Anxiety Behavior Research Articles

Intranasal AdipoRon Mitigated Anxiety and Depression-Like Behaviors in 6-OHDA-Induced Parkinson 's Disease Rat Model: Going Beyond Motor Symptoms.

Depression and anxiety are prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), which may manifest prior to motor symptoms. As levodopa, a prominent treatment for PD motor symptoms, provides few benefits for mood-related abnormalities, tackling non-motor symptoms is particularly important. AdipoRon (Ad), an adiponectin agonist, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects by suppressing neuroinflammatory responses and activating the AMPK/Sirt-1 signaling pathway. This study looked at the potential advantages and underlying mechanisms of intranasal Ad in a rat model of PD induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). We found that Ad at doses of 1 and 10µg for 21 days exhibited anxiolytic- and antidepressant effects in the open field (OF) test, elevated plus maze (EPM), sucrose splash test, and forced swimming test in a PD model caused by a unilateral 6-OHDA injection into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). The Ad also lowered the levels of corticosterone in the blood, decreased inflammasome components (NLRP3, caspase 1, and IL-1β), and increased Sirt-1 protein levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of PD rats. We conclude that Ad ameliorates anxious and depressive-like behaviors in the PD rat model through stimulating the AMPK/Sirt-1 signaling and blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome pathways in the PFC.

Sex-Specific Impacts of Early Life Sleep Disruption: Ethanol Seeking, Social Interaction, and Anxiety Are Differentially Altered in Adolescent Prairie Voles.

Early life sleep is important for neuronal development. Using the highly social prairie vole rodent model, we have previously reported that early life sleep disruption (ELSD) during the preweaning period results in interference with social bonding and increases ethanol consumption following a stressor in adulthood. Furthermore, ELSD increases parvalbumin expression and reduces glutamatergic neurotransmission in cortical regions in adult prairie voles. To understand the impact of ELSD on the lifespan, an examination of an earlier time in life is necessary. The aim of the present study was to examine behavioral outcomes of ELSD on adolescent prairie voles. Given the known effects of ELSD on development of neuronal systems involved in mood and social motivation, we hypothesized that anxiety, risk, and reward-related behaviors would be impacted by ELSD in adolescent prairie voles. We report that both male and female adolescent prairie voles that experienced ELSD showed heightened anxiety-like behavior compared to age-matched controls (CONs) as measured by a light-dark box. Additionally, both male and female ELSD voles showed reductions in both ethanol preference and consumption, and affiliative behavior compared to CONs. These results suggest that adolescent prairie voles of both sexes experience heightened anxiety-like behavior and reduced reward-seeking behaviors after ELSD. These results further suggest that early life sleep is critically important for neurotypical behaviors in adolescence.

Does Socioeconomic Status Moderate the Association Between Screen Time, Mobile Phone Use, Social Networks, Messaging Applications, and Mental Health Among Adolescents?

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between different screen time (ST)-related behaviors and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition, this study aimed to determine the moderating role of socioeconomic status (SES). This was a cross-sectional study and included data from 620 adolescents, aged 12-17 years, from the Valle de Ricote, Region of Murcia, Spain. Mental health was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Overall ST, mobile phone use, social network use, and messaging application use were measured using validated questionnaires. SES was assessed using the Family Affluence Scale-III. The results indicated that overall ST was significantly associated with symptoms of depression at the mean SES (unstandardized beta coefficient [B] = 0.005, p = 0.023) and 1 standard deviation (SD) below the mean (B = 0.007, p = 0.011), and with stress only 1 SD below the mean (B = 0.006, p = 0.011). No significant associations were found for anxiety and stress across all socioeconomic levels. Mobile phone use exhibited a strong positive association with symptoms of depression (B = 0.891, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = 0.530, p = 0.014), and stress (B = 0.790, p < 0.001) at 1 SD below the mean SES. Similar patterns were observed for mean SES, albeit with slightly weaker associations. Conversely, social network use was positively associated with all three DASS-21 scales, particularly at 1 SD below the mean SES, with the strongest associations found for symptoms of depression (B = 0.327, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = 0.325, p < 0.001), and stress (B = 0.318, p < 0.001). Furthermore, messaging application use did not show significant associations with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress across any SES levels. In conclusion, social inequalities may influence the associations between various ST-related behavior and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among adolescents. These findings may have implications for the design of effective interventions to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in this population.

Cognitive profile and behavioral problems in cohort of Egyptian children with cystic fibrosis: a single-center study

BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is a debilitating and time-consuming disease that can interfere with or impair typical daily life activities and social interactions. This study aims to identify and evaluate behavioral problems and cognitive dysfunction in children with CF.Methods and proceduresThis study was carried out on a cohort of 40 children diagnosed with CF. Patients were assessed using a child behavior checklist (CBCL) and intelligence quotient (IQ) photograph test. The obtained results were compared with 40 matched controls.ResultsThe male population accounted for 62.5% of the patients included in the study. Patients with CF exhibited elevated somatic, anxious and aggressive behaviors relative to the control group with p values < 0.012, < 0.025, < 0.027 respectively. In addition; there was a statistically significant positive correlation between somatic problems with both age of the patients and disease duration (r value for age = 0.368; r value for duration = 0.468). Furthermore; there was positive correlation between anxious behavior with age of patients and disease duration ( r value for age = 0.358; r value for duration = 0.351). Otherwise, patients had comparable IQs (median of 107.5) with those of the control group (median of 105) with p value = 0.544.ConclusionOur findings indicate that CF has a substantial negative impact on the behavior of affected patients. However, it did not have an impact on the individual’s level of intelligence. There is evidence indicating a connection between patients’ age and disease duration with behavioral problems.

An intervention on climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviours in Italian young people

Abstract Background The climate crisis greatly affects mental health, often leading to climate change anxiety. In Italy, there is a lack of research and school programs to help manage climate anxiety and other climate-related psychological consequences. The aim of the CAMBIO CLIMA project is to evaluate the levels of eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behaviours (PEBS) in a sample of Italian middle and high school students, before and after a tailored intervention on the climate crisis. Methods The intervention involves one hundred middle and high school classes from three Italian regions. The students will complete a set of surveys, including psychometric scales and questions on socio-demographic factors and climate change awareness. The students will then participate in a two-hour online workshop. A video will be shown at the beginning to raise awareness about climate change. The instructor will ask the students which solutions could be found to solve specific problems caused by climate change. The instructor will then propose and explain a list of PEBS that students can implement to fight against climate change. Finally, students will be invited to put into action these behaviours. A week after the intervention, students will be asked to take part in a post-intervention survey, completing the same set of questionnaires they completed at enrolment. Results Currently, the research team is in the preparatory stage, establishing contacts with schools and organizing materials for the online workshop. The intervention is scheduled for the upcoming school year. Conclusions The intervention, focused on enhancing the sense of self-efficacy, is expected to increase the resilience of adolescents, making them less vulnerable to the impact, both direct and indirect, of climate change on mental health. The project is funded by PRIN: PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE - Bando 2022 (Prot. 2022N22J5F). Key messages • Climate change has a disproportionate impact on young people. • It is essential to plan adequate school programs that stimulate the sense of awareness and encourage PEBS simultaneously.

Specific and Polyfunctional T Cell Response Against N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptor in an Autoantibody-Mediated Encephalitis Model

Background: Anti-N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) autoimmune encephalitis (NMDAR AE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by severe psychiatric and neurological symptoms. While the pathogenic role of antibodies (Abs) directed against the GluN1 subunit of NMDAR is well described in this disease, the immune mechanisms involved in the generation of the autoimmune B cell response, especially the role of T helper cells, are poorly understood. Previously, we developed a B-cell-mediated mouse model of NMDAR AE by immunization with a GluN1359–378 peptide that drives a series of symptoms that recapitulate AE such as anxiety behaviour and spatial memory impairment. Results: In this mouse model, we identified anti-GluN1-specific CD4+ but also CD8+ T cells in both spleen and meninges. T helper cells have a polyfunctional profile, arguing for a T and B cell crosstalk to generate anti-GluN1 pathogenic Abs. Interestingly, proteomic analysis of AE meninges showed enrichment of differentially expressed proteins in biological processes associated with B cell activation and cytokine signalling pathways. Conclusions: This study identified, for the first time, a potential contribution of T helper cells in the pathology of NMDAR AE and paved the way for the development of future tolerogenic approaches to treat relapses.

Vitamin C improved anxiety and depression like behavior induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress in adolescent rats by influencing on oxidative stress balance, neurotransmitter systems, and inflammatory response

ABSTRACT Objectives: Stress is an adaptive response to different events in daily life that could strain physically, emotionally, or psychologically. Adolescence is an important developmental period due to physical, psychological, and social maturation. The aim of our study is to state whether chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) during adolescence in male rats can cause anxiety and depression in adulthood and whether vitamin C (Vit C) can prevent this problem or not. Methods: For this purpose, we performed behavioral tests, including open field test, elevated plus maze, and forced swimming test. In addition, we investigated the metabolism of serotonin, the level of inflammation, oxidative stress and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain cortex tissue of animals. Results: Results indicated that CUMS exacerbates mood-related behaviors by affecting the brain oxidative stress balance, inflammatory response, and serotonin metabolism. Moreover, we found that CUMS-Vit C co-treatment could significantly reverse CUMS-induced complications by restoration of the mentioned biochemical parameters. Discussion: Taken together, we would like to suggest the use of Vit C supplementation as a safe, inexpensive, and effective strategy for the management of CUMS.

Reliability and Validity of the Diagnostic Interview Trauma and Stressors- Intellectual Disability in Adults with Mild Intellectual Disabilities or Borderline Intellectual Functioning

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the reliability and construct validity of the Diagnostic Interview Trauma and Stressors- Intellectual Disability – Adult version (DITS-ID-adults) in adults with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF). Method The DITS-ID-adults, Brief Symptom Inventory–18 (BSI–18), and Impact of Event Scale-Intellectual Disability (IES – ID) were administered to 97 participants with MID-BIF who lived in supported housing. The Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Scale (ADESS) and Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI) were administered to their relatives. Results The interrater reliability of the DITS-ID-adults was good to excellent. The construct validity of the DITS-ID-adults was good, based on positive correlations between the BSI–18, IES-ID, ADESS and DITS-ID-adults, and mainly positive correlations between the BPI and DITS-ID-adults (r = .21 to r = .75). Reporting potentially traumatic events listed under the A criterium for PTSD was associated with fulfilling PTSD symptom criteria. In this sample, 58% were classified with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to the DITS-ID-adults, while PTSD diagnosis on file was low (7%). Conclusion The present findings support the DITS-ID-adults as a reliable and valid basis for classifying PTSD in individuals with MID-BIF.

In adult dogs is supplementary tryptophan in the diet effective in reducing signs of anxiety?

Question In adult dogs, is dietary supplementation with tryptophan compared with no dietary tryptophan supplement effective in reducing signs of anxiety? Clinical bottom line The category of research question was: Treatment. The number and type of study designs that were critically appraised were: Two studies were found to be considered appropriate in the level of hierarchy of evidence pyramid. One study was a randomised double-blinded, placebo-controlled study and the other was a single-blind, placebo-controlled study. Critical appraisal of the selected papers meeting the inclusion criteria collectively provide zero/weak/moderate/strong evidence in terms of their experimental design and implementation: Moderate. The outcomes reported are summarised as follows… One study found no overall significant influence of tryptophan in the diet as an aid in reducing anxiety and fear-related behaviour in anxious dogs in household conditions. In contrast, the second study reported lower anxiety-related behaviour in dogs by owners but did not find significant differences in cortisol levels based on urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratio. In view of the strength of evidence and the outcomes from the studies the following conclusion is made… Current evidence reveals two studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of tryptophan as a supplement to the diets of anxious canines for pet owners. One study conducted did not find a significant effect or interaction in reducing anxiety-related behaviour whilst the second study reported lower anxiety-related behaviour in dogs by owners but did not find significant differences in cortisol levels based on urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratios. The use of tryptophan as a supplementary component in the diet is thus not enough as a sole treatment to assist in reducing anxiety in anxious adult dogs.

Analysis of correlations between behavioral parameters in the elevated plus maze and the levels of interleukin-1beta in blood plasma in rats

Peripheral cytokines may influence psychoemotional behavior, but the role of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in altering anxiety and motor activity in response to inflammatory activation remains unclear. To clarify this issue, correlations between behavioral parameters in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and plasma levels of IL-1beta after administration of the proinflammatory stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in different modes were analyzed in adult male rats. LPS in doses of 0.5 or 5 mg/kg, as well as physiological solution (control), were administered to rats intraperitoneally. The most pronounced behavioral effect 24 hours after a single injection was an endotoxin dose-dependent inhibition of the animals’ motor activity. After a dose of 5 mg/kg, increased anxious behavior was also noted every other day. The behavioral changes caused by the high dose of endotoxin were completely normalized after a week. The behavior of the animals one day after the end of repeated injections of LPS at a lower dose for a week (0.5 mg/kg; once every two days) also did not differ from the control. The inhibition of motor activity after LPS could be due to an increase in the level of IL-1beta in the blood plasma, as indicated by the identified significant negative correlations between IL-1beta and the corresponding behavioral parameters. No significant correlation was found between the peripheral level of IL-1beta and such a classic indicator of anxiety as the percentage of entries into the open arms of the maze. In general, the obtained results allow us to conclude that IL-1beta is an undoubted participant in the mechanism of the transient inhibitory effect of LPS on motor activity.

Addiction to analgesics in patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache

Patients with medication-overuse headache (MOH) and chronic migraine (CM) have varying degrees of addiction to painkillers (PK), which complicates treatment and leads to relapses. Development of addiction to PK is associated with various clinical and psychological characteristics and disorders in patients with MOH.Objective: to investigate the relationship between PK addiction and individual clinical and psychological characteristics in patients with CM and MOH.Material and methods. The study included 156 patients with CM and MOH (61 men and 95 women, mean age 34.1±8.9 years). Clinical and psychological characteristics were assessed in all patients using a clinical interview, tests and headache diaries. The relationship between PK addiction (according to the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire – LDQ) and clinical and psychological characteristics (duration of migraine and CM, frequency and intensity of headaches, duration of MOH, frequency of PK use, number of PK doses, personal and situational anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing, beliefs about the body and health, coping strategies for stressful situations, daily activities during headache, insomnia) was investigated using regression analysis.Results. All patients had misconceptions and wrong behavior regarding PK. The majority (59%) of patients had moderate degree of PK addiction according to the LDQ. Twenty six percent of patients had other forms of addictive behavior (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, overeating, excessive use of sleeping pills), and 52.6% of patients had relatives with addictive behavior. There was a statistically significantly positive correlation (R≥0.45; p&lt;0.05) between PK addiction and smoking, alcohol consumption, use of sleeping pills, body mass index (BMI), frequency of PK use, attitudes towards pain, body and health (pain catastrophizing, hopelessness about pain, intolerance of body sensations, overestimation of symptom severity, catastrophizing in the interpretation of body symptoms), depression, personal anxiety and avoidance (maladaptive coping behavior). Adequate treatment of CM and MOH was provided in only 7.7% of patients.Conclusion: A positive association was found between PK addiction and smoking, alcohol consumption, use of sleeping pills, BMI, frequency of PK usage, attitudes towards pain, body and health, depression, personal anxiety and avoidance behavior.

Intestinal homeostasis disrupted by Periodontitis exacerbates Alzheimer’s Disease in APP/PS1 mice

Periodontitis exacerbates Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through multiple pathways. Both periodontitis and AD are intricately correlated to intestinal homeostasis, yet there is still a lack of direct evidence regarding whether periodontitis can regulate the progression of AD by modulating intestinal homeostasis. The current study induced experimental periodontitis in AD mice by bilaterally ligating the maxillary second molars with silk and administering Pg-LPS injections in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) mice. Behavioral tests and histological analyses of brain tissue were conducted after 8 weeks. Gut microbiota was analyzed and colon tissue were also evaluated. Then, fecal microbiota from mice with periodontitis was transplanted into antibiotic-treated mice to confirm the effects of periodontitis on AD and the potential mechanism was explored. The results indicated periodontitis exacerbated cognitive impairment and anxious behaviour in APP/PS1 mice, with increased Aβ deposition, microglial overactivation and neuroinflammation in brain. Moreover, the intestinal homeostasis of AD mice was altered by periodontitis, including affecting gut microbiota composition, causing colon inflammation and destroyed intestinal epithelial barrier. Furthermore, AD mice that underwent fecal transplantation from mice with periodontitis exhibited worsened AD progression and disrupted intestinal homeostasis. It also impaired intestinal barrier function, elevated peripheral inflammation, damaged blood-brain barrier (BBB) and caused neuroinflammation and synapses impairment. Taken together, the current study demonstrated that periodontitis could disrupt intestinal homeostasis to exacerbate AD progression potential via causing gut microbial dysbiosis, intestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier impairment to induce peripheral inflammation and damage BBB, ultimately leading to neuroinflammation and synapse impairment. It underscores the importance of maintaining both periodontal health and intestinal homeostasis to reduce the risk of AD.

Transient CSF1R inhibition ameliorates behavioral deficits in Cntnap2 knockout and valproic acid-exposed mouse models of autism

Microglial abnormality and heterogeneity are observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients and animal models of ASD. Microglial depletion by colony stimulating factor 1-receptor (CSF1R) inhibition has been proved to improve autism-like behaviors in maternal immune activation mouse offspring. However, it is unclear whether CSF1R inhibition has extensive effectiveness and pharmacological heterogeneity in treating autism models caused by genetic and environmental risk factors. Here, we report pharmacological functions and cellular mechanisms of PLX5622, a small-molecule CSF1R inhibitor, in treating Cntnap2 knockout and valproic acid (VPA)-exposed autism model mice. For the Cntnap2 knockout mice, PLX5622 can improve their social ability and reciprocal social behavior, slow down their hyperactivity in open field and repetitive grooming behavior, and enhance their nesting ability. For the VPA model mice, PLX5622 can enhance their social ability and social novelty, and alleviate their anxiety behavior, repetitive and stereotyped autism-like behaviors such as grooming and marble burying. At the cellular level, PLX5622 restores the morphology and/or number of microglia in the somatosensory cortex, striatum, and hippocampal CA1 regions of the two models. Specially, PLX5622 corrects neurophysiological abnormalities in the striatum of the Cntnap2 knockout mice, and in the somatosensory cortex, striatum, and hippocampal CA1 regions of the VPA model mice. Incidentally, microglial dynamic changes in the VPA model mice are also reported. Our study demonstrates that microglial depletion and repopulation by transient CSF1R inhibition is effective, and however, has differential pharmacological functions and cellular mechanisms in rescuing behavioral deficits in the two autism models.

Exploring the Neuroprotective Behaviour and Hepatoprotective Effects of Plumbagin in MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease

Aims: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms like tremors and bradykinesia, as well as non-motor symptoms such as sleep disturbances and autonomic dysfunction. Recent research suggests a link between PD and liver dysfunction, including altered metabolism and elevated liver enzymes. Plumbagin, recognized for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, may offer therapeutic benefits. This study explores its effects on both motor and non-motor symptoms in MPTP-treated mice, as well as its impact on liver function through serum enzyme analysis. The aim is to assess the neuroprotective and hepatoprotective potential of plumbagin in countering MPTP-induced neurodegeneration and liver dysfunction. Methodology: Thirty mice (22-30g, 8-12 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups of six each. The experiment spanned 28 days, with the mice housed under controlled conditions and provided standard feed and water. Behavioral tests, including the Marble Burying and Tail Suspension tests, were conducted to assess anxiety and depressive-like behavior. Serum biochemistry, including ALT, AST, and BUN, was measured using standard ERBA kits to evaluate liver function health. Results: In the marble burying and tail suspension tests, MPTP-induced mice (DC group) exhibited significantly higher anxiety and depressive-like behaviors compared to the sham and plumbagin groups. Plumbagin treatment (PD) and levodopa (LS) significantly reduced these behavioral symptoms. Liver function markers (ALT, AST, ALP) and BUN levels were elevated in DC mice, indicating liver and kidney damage, while plumbagin treatment mitigated these effects, showing values comparable to the standard treatment (LS). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that MPTP exposure affects both the central nervous system and liver function, leading to anxiety, depression, and liver damage, as evidenced by elevated liver enzymes. Plumbagin showed protective effects, reducing these behavioral and biochemical changes through its antioxidant properties, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. These findings suggest that future research should investigate plumbagin's clinical potential for treating Parkinson's disease and liver dysfunction, offering promise for its use in developing neuroprotective therapies.

The risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior in patients with obesity on glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy.

This large community-based cohort study investigates the impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), specifically Liraglutide and Semaglutide, on the risk of developing psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors in patients with obesity. Utilizing post-marketing data, this research compares patients prescribed GLP-1 RAs (cases) with those not taking these medications (controls). The analysis spanned data from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2023. To minimize selection bias, we employed 1:1 propensity score matching to account for demographic factors such as age, sex, race, and comorbidities. After matching, the study included 162,253 case and control patients. This study showed a significant association between GLP-1 RA treatment and an 98% increased risk of any psychiatric disorders. Notably, patients on GLP-1 RAs exhibited a 195% higher risk of major depression, a 108% increased risk for anxiety, and a 106% elevated risk for suicidal behavior. These findings underscore the critical need for physicians to thoroughly assess patient history before prescribing GLP-1 RAs and highlight the urgent requirement for further prospective clinical trials to fully understand the implications of GLP-1 RA use on mental health in the obese patient population.

Study of Rates and Factors Associated to Psychosomatic Syndromes Assessed Using the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research across Different Clinical Settings

Introduction: Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) serve as an instrument for identifying and classifying specific psychosomatic syndromes that are not adequately encompassed in standard nosography. The present study aimed at measuring the prevalence of DCPR syndromes in different clinical settings and exploring factors associated to such diagnoses. Methods: A cross-sectional and nationwide study recruited 6,647 patients in different clinical settings: 306 were diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM), 333 with irritable bowel syndrome, 1,109 with migraine, 2,550 with coronary heart disease (CHD), and 2,349 with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Participants underwent DCPR diagnostic interview and were assessed for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale), and subjective well-being (World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index). The PsychoSocial Index was used to evaluate global well-being, stress, and abnormal illness behavior. The prevalence of DCPR diagnoses was calculated, and factors associated to such diagnoses were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: Alexithymia (64.47%), irritable mood (20.55%), and demoralization (15.60%) were the most prevalent psychosomatic syndromes, with demoralization being most common in FM (49.02%). The factors associated to DCPR diagnoses encompassed high anxiety or abnormal illness behavior, and poor well-being. Notably, stress was found to be associated specifically to FM and T2D, with OR of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.06–1.46) and 1.26 (95% CI: 1.18–1.36), respectively. Conclusion: DCPR is a clinically helpful complementary assessment tool in need of being widely implemented in clinical settings in order to have a comprehensive picture of the patients.

Siblings of Persons with Disabilities: A Systematic Integrative Review of the Empirical Literature.

The systematic review aimed to systematize the empirical literature on the psychological impact of disability on the siblings of persons with disabilities, to inform research and provide clinical recommendations. Two research questions addressed the review: (1) What are the main psychological constructs investigated in siblings of persons with disability? (2) What is the main role of each psychological construct in siblings of persons with disability experience? The electronic search was conducted in 7 databases and the PRISMA diagram was used. The inclusion criteria were: Papers published in English and in peer-reviewed journals; papers published between January 2014 and June 2024; qualitative, quantitative, and mixed studies; and papers on the psychological impact of disabilities and/or chronic illnesses on the experience of siblings of persons with disabilities. The standardized Mixed Method Appraisal Tool protocol was used to appraise the methodological quality of the studies. To summarize the findings, a narrative approach was adopted. A total of 60 studies have been reviewed. According to the methodological quality appraisal of studies, most of them reported a high (n = 45) and medium (n = 15) quality. They involved 10,146 participants. Findings revealed that sibling relationships, sibling-focused parentification, and emotional/behavioral adjustment are the main psychological constructs investigated by existing literature. Few studies focused on siblings' well-being. Studies exploring more than a psychological construct were included as a hybrid. Only one study examined the siblings' psychological experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The quality of the sibling relationship ranged from good to poor; the caregiver is the main role played by siblings of persons with disabilities; anxiety, depression, and aggressive behaviors are the main emotional/behavioral symptoms revealed. Most studies (n = 39) recruited participants with brothers or sisters with mental disorders. The findings of this systematic review may play a role in the clinical field, as they might help to design gender- and age-specific intervention programs.

Evaluation of the death anxiety beliefs and behaviors scale in Iranian adolescents

Numerous tools assess death anxiety, but many have questionable psychometric properties. The Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (DABBS) addresses these shortcomings, assessing death-related maladaptive affect, beliefs, and behaviors that could be foundational to fears associated with death. We translated the DABBS into Persian and examined its psychometric properties among Iranian adolescents (n = 598, M age = 14.80, range = 12-18 years old). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the intended three-factor structure that comprises death-related affect, beliefs, and behaviors. Furthermore, the DABBS demonstrated good internal consistency, as well as expected associations with other measures of death anxiety and psychopathology measures, except that the Behaviors subscale unexpectedly did not relate to theoretically relevant constructs. Our findings indicate that the DABBS affect and belief subscales have strong psychometric properties among Iranian adolescents. However, further research is needed to elucidate whether the overall DABBS score demonstrates improved validity when used with other populations.

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Youth Intergroup Contact and Social Cohesion Outcomes in Two Divided Societies

ABSTRACTIntergroup contact has long been established as a prejudice‐reduction tool in divided societies, with contact being particularly effective during adolescence. A large proportion of evidence, however, draws on cross‐sectional surveys or analytical approaches that do not distinguish between‐ and within‐person effects. In the present research, we address this by exploring the potential of intergroup contact longitudinally on social cohesion–related outcomes amongst youth (aged 14–19) in Belfast (Study 1, N = 231) and Bradford (Study 2, N = 159). Measures included intergroup contact, outgroup attitudes, intergroup anxiety, outgroup empathy and outgroup prosocial behaviour across three time points. Using random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel models, results demonstrate between‐person associations of contact with our outcomes, but limited within‐person changes. Our findings demonstrate the potential and limitations of intergroup contact for social cohesion–related outcomes for youth growing up in divided societies, pointing to the need for developmental‐focused future research.

Glyphosate impairs both structure and function of GABAergic synapses in hippocampal neurons

Glyphosate (Gly) is a broad-spectrum herbicide responsible for the inhibition of the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase known to be expressed exclusively in plants and not in animals. For decades Gly has been thought to be ineffective in mammals, including humans, until it was demonstrated that rodents treated with the Gly-based herbicide Roundup showed reduced content of neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine), increased oxidative stress in the brain associated with anxiety and depression-like behaviors and learning and memory deficits. Despite compelling evidence pointing to a neurotoxic effect of Gly, an in-depth functional description of its effects on synaptic transmission is still lacking. To investigate the synaptic alterations dependent on Gly administration we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and immunocytochemistry on mouse primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Our findings reveal that 30 min incubation of Gly at the acceptable daily intake dose severely impaired inhibitory GABAergic synapses. Further analysis pointed out that Gly decreased the number of postsynaptic GABAA receptors and reduced the amplitude of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents, the readily releasable pool size available for synchronous release and the quantal size. Finally, a decreased number of release sites has been observed. Consistently, morphological analyses showed that the density of both pre- and post-synaptic inhibitory compartments decorating pyramidal cell dendrites was reduced by Gly. In conclusion, our experiments define for the first time the effects induced by Gly on GABAergic synapses, and reveal that Gly significantly impairs both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms.