Frontal alpha asymmetry (fAA) is purported to be a neurophysiological marker for anxiety and depression. Higher left frontal alpha EEG voltage is associated with lower left and higher right frontal cerebral cortical activation, indicative of right-sided fAA. This pilot study tests the hypothesis that greater left-sided frontal alpha voltage is associated with negative thoughts about oneself. A group of eight healthy 28-41-year-old right-handed male medical students were subjected to an extensive interactive self-report inventory (ISI) evaluating perceptions of their psychosocial interactions. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) was performed with eyes closed. Computations of fAA and related parameters were based on measurements in the alpha bandwidth (8-13 Hz) at the left frontal F7 and right frontal F8 scalp electrodes. fAA was the percent difference between mean voltages at F8 minus that at F7. Significance of associations between fAA and the ISI scores was determined by Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient, at P≤0.05. “Depressed” scores were positively correlated with right-sided fAA (P=0.01). “Relaxed” (P=0.05), “regulated” (P=0.02), “cooperative” (P=0.05) and “dependent scores” (P=0.004) were negatively correlated with right-sided fAA. These findings imply that right-sided fAA may be associated with more perceptions of “depressed” psychosocial interactions involving negative thoughts about oneself, as well as, more reliance on others (“dependence” score), less sharing (“cooperative” ISI score), less trust (“regulated” ISI score) and less initiative (“relaxed” ISI score). These results support the hypothesis that right-sided fAA may identify individuals with a predilection for negative thoughts about themselves and other negatively-valenced perceptions of their psychosocial interactions.

IntroductionMindfulness is defined as the ability of paying attention to the present moment with intentionality, moment to moment without making judgments of value.ObjectivesTo describe the effectiveness of group therapy performed in our mental health center according to the results in the SOFI scale of patients. This scale is designed to assess different qualities, which evolve through training in meditation practice based on mindfulness.MethodsGroup therapy consisted of 12 weekly sessions of an hour and a half. A total of 11 patients, 7 of which having completed therapy. The questionnaires were answered in the first and final session of therapy.ResultsThe questionnaire items were divided before and after treatment, into four categories with the following results: positive (friendly, happy, acceptance, compassion) to himself: 1.86 (0.54)/2.75 (0.78) and to others 3.57 (0.86)/3.89 (0.54); negative (hate, angry, cruel, bad) to himself: 2.92 (0.54)/2 (0.23); and to others: 2.28 (0.41)/1.96 (0.36)ConclusionsIn keeping with similar studies, the scale shows effectiveness of therapy in all sets of items, highlighting the variation of the aspects related to himself.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Frontal alpha asymmetry (fAA) is a neurophysiological marker for anxiety and depression. This study tests the hypothesis that greater left-sided frontal alpha voltage is associated with negative thoughts about oneself. A group of eight healthy 28-41-year-old right-handed male medical students were subjected to an extensive interactive self-inventory (ISI) evaluating perceptions of their psychosocial interactions. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) was done with eyes closed. fAA in the alpha bandwidth (8-13 Hz) at the F7 and F8 scalp electrodes was the percent difference between mean voltages at F8 minus F7. Significance of associations between fAA and ISI scores was determined by Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient, at P≤0.05. “Depressed” scores were positively correlated with right-sided fAA (P=0.01). “Relaxed” (P=0.05), “regulated” (P=0.02), “cooperative” (P=0.05) and “dependent scores” (P=0.004) were negatively correlated with right-sided fAA. These findings imply that right-sided fAA may be associated with more perceptions of “depressed” psychosocial interactions involving negative thoughts about oneself, as well as, more reliance on others (“dependence” score), less sharing (“cooperative” ISI score), less trust (“regulated” ISI score) and less initiative (“relaxed” ISI score). These results support the hypothesis that right-sided fAA may identify individuals with a predilection for negative thoughts about themselves and negatively-valenced perceptions of their psychosocial interactions.