. A comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment involving a differential diagnosis process was conducted to confirm the diagnosis of FSs by ruling out epilepsy, autoimmune encephalitis, and concomitant psychosis. The implementation of targeted psychoeducation, symptom monitoring, and interventions based on the integrative cognitive model resulted in significant clinical improvement, including reduced seizure frequency and enhanced functional mobility. Furthermore, psychotherapeutic strategies facilitated patient acceptance of the diagnosis and adherence to treatment. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with FSs and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary, individualized approach to optimize symptom management and patient outcomes.