APOE Genetic Variants and Cognitive Function in Older Men
Electronic searches were performed in the ISI, PsycINFO and PubMed databases, including every language and every year until January 20, 2013. The terms used in the individual search were the following:
ISI (advanced search):
All databases were activated and the survey included only "articles" and "notes". The results of each individual search were combined with "and".
In PsycINFO/PsychLit, we searched directly in "Any Field" and limited the search by including only "Journal Article" and excluding "Chapter", "Dissertation" or "Book Review". The same search terms were used in the ISI database. As in the ISI, the results of each individual search were combined.
In PubMed, we performed the search in "All Fields", and the groups of terms used and combined between each other were as follows:
In addition to searches in online databases, manual searches were performed in the reference list of selected articles and times cited lists (ISI database).
The criteria for including the studies in the review were: 1) evaluation of efficacy through studies with randomized controlled designs, non-randomized controlled trials, or open-ended trials of resilience training programs; 2) the purpose of the training program was to strengthen resilience, in order to prepare the individual to cope with future adverse events. Constructs directly related to resilience, such as hardiness or stress inoculation, were also considered valid; 3) the studies were conducted with non-clinical adult samples.
The exclusion criteria used for considering the studies for the review were: 1) studies which were not primarily designed to promote resilience, such as those with a focus on increased well-being or positive emotions; 2) theoretical articles or reviews, book chapters, theses or dissertations; 3) studies which focused on children or adolescents; 4) research that focused on strengthening resilience in physically and/or mentally ill individuals or with a primary focus on assessing resilience in the aftermath of exposure to specific traumatic events (e.g. resilience training after natural disaster); 5) case reports or case series (not open trial); for this instance, we used the definition of Pincus et al. (1993) stating that open trials should include 10 cases or more; 6) studies without a standardized efficacy measure before and after the intervention; 7) studies which performed baseline evaluation without intervention; 8) studies in which the resilience concept was related to another area of study (e.g., physics or mathematics); 9) studies which evaluated the effects of physical activity or yoga, rather than psychological programs to promote resilience; 10) animal studies.
After the search phase, we performed an analysis of the methodological quality of each article selected for this review, based on an adapted version of the Cochrane Collaboration Tool for Assessing the Risk of Bias. This tool suggests items through which it is possible to assess the risk of bias in each study. We selected seven items that would represent risk of bias consistent with randomized studies (random sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding of outcome assessment, incomplete outcome data, selective reporting, description of concurrent treatment and intent-to-treat analysis) and four risk items consistent with non-randomized studies (blinding of outcome assessment, incomplete outcome data, selective reporting and description of concurrent treatment).
Method
Electronic searches were performed in the ISI, PsycINFO and PubMed databases, including every language and every year until January 20, 2013. The terms used in the individual search were the following:
ISI (advanced search):
TS = ("behavi* therapy" OR "cognitive therapy" OR "cognitive behavio* therapy" OR CBT OR "cognitive reest*" OR "positive psychology" OR "well being therapy" OR "anxiety manage*" OR relaxation OR "stress control training" OR "stress inoculation training" OR "stress inoculation" OR "progressive relaxation" OR "diaphragmatic breathing" OR "social abilit* training" OR "social skills training" OR psychotherap*)
TS = ("resilienc*" OR "Subjective well-being" OR "positive psychology" OR "health promotion" OR "cognitive flexibility" OR "post-traumatic growth" OR "stress-related growth" OR hardiness)
TS = (protocol OR program OR treatment OR promotion)
All databases were activated and the survey included only "articles" and "notes". The results of each individual search were combined with "and".
In PsycINFO/PsychLit, we searched directly in "Any Field" and limited the search by including only "Journal Article" and excluding "Chapter", "Dissertation" or "Book Review". The same search terms were used in the ISI database. As in the ISI, the results of each individual search were combined.
In PubMed, we performed the search in "All Fields", and the groups of terms used and combined between each other were as follows:
("cognitive therapy" OR CBT OR "positive psychology" OR relaxation OR "stress inoculation training" OR "stress inoculation" OR "progressive relaxation" OR "diaphragmatic breathing" OR "social skills training" OR psychotherap*)
(resilience OR resiliency OR "positive psychology" OR "health promotion" OR "cognitive flexibility" OR "post-traumatic growth" OR "stress-related growth" OR "hardiness")
(protocol OR program OR treatment OR promotion)
In addition to searches in online databases, manual searches were performed in the reference list of selected articles and times cited lists (ISI database).
The criteria for including the studies in the review were: 1) evaluation of efficacy through studies with randomized controlled designs, non-randomized controlled trials, or open-ended trials of resilience training programs; 2) the purpose of the training program was to strengthen resilience, in order to prepare the individual to cope with future adverse events. Constructs directly related to resilience, such as hardiness or stress inoculation, were also considered valid; 3) the studies were conducted with non-clinical adult samples.
The exclusion criteria used for considering the studies for the review were: 1) studies which were not primarily designed to promote resilience, such as those with a focus on increased well-being or positive emotions; 2) theoretical articles or reviews, book chapters, theses or dissertations; 3) studies which focused on children or adolescents; 4) research that focused on strengthening resilience in physically and/or mentally ill individuals or with a primary focus on assessing resilience in the aftermath of exposure to specific traumatic events (e.g. resilience training after natural disaster); 5) case reports or case series (not open trial); for this instance, we used the definition of Pincus et al. (1993) stating that open trials should include 10 cases or more; 6) studies without a standardized efficacy measure before and after the intervention; 7) studies which performed baseline evaluation without intervention; 8) studies in which the resilience concept was related to another area of study (e.g., physics or mathematics); 9) studies which evaluated the effects of physical activity or yoga, rather than psychological programs to promote resilience; 10) animal studies.
After the search phase, we performed an analysis of the methodological quality of each article selected for this review, based on an adapted version of the Cochrane Collaboration Tool for Assessing the Risk of Bias. This tool suggests items through which it is possible to assess the risk of bias in each study. We selected seven items that would represent risk of bias consistent with randomized studies (random sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding of outcome assessment, incomplete outcome data, selective reporting, description of concurrent treatment and intent-to-treat analysis) and four risk items consistent with non-randomized studies (blinding of outcome assessment, incomplete outcome data, selective reporting and description of concurrent treatment).
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