Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales Research Articles

Affective super-traits and/or individual patterns: a variable-centered and a person-centered approach of primary emotional aspects of personality.

Theoretical approaches of personality structure are diverse. We examine the primary emotional aspects of personality as the correspondence of two mainstream constructs: the lexically-based Big Five (BIG5) and the biologically-based Affective Neuroscience Theory (ANT) within two approaches. In the variable-centered approach (VCA), our aim is to identify affective super-traits; while in the person-centered approach (PCA) to uncover latent profile patterns. 240 participants (177 women, 63 men) completed the 112-item affective neuroscience personality scales (ANPS), and the 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI). We identified four super-traits: Negative emotions (FEAR, SADNESS, Emotional instability), Positive emotions and stimulation (SEEK, Extraversion), Affiliation and social bonds (reversed ANGER, CARE, Agreeableness), Self-regulation (PLAY, Conscientiousness. Based on the VCA, we conclude that the four super-traits represent two main affective tendencies (Positive emotions and approaching, Negative emotions and avoidance), interpersonal (Affiliation) and intrapersonal (Self-regulation) dynamics of personality. As a result of Latent Profile Analysis in the PCA, we explored three latent groups with different patterns of primary emotional traits based on their responsiveness (Highly emotional, Balanced, Low emotional). Our findings provide a holistic approach to emotional aspects of personality, and might have further implications for clinical psychology, neuroscience, and cross-cultural studies on emotions.

Affective neuroscience theory and attitudes towards artificial intelligence

AbstractArtificial intelligence represents a key technology being inbuilt into evermore products. Research investigating attitudes towards artificial intelligence surprisingly is still scarce, although it becomes apparent that artificial intelligence will shape societies around the globe. To better understand individual differences in attitudes towards artificial intelligence, the present study investigated in n = 351 participants associations between the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) and the Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence framework (ATAI). It could be observed that in particular higher levels of SADNESS were associated with higher negative attitudes towards AI (fearing AI). The findings are discussed in this work from an evolutionary perspective because primary emotional systems—according to Affective Neuroscience Theory—represent tools for survival, which have been homologously conserved across mammalian species including homo sapiens.

Primäremotionen und Bindung bei psychischer Störung.

Objectives: There is increasing evidence for associations between primary emotions and attachment with mental illness. This study illuminates the mediation relationship of these psychodynamic constructs in relation to psychiatric disorders. Methods: 921 subjects (69.9 % female) were examined, who completed the questionnaires Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales including a LUST Scale, Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised 8, and ICD-10 Symptom Rating online. A path analysis was conducted to evaluate the mediation effects of attachment anxiety. Results: A disease-specific pattern of direct associations between primary emotions, attachment anxiety, and psychological impairment emerged (all p < .01). Attachment exerted mediating effects primarily for SADNESS (p < .01), and to a lesser extent for LUST and CARE (p > .01).The model provided variance resolution ranging from7%(eating disorders) to 47%(depression). Conclusion: The results demonstrate the relevance of affective explanations regarding the development of psychological symptoms, as well as therapeutic implications.

Primary emotional systems, childhood trauma, and suicidal ideation in youths with bipolar disorders

BackgroundBipolar disorders (BD) in youths are strongly associated with suicidal ideation. Childhood trauma is a prominent environmental stressor associated with both BD diagnosis and suicide. Primary emotional systems are altered in adult BD and may contribute to suicide risk in youths. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate primary emotional systems distribution patterns and childhood trauma in youths' BD with and without suicidal ideation (BD-IS, BD-NIS). Participants and settingWe assessed 289 participants, 103 youths with DSM-5 BD and 186 healthy controls (HCs). MethodsPrimary emotional systems were obtained with Panksepp's Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale (ANPS), and history of childhood trauma using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Suicidal ideation was assessed through the Columbia Suicide Scale for the Rating of Suicide Severity (C-SSRS). The associations with suicidal ideation were tested using two different multivariate models. ResultsOver 48 % of participants reported lifetime suicidal ideation and differed on clinical variables from BD-NIS. According to the first model (Wilk's Lambda = 0.72, p < 0.0001), BD-IS scored higher on Panksepp's ANGER and lower on PLAY and CARE than BD-NIS. Both BD-SI and BD-NSI scored higher on ANGER and SEEK and lower on PLAY and CARE than HCs. BD-IS reported more emotional abuse than BD-NIS. They also reported more emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, and emotional neglect than HCs. Only ANGER (OR = 1.13, 95 % CI = 1.01–1.26, Wald = 5.72) and CTQ-Emotional abuse (OR = 1.26, 95 % C.I. = 1.04–1.52, Wald = 5.72) independently predicted suicidal ideation. ConclusionsFindings support the importance of assessing primary emotional systems and childhood trauma, in particular emotional abuse, in youths with BD at risk for suicide.

Brief Form of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales: Preliminary Psychometric Properties in a European Portuguese Community Sample.

Personality theory based on affective neuroscience research suggests the presence of seven affective neurobiological systems. These dimensions have been identified using psychometric instruments such as the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) and its brief version known as the Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (BANPS). Despite being a psychometric valid instrument, the BANPS was not adapted to European Portuguese. This study describes a psychometric analysis of the BANPS in a Portuguese population sample. A European Portuguese-speaking sample was recruited (N = 355, Mage = 27.31, DP = 12.75). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the BANPS factorial structure. Pearson correlations were used to explore convergent validity with self-reports for psychological distress and psychopathology. Six factor model was confirmed with adequate goodness-of-fit indices (χ2(449) = 808,9841, TLI = .90, CFI = .92, RMSEA = .048 (.042-.053). Non-agreeable affective systems (anger, fear, distress), correlated positively with psychological distress and symptomology, while play and care systems correlated negatively. Seek and care subscales showed the weakest psychometric properties. The original factor structure was confirmed, suggesting the BANPS may be a valid measure to assess affective behavioral traits in the Portuguese population. Further studies in clinical populations may improve the psychometric data of the BANPS.

Hand-blink reflex modulation: The role of primary emotions and attachment dimensions.

The hand-blink reflex (HBR) is a subcortical response elicited by the electrical stimulation of the median nerve. HBR magnitude is enhanced when the stimulated hand is close to the face and is modulated by high-level structures according to the perceived threat magnitude. Psychological factors may contribute to threat evaluation and possibly to HBR amplitude modulation. In this study, we assessed distinctively emotional and relational aspects of personality and evaluated their associations with the HBR response, or lack thereof, in healthy subjects. Seventy-one volunteers filled the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y questionnaires and underwent HBR recording. We found that the HBR could be evoked only in 50.7% of all subjects (responders). Non-responders subjects showed higher scores in the avoidance dimension (p = .005), and lower scores in the care dimension (p = .008), compared with responders. In responders, regression analysis showed a negative association of HBR amplitude (difference in near vs. far responses) with anger dimension and a positive association with state anxiety (R2  = 0.239). A positive association also emerged with HBR latency and fear dimension (R2  = 0.419). We conclude that primary emotional and relational factors may play an important role in the modulation of brainstem circuits mediating the HBR response. Our results may also contribute to the question about the absence of the HBR in about half of the subjects since high-level cognitive processes seem to play an important role in the differentiation between responder and non-responder.

The German version of the brief affective neuroscience personality scales including a LUST scale (BANPS-GL).

This study presents the German version of the Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (BANPS), which includes an additional subscale for the dimension LUST. The BANPS represents a shortened version of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS), a self-report instrument to assess individual dispositions toward primary emotional systems as proposed by Jaak Panksepp. In a large sample (N = 926), the reliability and various facets of validity of the German translation of the BANPS were examined together with the newly included LUST scale. The BANPS-GL was related to the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS) and analyzed via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Overall, the BANPS-GL exhibited reliabilities ranging from McDonald's ω = 0.70 (CARE) to α = 0.86 (SADNESS) and plausible correlations with external criteria. For CFA a correlated 7-factor model demonstrated good fit [TLI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.04 (90% CI: 0.04, 0.05); SRMR = 0.06]. A similar fit was demonstrated for a 2-higher-factor model [TLI = 0.93; RMSEA = 0.05 (90% CI: 0.05, 0.06); SRMR = 0.07]. In broad agreement with the results of the original English version, the BANPS-GL showed good reliability and acceptable factorial validity, and overall improved the psychometric properties of the original long form. Finally, the inclusion of the dimension LUST allows for a complete coverage of the primary emotion dispositions as originally conceptualized by Panksepp.

Defense styles from the perspective of affective neuroscience

ABSTRACT To our knowledge, no study has been carried out to observe which subcortical basic affective systems are related to which defense styles. Such a perspective may have the potential to reveal how defenses may interact with subcortical primary emotional systems (PES) and how they contribute to affect regulation. We aimed to analyze the relationship of immature, neurotic, and mature defenses with basic subcortical affects (CARE, PLAY, SEEK, SADNESS, FEAR, ANGER) within an affective neuroscientific perspective. In addition, we sought to explore the effect of psychiatric disorders in relation to PES and defenses, and observe gender effects, if any. The sample consisted of 703 university students, recruited online. The materials included the Turkish translations of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ). The correlations between ANPS and DSQ showed that the immature defenses increase as all negative emotions increase, whereas mature defenses increase as all positive emotions (except CARE) increase and all negative affects decrease (except ANGER). On the other hand, as neurotic defenses increase, CARE, FEAR and SADNESS simultaneously increase. Subjects who reported the presence of psychiatric disorders also reported higher FEAR, SADNESS, ANGER accompanied by higher immature defenses. Finally, male subjects reported higher immature defenses, whereas the females reported higher neurotic defenses, accompanied by higher CARE, SEEK, SADNESS, FEAR, and slightly lower PLAY. Investigating defenses through the lens of affective neuroscience offers the opportunity to link the abstract concept of defenses to increasingly well-understood neurobiology.

The Dutch Translation of the Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales

Abstract: The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales is a self-report measure that assesses neurobiologically defined, primary emotional system activation in a clinically feasible way. The current study introduces the Dutch translation of the Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (BANPS) and investigates its relation with lexical–statistical Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality traits. A Flemish community sample of 339 participants (76.7% female, 23.3% male, 18–65 years) completed the BANPS, of which 255 (73.7% female, 26.3% male) also completed the NEO-PI-3. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the BANPS six-factor structure. Alpha coefficients were indicative of adequate subscale internal consistencies. Congruence coefficients with the original factor solution were high. Hierarchical regression analyses related primary emotional systems to lexical–statistical personality traits. The Dutch version of the BANPS appears to be a reliable scale exhibiting meaningful relations to the FFM.

A new tool to assess the occurrence of personality traits: the Phenomenological Personality Factor questionnaire.

Personality traits are patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions that are usually assessed by means of psychometric questionnaires. In the present study we described the Phenomenological Personality Factor (PPF), a short questionnaire assessing the personality traits, taking into account the different interpretative models of personality. A sample of 554 healthy subjects (357 female; 197 males) aged 18-60 years were enrolled. Each participant was required to complete PPF, by indicating the presence/absence of the individual personality trait, and the Italian version of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale (ANPS). The principal component analysis showed that seven factors explained the 35.07% of the total variance. Moreover, the correlation analysis revealed that the PPF components were significantly and positively associated with the ANPS scales. Our findings suggest that the PPF is a useful questionnaire to assess the personality traits, and the adaptive functioning, in healthy individuals.

The relationship of psychological health and primary emotional traits in medical students

Introduction Several studies have called for attention to medical students’ well-being. Building on the neuroevolutionary affective neuroscience perspective that views primary emotional systems as central to well-being and the foundation of personality, this study investigated the facets of medical students’ psychological well-being that are challenged and the relationships between emotional traits, psychological well-being, and depression. Methods In a single-center cross-sectional study, medical students’ primary emotional traits (SEEKING, FEAR, ANGER, SADNESS, CARE, PLAY and Spirituality), psychological well-being dimensions (autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations, self-acceptance, purpose in life, and personal growth), and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale; the Psychological Well-being Scale, which provides normative data; and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results Compared with the normative data, the medical students perceived lower psychological autonomy, positive relations, and self-acceptance but higher purpose in life. The medical students’ emotional traits were related to specific psychological well-being facets and depression. SEEKING and, inversely, FEAR were related to well-being across dimensions and depressive symptoms. Conclusion Our findings are the first to show a link between emotional traits and specific facets of psychological health in medical students. Thus, this study encourages medical teachers to set learning environments that target multiple facets of well-being that harness primary emotional traits.

Investigating Primary Emotional Systems and the Big Five of Personality including their relations in patients with major depression and healthy control persons

ABSTRACT This study investigates two concurrent personality theories in the context of depression: Pankseppian affective neuroscience theory (ANT) describes primary emotional systems related to depression, whereas in the five-factor model (FFM), neuroticism is most robustly related with depression. Of note, ANT has been established via neuroscientific cross-mammalian-research, while the FFM belongs to the realm of Big Five personality theory, which has been established by a lexical approach. This study aimed to investigate whether the previously suggested systems or factors in depression within each of these approaches would correspond with depression, and with each other across factors/systems, in a single large sample of patients with major depression (n = 184) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 183). Subjects filled in the NEO-FFI and the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) along with Beck’s Depression Inventory-II. In line with the literature, depressed patients demonstrated higher FEAR/SADNESS and lower SEEKING/PLAY scores when applying ANT. Also consistent with the literature, higher neuroticism scores could be observed in the depressed sample compared to the control sample. Against the background of ANT, we suggest that Panksepp’s FEAR/SADNESS might be the “bottom-up” drivers of the personality trait neuroticism. The present study shows that the observed differences in SEEKING, FEAR, and SADNESS between depressed and healthy control participants are in line with the literature and therefore can be seen as robust. The same is true for the differences in neuroticism between both samples. Finally, we discuss the applicability of the NEO-FFI and ANPS in depression research.

Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales and Early Maladaptive Schemas in Depressive Disorders.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the interrelationships of Young’s early maladaptive schemas with indicators of specific neural emotional systems conceptualized in Panksepp’s theory in a group of people suffering from depressive disorders. Materials and methods: The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) v. 2.4. and J. Young’s Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3-PL) were used. Ninety (90) individuals aged 18–58, including 45 people treated for depression (DD group), were qualified to participate in the experiment. Results: The subjects in the DD group scored statistically significantly lower than the subjects from the control group (CG group) on the three ANPS scale domains, namely SEEKING, PLAY, and ANGER. The subjects with depressive symptoms scored significantly higher in the YSQ-S3-PL questionnaire on two domains of early maladaptive schemas, i.e., “Impaired autonomy and performance” and “Other-directedness”. Regression analysis results indicate that impairment of the emotional SEEKING system explains most of the variability in the following typical domains of depression: “Disconnection and rejection”, “Impaired autonomy and performance”, and “Other-directedness”. For score variability in the domain area of “Impaired limits”, the ANGER system was found to be most significant, and the FEAR system proved the same for “Overvigilance and Inhibition”. Conclusions: 1. Two domains of early maladaptive schemas are significant for the onset of depressive symptoms, namely “Impaired autonomy and performance” and “Other-directedness”, linked to difficulties in engaging in behaviors to meet one’s own needs. 2. Impairment of the neural emotional SEEKING system most significantly explains the variability in depression-typical areas of early maladaptive schemas.

Anxiety-Related Coping Styles and Individual Differences in Primary Emotional Systems Against the Background of Affective Neuroscience Theory: a Study Using Samples from Germany and China

Scientific literature suggests that Neuroticism is an important predictor in understanding individual differences in anxiety-related coping styles such as vigilance (positive association) and cognitive avoidance (negative association). Considering Pankseppian Affective Neuroscience (AN) theory could contribute to understand these relationships more in-depth, because the evolutionary old subcortical brain systems of FEAR, SADNESS, and ANGER might represent brain-anatomical bottom-up drivers of Neuroticism. N = 594 German participants (n = 170 males; mostly student background) and N = 332 Chinese participants (n = 72 males; mostly student background) completed the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) and the Mainz Coping Inventory (Angstbewältigungsinventar; ABI) to assess individual differences in primary emotional traits and anxiety-related coping styles, respectively. As hypothesized, associations between the three emotional systems and the two coping styles cognitive avoidance and vigilance were observed. There were some differences in correlations between the Chinese and German samples, mainly regarding associations between ANGER and cognitive avoidance. Moreover, linear regression analyses revealed FEAR as a main predictor of vigilance (positive) and cognitive avoidance (negative) in the German sample. In the Chinese sample, FEAR was the main predictor of cognitive avoidance (negative), only; for vigilance SADNESS (positive) was the main predictor. Theoretical assumptions behind primary emotional traits indicate that the brain systems underlying FEAR and SADNESS indeed influence anxiety-related coping styles in a bottom-up fashion.

The Affective Neuroscience of Sexuality: Development of a LUST Scale.

BackgroundIn recent years, there have been many studies using the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) to investigate individual differences in primary emotion traits. However, in contrast to other primary emotion traits proposed by Jaak Panksepp and colleagues, there is a considerable lack of research on the LUST (L) dimension – defined as an individual’s capacity to attain sexual desire and satisfaction – a circumstance mainly caused by its exclusion from the ANPS. Therefore, this study aims to take a first step toward the development of a standardized self-rate measurement for the L-disposition. For this purpose, two versions of the L-scales (L-12 and L-5) were developed and evaluated regarding reliability and aspects of validity.Materials and MethodsAfter a pilot study (N = 204; female: 81%) with an initial 20-item pool item reductions were conducted. This led to the construction of a 12-item (L-12) version and a 5-item version (L-5), which were assessed in a second sample consisting of 371 German-speaking healthy adults (58.50% female) aged 18–69 years (M = 28; SD = 9.75). Aspects of external validity were assessed by investigation of correlations with the ANPS, psychiatric symptoms (Brief Symptom Inventory-18), attachment security (Adult Attachment Scales) and personality functioning (Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics Structure Questionnaire). To evaluate structural validity, both L-scales were investigated via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsCronbach’s α indicated excellent internal consistency regarding L-12 (α = 0.90), while L-5 showed acceptable reliability (α = 0.82). CFA of a bifactor model of the L-12 indicated excellent model fit. Moreover, an excellent model fit was observed regarding a single factor model of L-5. For both scales small to moderate positive correlations were observed with SEEKING, PLAY, and secure attachment, while they exhibited small to moderate negative correlations with SADNESS, insecure attachment, lower personality functioning, and increased psychiatric symptom load.ConclusionBoth newly developed scales exhibit satisfying psychometric properties, indicating high reliability, good structural validity and plausible correlations with external criteria. Hence, this study poses an important step toward the operationalization of the LUST concept. However, more research is needed in particular with respect to the scale’s external validity and its applicability in clinical populations.

Parental affective personality and children's self‐reported internalising and externalising behaviour

AbstractPast research has demonstrated associations between parental personality traits and children's behaviour. However, fathers have been largely excluded from this research, and mothers often rate both their own personality and their child's behaviour, contributing to shared method variance. This study contributes to the literature by examining associations between parental biologically based affective personality traits, analysed separately for mothers and fathers, and seven‐ and eight‐year‐old children's self‐reported internalising and externalising behaviours. Data were analysed for 272 mother‐child dyads and 208 father‐child dyads. A series of multiple linear regressions was utilised to test associations between mothers’ and fathers’ traits of ANGER, SADNESS, FEAR, PLAY, SEEKING and CARE, assessed using the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS), and children's self‐reported internalising and externalising behaviours, assessed using the Berkeley Puppet Interview. Results revealed that higher ANPS ANGER scores amongst mothers were associated with more externalising behaviours in boys. Mothers with higher scores on SEEKING had sons with lower scores on externalising behaviours, while mothers with higher PLAY scores had sons with lower scores on internalising behaviours. Fathers with higher ANPS SADNESS scores had children with greater internalising behaviours, while fathers with greater FEAR traits had children with lower internalising behaviours. Indirect associations through harsh or positive parenting were not significant. Findings demonstrated that ANPS traits of ANGER, PLAY and SEEKING for mothers and FEAR and SADNESS for fathers are associated with children's self‐reported externalising and internalising behaviours. This study adds to the literature on biologically based parental affective personality and children's internalising and externalising behaviours.

The future of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales: A reflection on seven pressing matters.

The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) were designed to provide researchers in the mental sciences with an inventory to assess primary emotional systems according to Pankseppian Affective Neuroscience Theory (ANT). The original ANPS, providing researchers with such a tool, was published in 2003. In the present brief communication, about 20 years later, we reflect upon some pressing matters regarding the further development of the ANPS. We touch upon problems related to disentangling traits and states of the primary emotional systems with the currently available versions of the ANPS and upon its psychometric properties and its length. We reflect also on problems such as the large overlap between the SADNESS and FEAR dimensions, the disentangling of PANIC and GRIEF in the context of SADNESS, and the absence of a LUST scale. Lastly, we want to encourage scientists with the present brief communication to engage in further biological validation of the ANPS.

Cholecystokinin B receptor gene polymorphism (rs2941026) is associated with anxious personality and suicidal thoughts in a longitudinal study.

Cholecystokinin is a neuropeptide with a role in the neurobiology of adaptive behaviour that is implicated in anxiety disorders, while the underlying mechanisms currently remain insufficiently explained. The rs2941026 variation in the cholecystokinin B receptor gene has previously been associated with trait anxiety. Our aim was to investigate associations between the CCKB receptor gene polymorphism rs2941026 with anxiety, personality, depressiveness and suicidality in a longitudinal study of late adolescence and early adulthood. We used reports on trait and state anxiety, depressiveness and suicidal thoughts, as well as Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales, from the two birth cohorts of the Estonian Children Personality, Behaviour and Health Study. We measured associations between the CCKBR gene rs2941026 and anxiety-related phenotypes both longitudinally and cross-sectionally at ages 15, 18, 25 and 33. Homozygosity for both alleles of the CCKBR rs2941026 was associated with higher trait and state anxiety in the longitudinal analysis. Cross-sectional comparisons were statistically significant at ages 18 and 25 for trait anxiety and at ages 25 and 33 for state anxiety. Higher depressiveness and suicidal thoughts were associated with the A/A genotype at age 18. Additionally, homozygosity for the A-allele was related to higher FEAR and SADNESS in the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales. The genotype effects were more apparent in females, who displayed higher levels of negative affect overall. CCKBR genotype is persistently associated with negative affect in adolescence and young adulthood. The association of the CCKBR rs2941026 genotype with anxiety-related phenotypes is more pronounced in females.

Prefrontal-limbic-striatum dysconnectivity associated with negative emotional endophenotypes in bipolar disorder during depressive episodes

BackgroundThe prefrontal-limbic-subcortical network has been suggested as an important circuitry in the pathophysiology underlying bipolar disorder during depressive episodes (BDD). However, the relationships between disrupted prefrontal-limbic-subcortical connection and the emotional endophenotypes in BDD patients remain largely unclear. MethodsForty-three BDD patients and 63 matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. The altered clusters were first identified by using a spatial pairwise clustering method and then were extracted as regions of interest to calculate the functional connectivity (FC). Group comparisons were conducted to identify the abnormal FCs. Classification analysis was employed to examine whether the altered FCs could distinguish BDD from HCs. The relationships between FC alterations and the emotional endophenotypes as measured by the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) were further detected in BDD. ResultsCompared with HCs, BDD patients showed abnormal FCs in the prefrontal-limbic-striatum circuit. Importantly, the altered FCs yielded 84.91% accuracy (p< 1/5000) with 93.65% sensitivity and 72.09% specificity in differentiating between BDD and HCs. Moreover, the decreased FCs in the prefrontal-striatum and prefrontal-limbic systems were positively correlated with negative emotional endophenotypes of Sadness and Fear scores. ConclusionsThe findings demonstrated that prefrontal-limbic-striatum disconnection may be identified as a potential effective biomarker for BDD, which could help further explain the neurobiological mechanisms underlying BDD.

Predicting therapeutic alliance with client characteristics and expectations in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT This study attempted to examine the extent to which clients’ traits and expectations can predict working alliance within the Hong Kong Chinese context. A total of 144 undergraduate students who received counselling service provided by the counselling centre of the same university participated in this study. Before their first counselling session, they completed the Expectations about Counselling Questionnaire-Brief Form, the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale, and scales adapted from the International Personality Item Pool. They were also invited to complete the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form-Client after their third counselling session in the third week. The results demonstrated that clients’ expectation of their own involvement was the strongest predictor of working alliance in comparison with the other tested client traits.