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In the history of tinnitus research and treatment, many attempts have been directed toward abolishing or minimizing tinnitus. Despite all these efforts, until now no treatment has been found to successfully eliminate tinnitus permanently. As a consequence, increasing efforts have been undertaken by behavioral scientists and psychologists to eliminate or at least ameliorate psychological symptoms associated with tinnitus. The aim of psychological interventions is not to 'cure' or to eliminate the inner noise but to reduce tinnitus-related distress and increase quality of life. If patients are no longer bothered by their inner noises and the question of how tinnitus can be removed, they might become secondary. As long as tinnitus itself cannot be eliminated, the main intention of all therapeutic interventions is to alleviate suffering from tinnitus. Cognitive behavioral interventions are the most widely used psychological strategies for coping with tinnitus. The goal of the therapy is to alter maladaptive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to tinnitus and not to abolish the sound itself. There are two main components to this approach: (a) Cognitive restructuring and (b) Behavioral modification. Treatment programs are comprised of techniques like relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, attention control techniques, imagery training, and exposure to difficult situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Background: In general, chronic pain is categorized into two mechanism-based groups: nociceptive and neuropathic pain. This dichotomous approach is questioned and a dimensional perspective is suggested. The present study investigated neuropathic characteristics in different syndromes of chronic pain. We also examined the association of neuropathic characteristics with various pain related and psychological variables. Methods: From April 2010 to January 2012, 400 patients suffering from a chronic pain condition enrolled for multidisciplinary pain treatment were considered for inclusion in the study. Criteria for inclusion were age over 18 years and having chronic pain according to ICD-10 (F45.41) criteria. The pain DETECT questionnaire was used to assess neuropathic characteristics of pain. Results: Thirty-seven percent of patients with different pain diagnoses demonstrated distinct neuropathic characteristics. The diagnostic groups for neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain and post traumatic or surgical pain showed the most neuropathic features. The level of depression, pain chronicity and intensity, disability and length of hospital stay were significantly higher in patients suffering from neuropathic symptoms. A high level of depression and pain chronicity as well as high intensity of pain explained most of the variance in the neuropathic scores. Disability and length of hospital stay significantly predicted neuropathic characteristics only when examined separately, but not if included in a common regression model. Conclusions: Any type of chronic pain may have more or less neuropathic characteristics. The pain-related parameters of high intensity and chronicity as well as negative affectivity and functional disability strongly correlate with neuropathic characteristics of pain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

The main treatment approaches to chronic pain are introduced and the potential mechanisms of action are discussed. Empirical evidence is analyzed on the basis of meta-analytic and original studies. A wealth of randomized controlled studies supports the efficacy of psychological treatment, while effect sizes are small to moderate. No statistically supported differences between treatment approaches were found. In spite of the limitations psychological interventions are of high relevance in chronic pain, since they have the potential to install the patient as the guardian of his own health and moreover there is little empirical evidence for quite a number of medical interventions of which some also have adverse effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Purpose of review: Treatment of chronic pain has become a multidisciplinary endeavour including psychological interventions. Databases for life science journals were searched for citations from 2007 and 2008 to determine the current focus of research and the state of evidence. Recent findings: Several reviews on systematic research studies confirm that psychological interventions are efficacious in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain, especially back pain, though effect sizes are small and, in some cases, moderate. Findings from clinical practices and treatment centres corroborate these conclusions. The integration of psychological treatment into primary care has not yet proven its utility. Cost-effective interventions to reduce relapse are currently being examined. Psychological headache treatment has again become a topic of research. Evidence is inconsistent, with improvement ranging from an extraordinary size to none at all. Hypnotherapy in children and adolescents with recurrent gastrointestinal pain, examined in a study of high methodological quality, achieved an exceptional level of symptom relief. The aim of two studies on therapy for fibromyalgia and temporomandibular disorder was the identification of mediators and moderators of treatment outcome. Summary: Regarding different pain syndromes such as chronic back pain, headache, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular disorder, as well as gastrointestinal pain in children, psychological interventions proved their significance for the achievement of favorable treatment outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Objective: To analyze the development of recurrent pain in 3 body locations in children and adolescents (baseline age, 9 to 14 years) in a 4-year period. Study design: In a large population-based longitudinal epidemiological study data was collected through annual postal questionnaires (longitudinal, n = 2025). Descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equations were used. Results: Girls were more likely to report recurrent pain, demonstrated a steeper development during the 4-year period, and reported multiple pain more often than boys. Younger children reported less recurrent pain, but displayed a steeper trend of increasing prevalence rates as they grew older. Older children illustrated a more stable development of recurrent pain and reported multiple pain more often. Disability experienced because of recurrent pain was related strongest to pain intensity. Stable patterns of pain were related to higher intensity and disability reports. The children experienced headache as the most disabling of the 3 pains. Conclusion: The results show that boys and girls report recurrent pain in different patterns in the years. To identify risk factors, analysis should be performed separately for boys and girls. Furthermore, it is recommended to include children before the age of 9 years in a prevention study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Objective: The study aims at identifying biopsychosocial risk factors for headache in children and adolescents aged 9 to 14. Methods: An epidemiological survey was conducted in a randomly drawn population sample of families with children in the above age group. Questionnaires were mailed to parents and children (n = 6400), on whose data this report is based. The objective of the study was to establish a profile of risk factors regarding the occurrence of headache. Headache, as the criterion variable, was ranked according to its frequency in the last 6 months (no, rare, monthly, weekly). Independent variables came from 6 domains: health, socioeconomic, family, school, leisure/peers, and psychological factors. Data analysis was conducted via multinomial regression analyses in a 4-step strategy: (1) analysis of age and sex as control variables; (2) analysis of single variables from each of the 6 domains (controlled for age and sex); (3) domain analyses; and (4) comprehensive analysis including all significant variables from the domain analyses. Results: Age and sex explained a small but significant proportion of the variance in headache frequency (3.5\%). All health variables, several socioeconomic, and most family- and school-related as well as the psychological variables demonstrated a significant association with the criterion in the single variable models. However, only a few of the variables related to leisure/peer activities reached significance. The domain model comprising health variables explained 27\% of the variance, achieving the best model fit, followed by the psychological model with 13\%. Conclusions: The comprehensive model was able to explain one third of the total variance in headache occurrence. Contrary to our hypothesis, the addition of psychosocial variables to health-related predictors did not markedly improve model fit. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Studied the effects of various biofeedback strategies in terms of learning-related changes in physiological parameters of chronic headache. The main assumption was that biofeedback leads to specific learning processes that modify the physiological variables in the direction of reduced pain intensity and duration. Human subjects: 92 male and female German adults (mean age 41 yrs) (chronic headache). The Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 biofeedback training programs or to a false-feedback control group. Physiological parameters included electrodermal response, heart and respiratory rates, and electromyogram (EMG) findings. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Studied the effectiveness of coping strategies in the Stre–Sverarbeitungsfragebogen (SVF) ('Stress-Coping Questionnaire') of W. Janke et al (1985), and the importance of situational variables in evaluating the effectiveness of coping behavior. Human Ss: 37 male and female West German adults (psychologists) (Study I); 32 male and female West German adults (nonpsychologist academics) (Study I); 79 male and female West German adults (nonacademic university employees) (Study I); 24 male and female West German adults (22–36 yrs) (university students) (Study II); 24 male and female West German adults (28–57 yrs) (university employees) (Study II). In Study I, Ss rated the effectiveness of 19 coping strategies assessed by the SVF. In Study II, Ss rated stories in which a stressful situation varied with regard to 4 dimensions (content, proximity, predictability, and controllability) in order to suggest an effective coping strategy. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

In fall 1999, a regulation for the training of psychological psychotherapy and child and adolescent psychotherapy (APrV) was enacted by the Ministry of Health in Germany, based on the new law for psychotherapy. To assess the degree of redundancy in the university training and the post-graduate training in clinical psychology and psychotherapy the Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the German Psychological Association (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie) conducted a survey. The survey reveals a large overlap of subjects taught as part of the university training in clinical psychology and psychotherapy and the subjects required as part of the post-graduate training in psychotherapy. Usually, more than 200 hours of basic theoretical training are taught in graduate classes at the universities, covering almost all subjects that are requested as part of the post-graduate psychotherapy training. Almost all of the responding institutes suggest a renewal of parts of the law and the APrV so that equivalent subject-matters of the diploma training at universities should be accepted as part of the training programs for psychological psychotherapy and child- and adolescent psychotherapy. A change of curricula for the diploma training is not supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

The concept of hypersensitivity in migraineurs was advanced mainly on the basis of studies on information processing in which increased amplitudes and reduced habituation in cortical evoked and event related potentials were found in migraine sufferers. The present investigation examined whether migraineurs exhibit hypersensitivity within three different experimental paradigms and various non electrocortical response parameters. Samples of 24 migraine, 19 tension-type headache sufferers, and 24 normal controls were compared regarding their subjective estimation of intensity and discomfort due to visual and acoustical stimuli. Subjects also participated in an experiment using the eyeblink startle response paradigm. In a last experimental task the Stroop test was applied. The trait variables emotionality, arousal, and extraversion were also measured. None of the experimental tasks revealed the predicted hypersensitivity of migraineurs in relation to the control samples. The series of experiments was conducted a second time with half of the participants in order to replicate the findings. The conclusions remained the same. The results of earlier studies on cortical processing can not be interpreted as demonstrating general hypersensitivity in the sense of a dispositional trait in migraine afflicted individuals irrespective of the involved response system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Objectives: Recent studies on tinnitus have focused on the efficacy of Internet-based interventions. Other core features of the quality of service, e.g. acceptance and attrition, have often been overlooked. This study analyses Internet-based training regarding acceptance and attrition in a trial on minimal-contact interventions for acute tinnitus. Whenever possible, we give information on other forms of training for comparison. Methods: In a randomised controlled trial with 337 participants, 87 persons took part in the Internet training. Results: The participants were as satisfied with the Internet-based training as with a face-to-face group training. There was a 34.48\% dropout from the Internet-based training (dropout attrition). The training attrition from the Internet-based training was even higher at 64.4\%. Conclusions: Two out of three indicators for acceptance—satisfaction and dropout attrition—provide comparable results between the Internet-based training and a face-to-face group training. The third indicator, training attrition, shows a better result for the group training. Future research should focus on attrition in order to enhance the overall effectiveness of training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Background: The objective of the present study was to assess the concordance between parent and child report regarding different domains of pediatric health, headache in particular. In addition, the influence of potential moderator variables on the agreement between parents and children was examined. Methodology: In an epidemiologic study on a randomly drawn sample of households with at least 1 child in the family between 7 and 14 years of age (community registries), various pediatric health disturbances (headache, other pains, somatic symptoms, and depression/anxiety) were assessed via both child (from the age of 9 y on) and parent report (n = 3461). Results: A relatively high parent-child agreement (σM = 0.61) was found regarding the variable headache frequency, whereas consensus regarding other pains was, for the most part, markedly lower. The lowest agreement (σM = 0.27) was found for depression/anxiety symptoms. A moderator analysis (with age, sex, and parental headache) between child and parent failed to reveal significant differences regarding the degree of agreement between the 2 data sources. Children reported more frequent and more severe symptoms in all health domains. Conclusion: The examined potential moderator variables did not elucidate processes underlying the differences in child and parent agreement. There is no convincing evidence that the childrenʼs appraisal is less valid than their parentsʼ. In summary, parentsʼ reports cannot be viewed as a substitute for childrenʼs reports in pediatric pain and health assessment. Instead, each perspective represents a unique subjective reality and as such, both are of importance for research on pediatric pain and other health variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Background Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a disabling, deadly and costly mental disorder. Until recently, treatment recommendations were based on expert opinion and limited evidence. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise recent evidence on established and emerging AN treatments and to forecast trends for future developments. Methods We systematically review trials of established treatments and associated process outcome studies from the last 5 years, published since a previous review in this journal. ‘Established’ treatments were those that are widely used in AN, recommended by guidelines and/or have been tested in at least one large randomised controlled trial. Secondly, we summarise emerging treatments for AN, i.e. those that have only been (or are currently being) tested in proof-of concept, feasibility or pilot trials. Results We identified 19 published trials of established treatments (15 of high or moderate quality), mostly assessing psychological therapies (n = 17). We also found 11 published trials of emerging treatments, and a total of 34 registered, as yet unpublished trials. Promising emerging treatments include cognitive remediation therapy, exposure therapy and non-invasive neuromodulation. Conclusions Evidence generation on the treatment of AN has dramatically accelerated, with our understanding of the role of family-based approaches for adolescents more nuanced and a range of psychological approaches available for the treatment of adults. Evidence on emerging treatments and from forthcoming trials suggests that there is a shift towards more targeted brain-based interventions. Future studies need to focus on elucidating mechanisms of action of treatments and what works best for whom.

The current study investigated how different socio-demographic variables and coping styles are associated with the level of acculturative stress among international students in Germany. Participants consisted of 652 international students (53 \% female, 47 \% male; mean age = 25.77 year

This study is a review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) self-help interventions for tinnitus. Randomized controlled trials were identified by searching in databases (e.g. ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and PSYNDEX) and by manual search. Ten studies with 1188 participants in total were included in the meta-analysis. Participants were 49.2 years old and had tinnitus for 5.2 years. Self-help interventions significantly reduced tinnitus distress (d = 0.48) and depressiveness (d = 0.25) when compared with a passive control (e.g. information only and discussion forums) at post-assessment. There was no difference to the face-to-face controls (group treatment). The presence of therapists and the methodological quality of the studies did not influence the results. Sensitivity analysis revealed that there might be a publication bias regarding the comparison to the face-to-face control. However, the results suggest that CBT self-help interventions are an effective treatment for tinnitus distress. Since few studies were identified, this conclusion must be supported by future meta-analyses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

This randomized controlled trial investigated whether adding the psychodynamically based body-oriented psychotherapy “Functional Relaxation” (FR) to psychoeducation (PE) is more effective than PE alone to reduce stress and stress-associated complaints. Eighty-one participants with elevated stress-levels, ≥50 points on the global scale of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), received either 10 sessions of manualized FR+PE (n=42) or 2 sessions of manualized PE alone (n=39) in a group setting. Six FR trainers took part in this study. Stress-level was the primary outcome and secondary outcomes were depression and somatization. Multilevel models for discontinuous change revealed that FR+PE was more helpful to reduce stress-levels than PE from baseline to end of intervention (t0t1) as well as from baseline to 6-months after baseline (t0t2) (both p<.05) with effect sizes (d) being medium for PE (dt0t1=.57; dt0t2=.67) and large for FR+PE (dt0t1=1.59; dt0t2=1.42). Moreover, FR+PE affected depression and somatization more positively than did PE from t0 to t1 as well as from t0 to t2 (all p<.05). Effect sizes for depression were small to medium for PE (dt0t1=.52; dt0t2=.37) and large for FR+PE (dt0t1=1.04; dt0t2=.95). Effect sizes for somatization were small for PE (dt0t1=.18; dt0t2=.19) and medium to large for FR+PE (dt0t1=.73; dt0t2=.93). In summary, the combination of FR and PE was more effective than PE alone. The results of the present trial provide first evidence that FR might be a potent component of stress interventions. Adding FR to such interventions might better help prevent clinically relevant disorders such as depression or somatization.

Two different self-help training programs (multimodal cognitive-behavioral training (CBT) and applied relaxation (AR)) presented via the Internet were compared with an educational intervention (EDU) in an RCT. Sixty-five children and adolescents (mean age: 12.7 years) with recurrent headache (at least 2 attacks per month) were each assigned to one of the three treatment conditions. The main outcome variables related to changes in headache frequency, intensity and duration as well as the responder rate (50\% reduction of headache frequency) and NNTs. Secondary outcome variables were pain catastrophizing and general well-being (depression, psychopathological symptoms and health-related quality of life). All groups showed significant reduction in headache frequency, duration and pain catastrophizing, but not in headache intensity, depression, psychopathological symptoms or health-related quality of life at post-assessment. NNTs were 2.0 for the comparison CBT and EDU; 5.2 for the comparison of AR and EDU at post-treatment. The highest responder rates at post were from CBT (63\%), significantly different compared to AR (32\%) and EDU (19\%), whereas at follow-up no significant differences were found (CBT: 63\%, AR: 56\%, EDU: 55\%) reflecting in the NNTs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)