The Effect of Daily Self-Measurement of Pressure Pain Sensitivity Followed by Acupressure on Depression and Quality of Life versus Treatment as Usual in Ischemic Heart Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life (QOL) are parts of the chronic stress syndrome and predictive of adverse outcome in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Chronic stress is associated with increased sensitivity for pain, which can be measured by algometry as Pressure Pain Sensitivity (PPS) on the sternum.To evaluate if stress focus by self-measurement of PPS, followed by stress reducing actions including acupressure, can decrease depressive symptoms and increase psychological well-being in people with stable IHD.Observer blinded randomized clinical trial over 3 months of either intervention or treatment as usual (TAU).Intention to treat.Two hundred and thirteen participants with IHD were included: 106 to active treatment and 107 to TAU. Drop-out: 20 and 12, respectively. The active intervention included self-measurement of PPS twice daily followed by acupressure as mandatory action, aiming at a reduction in PPS. Primary endpoint: change in depressive symptoms as measured by Major depression inventory (MDI). Other endpoints: changes in PPS, Well-being (WHO-5) and mental and physical QOL (SF-36).At 3 months PPS decreased 28%, to 58, in active and 11%, to 72, in TAU, p<0.001. MDI decreased 22%, to 6.5, in active group vs. 12%, to 8.3 in TAU, p = 0.040. WHO-5 increased to 71.0 and 64.8, active group and TAU, p = 0.015. SF-36 mental score sum increased to 55.3 and 53.3, active and TAU, p = 0.08.PPS measurements followed by acupressure reduce PPS, depressive symptoms and increase QOL in patients with stable IHD.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01513824

Exploring the positive involvement of primary motor cortex in observing motor sequences with music: a pilot study with tDCS

Introduction: The present study aims at exploring the effects of the depolarization of the primary motor cortex (M1), which is supposed to be associated to the mirror neuron system (MNS), via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and of synchronous music on individuals' responses to observed actions/non actions in a sample of individuals with low sports expertise. The two main theories behind this study are linked to the role of the MNS in the human brain and the embodied cognition theory, which suggests an interdependent relationship between action, perception and cognition. Method: Nineteen college students attending to BA in motor science watched five videos (one presenting a target motor action performed by a basketball player and the other four presenting human vs. non-human performed actions as a control), with or without background music and with or without anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex. Results and Conclusions: Data highlighted that observation promoted the activation of MNS, which led to a more deep and probably adequate processing of the stimulus. Music enhanced this effect, even when the MNS is affected by anodal stimulation, and should hence be considered as a valid support when both physical and psychological complications occur in rehabilitation