Biopsychosocial Perspective Research Articles

Perception of People Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia About Information and Communication Technologies for Chronic Pain Management: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Chronic pain is prevalent in our society, with conditions such as fibromyalgia being notably widespread. The gold standard for aiding individuals dealing with chronic pain involves interdisciplinary approaches rooted in a biopsychosocial perspective. Regrettably, access to such care is difficult for most of the people in need. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been used as a way of overcoming access barriers (among other advantages). This study addressed the little explored area of how individuals with fibromyalgia use and perceive different types of ICTs for pain management. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. This survey was created to assess the use of different ICT tools for pain management, satisfaction with the tools used, and perceived advantages and disadvantages. In addition, data collection encompassed sociodemographic variables and pain-related variables, pain intensity, the impact of pain on daily life activities, and fear of movement/injury beliefs. In total, 265 individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia completed the survey. Only 2 (0.75%) participants reported not having used any ICT tool for pain management. Among those who used ICT tools, an average of 10.94 (SD 4.48) of 14 different tools were used, with the most used options being instant messaging apps, websites dedicated to managing fibromyalgia, phone calls with health professionals, and online multimedia resources. Satisfaction rates were relatively modest (mean 2.09, SD 0.38) on a scale from 0 to 5, with instant messaging apps, phone calls with health professionals, fibromyalgia management websites, and online multimedia resources being the ones with higher satisfaction. Participants appreciated the ability to receive treatment from home, access to specialized treatment, and using ICTs as a supplement to in-person interventions. However, they also highlighted drawbacks, such as a lack of close contact with health professionals, difficulty expressing emotions, and a lack of knowledge or resources to use ICTs. The use of ICTs was influenced by age and educational background. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between satisfaction with ICT tools and fear of movement/injury. People with fibromyalgia are prone to using ICTs for pain management, especially those tools that allow them to be in contact with health professionals and have access to online resources. However, there is still a need to improve ICT tools since satisfaction ratings are modest. Moreover, strategies aimed at older people, those with lower levels of education, and those with higher levels of fear of movement/injury can be useful to potentiate the use of ICTs among them.

Weight Restoration and Symptom Remission for Longstanding, Untreated Anorexia Nervosa in a Remote Eating Disorder Treatment Program: A Case Study

For severe cases of anorexia nervosa (AN), including when poor prognostic factors like low body mass index (BMI) and longer illness duration are present, intermediate levels of care are often indicated. Current guidelines call for treatment programs to use an evidence-based practice approach to individualize treatment and optimize outcomes. Research supports the effectiveness of intermediate levels of care, including remote programs which increase access to treatment. However, conflicting evidence exists regarding the ability to safely weight restore clients during remote care, necessitating further research. This case report highlights the viability of treating clients with AN remotely using an evidence-based practice approach, resulting in weight restoration and symptom remission. The client presented with a longstanding history of severe binge-eating/purging AN with numerous medical complications but was motivated and treatment-compliant. Her eating disorder (ED) was conceptualized using a biopsychosocial perspective and treated using a multidisciplinary, evidence-based practice approach encompassing individual, group, and supportive interventions. She was successfully discharged from treatment after 150 days, having restored weight to a healthy range and showing substantial improvements in ED, depressive, and anxiety symptoms based on validated measures. This case contributes to the evidence that remote care can be an accessible and effective treatment option, even in cases of severe AN. The case highlights how an evidence-based practice approach can enable safe weight restoration via a personalized treatment plan that emphasizes the use of remote devices and self-monitoring.

"Somewhere Between an Actual Disease and a Disease": A Grounded Theory Study on Diagnosing Functional Neurological Disorders From a Multi-Informant Perspective.

Functional Neurological Disorders are characterized by sensory-motor or cognitive symptoms. Recent research has revealed their complex nature involving biological, psychological, and social factors. Care requires a multidisciplinary approach, which, to date, has yet to be considered. A Constructivist Grounded Theory study was conducted to understand the reasons behind this, exploring Functional Neurological Disorders diagnosis, communication, and understanding from multiple perspectives (patients and healthcare professionals). The core category was "negotiating Functional Neurological Disorders meanings and care amid a dissatisfying dichotomy," with sub-categories: i) seeking to "word" the disease, ii) exposing reductionism, and iii) a pluralist vision emerging. Diagnosing and communicating Functional Neurological Disorders is a process of negotiating meanings and care that hinges on participants' diverse ontological perspectives regarding the condition. Results highlight the difficulty in finding common ground and achieving mutual understanding among the various viewpoints, creating a challenge in establishing a unified approach to Functional Neurological Disorders care. In this context, only a few healthcare professionals emphasized the potential benefits of increased integration. A shift is required from a reductionist to an integrated biopsychosocial perspective to develop a more cohesive approach. Defining a medical paradigm through dialogue with teams and patients is essential in addressing Functional Neurological Disorders effectively. Furthermore, the required interdisciplinary approach holds the potential to mitigate the dissatisfaction arising from fragmented and compartmentalized care (the "dissatisfying dichotomy") experienced by our participants. It signifies a comprehensive strategy that could address the concerns of all involved parties and enhance the overall quality of care provided.

EGS P21 Hard to swallow, hard to treat

Abstract Background Deliberate foreign body ingestion (DFBI) presents unique medical, surgical, and ethical challenges. Often, patients with psychiatric conditions repeatedly ingest foreign bodies, leading to frequent emergency department visits. Standardised management guidelines are lacking, resulting in high hospitalisation rates, interventions, and complications. This study focuses on recent DFBI cases at our institution, providing insights into this complex condition and holistic management. Methods Patients admitted by the surgical team at Croydon University Hospital between 2017 and 2023 with DFBI were included. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, investigations, and management were collected. Complications, hospitalisations, interventions, and cost analysis were recorded. Results Eight patients presented a total of 52 times. The incidence of DFBI increased over time. Swallowed objects included knives, needles, magnets, glass, batteries, pencils, gloves, lighters, and screws. Each patient underwent an average of 21 X-rays, 2 CT scans, and 3 OGDs. Eleven laparotomies and 1 laparoscopy were performed. The average length of stay was 44.5 days. Complications included pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, enterotomy, hernia, and infection. The average cost per patient was £30,866.25. Conclusions DFBI poses a significant burden on healthcare systems. Patients face radiation exposure and repeated invasive interventions, necessitating a comprehensive approach. Understanding DFBI from a biopsychosocial and ethical perspective is crucial. A multidisciplinary team should be involved early, with clear goals. Further research is needed for optimal management pathways.

Functional Neurological Disorder in Saudi Arabia: An Update.

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is characterized by neurological symptoms that lack congruence with traditional neurological diagnoses. Historically viewed through a Freudian psychoanalytic lens, FND has been conceptualized as a purely psychogenic disorder. However, the contemporary biopsychosocial perspective on FND emphasizes contributions of cognitive and neural circuit dysfunctionand the disabling and involuntary nature of the illness. In Saudi Arabia, evidence suggests the prevalence of FND is significant. However, clinical programs and research focused on FND have been lacking. Studies from the region indicate that practitioners may have outdated views of FND. To address this, this narrative review provides an updated perspective on FND that is relevant to Saudi Arabia and the region. It delves into the evolving perception of FND, its underlying pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentations, and recent diagnostic and management advances. Unique features of FND in Saudi Arabia may include a significant role for family disputes as a risk factor, prevalent supernatural perceptions of FND, high prevalence of somatization, and cognitive dysfunction, and a potential favorable prognosis. The article concludes by providing the following recommendations related to FND in Saudi Arabia and the region: i) building educational programs to update clinicians about contemporary biopsychosocial perspectives on FND; ii) emphasizing a positive diagnostic approach based on clinical findings in FND; iii) instituting multidisciplinary programs to care for FND patients; iv) supporting systematic research efforts to explore culture-specific FND risk factors, patient outcome measures, and attitudes toward the disorder; v) developing national FND clinical practice guidelines; and vi) launching awareness campaigns to reduce FND stigma.

Neurological, Behavioral, and Pathophysiological Characterization of the Co-Occurrence of Substance Use and HIV: A Narrative Review.

Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has greatly reduced the severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in people living with HIV (PLWH); however, PLWH are more likely than the general population to use drugs and suffer from substance use disorders (SUDs) and to exhibit risky behaviors that promote HIV transmission and other infections. Dopamine-boosting psychostimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine are some of the most widely used substances among PLWH. Chronic use of these substances disrupts brain function, structure, and cognition. PLWH with SUD have poor health outcomes driven by complex interactions between biological, neurocognitive, and social factors. Here we review the effects of comorbid HIV and psychostimulant use disorders by discussing the distinct and common effects of HIV and chronic cocaine and methamphetamine use on behavioral and neurological impairments using evidence from rodent models of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairments (Tat or gp120 protein expression) and clinical studies. We also provide a biopsychosocial perspective by discussing behavioral impairment in differentially impacted social groups and proposing interventions at both patient and population levels.

Employability for inclusion: the urgent need for a biopsychosocial model perspective

ABSTRACT Definitions of disability are changing, shifting from a narrow medical diagnosis to a biopsychosocial model of disability, where disability is conceptualised as a series of relational conditions that can potentially disadvantage individuals within environments. Implications of this new understanding of disability will have significant effects in the higher education sector, where there is increasing participation of disabled students. In this paper, we discuss one aspect of these implications through the topic of graduate employability. In doing so, we generate a new concept ‘Employability for Inclusion’ that can be utilised as an equity-focused lens for universities to consider how employability initiatives are inclusive to disabled and/or diverse students. To unpack this concept, we further illustrate how a biopsychosocial model of disability would impact key employability activities (e.g., work-integrated learning) and provide valuable insights into how the higher education sector can adopt emerging conceptualisations of disability and inclusion.

The transition trajectories of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours among children from a biopsychosocial perspective

The transition trajectories of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours among children from a biopsychosocial perspective

"You mean it's more than just an eating disorder?": Commentary on Wade et al. (2023).

Drawing from literature on measurement-based care and prognostic indices in eating disorder (ED) treatment, Wade et al. offer an algorithm for treating co-occurring mental-health conditions (i.e., psychiatric comorbidity) in people with EDs, and for studying effects of comorbidity-oriented treatments. Advocating session-by-session measurement to inform adaptive treatment, their proposal outlines a process for adjusting conventional ED treatment to situations in which comorbidity impedes treatment progress. The plan is methodical and responsive to evidence suggesting that peoples' early in-treatment change has more power, prognostically, than do indices of comorbidity. In the absence of data to inform practices in some areas, the authors intentionally leave key questions unanswered until future results are in. But this means that they reserve comment on how to determine that comorbidity is interfering with treatment response, or to select the best-fitting of available comorbidity-oriented options. Likewise, the proposal draws most of its inspiration from literature on individual (mainly cognitive-behavioral) psychotherapy and, as a result, does not fully represent biopsychosocial perspectives, or elaborate upon the place in comorbidity management of biological treatments, family, and carer involvement, or more complex integrated approaches. Considerations on how to apply the latter methods would broaden the plan's scope.

The 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Special Populations-Children and Adolescents with IBD.

Rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Canadian children and adolescents are among the highest in the world, and the incidence is rising most rapidly in children under five years of age. These young children may have either a typical form of IBD with multi-factorial aetiology, or they may have a monogenic form. Despite the growing number of children in Canada living with this important chronic disease, there are few available medical therapies approved by Health Canada due to the omission of children from most clinical trials of newly developed biologics. As a result, off-label use of medications is common, and physicians have learned to use existing therapies more effectively. In addition, most Canadian children are treated in multidisciplinary, specialty clinics by physicians with extra training or experience in IBD, as well as specialist nurses, dietitians, mental health care providers and other allied health professionals. This specialized clinic approach has facilitated cutting edge research, led by Canadian clinicians and scientists, to understand the causes of IBD, the optimal use of therapies, and the best ways to treat children from a biopsychosocial perspective. Canadians are engaged in work to understand the monogenic causes of IBD; the interaction between genes, the environment, and the microbiome; and how to address the mental health concerns and medical needs of adolescents and young adults transitioning from paediatric to adult care.

Current Clinical Concepts: Integration of Psychologically Informed Practice for Management of Patients With Sport-Related Injuries.

Psychologically informed practice is an approach to patient management that encourages clinicians to treat patients from a biopsychosocial perspective and can be adopted by athletic trainers to manage sport-related injuries. As described in the domains of athletic training clinical practice, athletic trainers are expected to identify, address, and make appropriate referrals regarding psychosocial responses to injuries and mental health symptoms. Psychologically informed practice suggests addressing physical impairments in addition to screening and intervening for psychosocial responses with patients. In this Current Clinical Concepts paper, we discuss appropriate patient-reported outcome measures used to screen for mental health symptoms and psychosocial responses, provide recommendations on psychological interventions that can be integrated to enhance patient outcomes, and describe how to effectively refer a patient to an appropriate mental health professional.

The Hamburg Youth Prevention Project (HYPP) for adolescents with sexual interest in children.

Paedophilic sexual interest is often linked to an emergence during adolescence, but concrete empirical knowledge on its development and early viable treatments remains scarce. The aim of this article is to provide an overview about the current state of research on juveniles with sexual interest in children as well as to introduce the Hamburg Youth Prevention Project (HYPP). The HYPP aims to better comprehend the development of sexual interests in adolescents and seeks to find a basis for improved treatment strategies during this critical developmental period. In this perspective, we outline the framework, goals, and treatment approach for this project. It addresses adolescents who are sexually attracted to younger children or engage in sexual acts with children and who have not yet been in contact with the justice system. The project offers a diagnostic process, anonymous counselling, and treatment. It is grounded in a biopsychosocial perspective on psychosexual development and an integrative family-centred approach. The project is based on the core assumption that in adolescent participants, there is still great flexibility for development, including their sexual interests.

Stressful life events and low back pain in older men: A cross-sectional and prospective analysis using data from the MrOS study.

Stressful life events, such as loss of a partner, loss of a pet or financial problems, are more common with increasing age and may impact the experience of pain. The aim of the current study is to determine the cross-sectional and prospective association between stressful life events and low back pain reporting in the Osteoporotic Fracture in Men Study, a cohort of older men aged ≥65 years. At a study visit (March 2005-May 2006), 5149 men reported whether they had experienced a stressful life event or low back pain in the prior 12 months. Following that visit, data on low back pain patients were gathered through triannual questionnaires every 4 months for 1 year. Multivariable logistic regression analyses estimated the association of stressful life events with recent past low back pain or future low back pain. N = 2930, (57%) men reported at least one stressful life event. The presence of a stressful life event was associated with greater odds of any low back pain (OR = 1.42 [1.26-1.59]) and activity-limiting low back pain (OR = 1.74 [1.50-2.01]) in the same period and of any low back pain (OR = 1.56 [1.39-1.74]) and frequent low back pain (OR = 1.80 [1.55-2.08]) in the following year. In this cohort of men, the presence of stressful life events increased the likelihood of reporting past and future low back pain. Stressful life events such as accident or illness to a partner are common in later life and may impact the experience of pain. We present cross-sectional and prospective data highlighting a consistent association between stressful life events and low back pain in older men. Further, there is evidence to suggest that this relationship is upregulated by an individual's living situation. This information may be used to strengthen a biopsychosocial perspective of an individual's pain experience.

Pesticides and passion: a qualitative psychological autopsy study of suicide in Guyana

The suicide rate in Guyana has consistently ranked in the top ten globally, yet there is only limited literature related to the context in which these suicides occur. This study aims to better understand the psychosocial circumstances and characteristics of suicides in Guyana. This case series study utilised a qualitative psychological autopsy method. One to three informants per deceased person (N=31) were interviewed regarding the lives of 20 Guyanese who died by suicide (14M, 6F, aged 10-74 years). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was utilised for the data. Four superordinate themes were identified: Interpersonal Conflict, Trauma, Health, and Unknown Reasons. Interpersonal conflict included subordinate themes of Domestic Abuse, Marital Separation, and Financial Disputes. Health included subordinate themes of Physical Health and Mental Health. Pesticide poisoning was the method used by Guyanese people whose suicide was triggered primarily by interpersonal conflict. The findings illustrate the complexities of suicide in Guyana and the importance of adopting a biopsychosocial perspective to suicide prevention. Suicide prevention should include mental health and suicide literacy training of medical professionals. It is recommended that the importation of highly toxic pesticides be restricted, and that less toxic substitutes be promoted. Convenience sampling, recall bias, and limited informants are limitations of this study. Future research should focus on suicidal behaviour using larger sample sizes. This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship through Griffith University Australia.

Novel Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder 24 Months After Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents.

The authors sought to identify predictive factors of new-onset or novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder assessed 24 months after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Children ages 5 to 14 years who had experienced TBI were recruited from consecutive hospital admissions. Soon after injury, participants were assessed for preinjury characteristics, including psychiatric disorders, socioeconomic status (SES), psychosocial adversity, and family function, and the presence and location of lesions were documented by MRI. Psychiatric outcomes, including novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder, were assessed 24 months after injury. Of the children without preinjury oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, or disruptive behavior disorder not otherwise specified who were recruited in this study, 165 were included in this sample; 95 of these children returned for the 24-month assessment. Multiple imputation was used to address attrition. The prevalence of novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder was 23.7 out of 165 (14%). In univariable analyses, novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder was significantly associated with psychosocial adversity (p=0.049) and frontal white matter lesions (p=0.016) and was marginally but not significantly associated with SES. In the final multipredictor model, frontal white matter lesions were significantly associated with novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder (p=0.021), and psychosocial adversity score was marginally but not significantly associated with the outcome. The odds ratio of novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder among the children with versus those without novel depressive disorder was significantly higher for girls than boys (p=0.025), and the odds ratio of novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder among the children with versus those without novel attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was significantly higher for boys than girls (p=0.006). Approximately 14% of children with TBI developed oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder. The risk for novel oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder can be understood from a biopsychosocial perspective. Sex differences were evident for comorbid novel depressive disorder and comorbid novel ADHD.

Coaches’ experiences of injury prevention in youth elite athletes: An interview study of 10 coaches

IntroductionInjury prevention is important to reduce the high injury risk in youth elite athletes studying at sports high schools. Coaches are considered important in youth elite sports and injury prevention. ObjectivesThe aim was to investigate perceptions and experiences of injury prevention among coaches at sports high schools. MethodsA manifest qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach was used based on ten semi-structured interviews with coaches who work at sports high schools. ResultsAn overarching theme “Coaches of youth athletes value injury prevention but have limited knowledge and support” was identified and five main categories were formed. Coaches perceived themselves to play an important role in injury prevention, yet they described limited time for knowledge acquisition and highlighted the close collaboration with other professions as a key in injury prevention. ConclusionA coach's knowledge and support are critical factors in injury prevention of youth elite athletes. Evidence-based as well as non-evidence-based approaches are used, and the biopsychosocial perspective was not always taken into consideration. A need for more interprofessional collaboration and knowledge acquisition regarding injury prevention is warranted.

Quality of Japanese Online Information on Causes of Neck Pain: A Biopsychosocial Analysis.

Background While a considerable amount of information on neck pain is available online, the quality and comprehensiveness of this information can vary greatly. Particularly, the representation of the biopsychosocial model - which recognizes neck pain as an interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors - in online information remains unclear. Given the prevalence and accessibility of online health information, it is important to understand its quality and how it may shape individuals' understanding and management of neck pain. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the quality of online Japanese information on the causes of neck pain from a biopsychosocial perspective. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The search term "neck pain" was utilized on Google's search engine in June 2023, and the websites from the first two pages of the search results were included in the study. Ten advertisement websites were excluded, resulting in 19 websites being analyzed. Each website was evaluated based on the presence of the Health-on-the-Net (HON) code. Biomedical and psychosocial factors present in each website were identified using the biopsychosocial analysis tool. Websites were then categorized as biomedical, limited biopsychosocial, or biopsychosocial based on the number of psychosocial factors they mentioned. Results Among the 19 evaluated websites, only one possessed the HON certification, indicating a potential lack of credibility for the remaining sites. Of these websites, a large majority (63.2%) were classified as biomedical, while the remaining (36.8%) were classified as limited biopsychosocial. All the websites included some form of biomedical information on the causes of neck pain, while only seven websites mentioned psychological factors and one website mentioned social factors. The most common biomedical causes of neck pain discussed were cervical muscle strain and radicular pain due to cervical disc prolapse. On the other hand, the limited biopsychosocial websites highlighted perceived stress, depressed mood, and job-related mental stress as psychosocial factors contributing to neck pain. Conclusions This analysis revealed that freely accessible Japanese online information on the causes of neck pain, as found through Google, predominantly focuses on the biomedical causes, often neglecting or insufficiently addressing the psychosocial aspects. This finding underscores a gap between the available online resources and the comprehensive understanding promoted by the biopsychosocial model of health. Healthcare professionals need to be proactive in guiding their patients toward reliable, well-rounded resources that acknowledge the crucial role of psychosocial factors in neck pain. Furthermore, developers of online health information must aim to improve the depth and breadth of psychosocial factors discussed, promoting a more holistic understanding of neck pain for the Japanese public.

Health-related Quality of Life of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Its Determinants

Abstract Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one amongst the most common childhood disabilities with varying clinical outcomes and can have profound effects on the daily life of children and their families. There are many possible factors that affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in childhood CP. Objectives: The main objectives of the study were to assess the HRQOL and its determinants amongst children with CP considering possible variables comprehensively from a biopsychosocial perspective. Methods: The study was conducted amongst 450 children with CP and their mothers selected consecutively from the paediatric units of a tertiary care centre and randomly selected special schools in Thiruvananthapuram District. The PedsQL CP module was used to measure the HRQOL. Results: HRQOL was poor in 44.17% of children with CP and moderate in 47.1% of children. Multiple logistic regression revealed that the independent predictors of HRQOL were sociodemographic, clinical, functional and behavioural attributes of the child, attitude, practice and perceived stress of caregiver and social support and social security measures available for the care of the child. Conclusion: Understanding the key factors that combined to influence the function and quality of life, their relative importance and the degree to which they can be modified were beneficial in planning specific interventions for children with CP.

Biopsychosocial complexity in functional neurological disorder

BackgroundFunctional Neurological Disorder (FND) is considered a biopsychosocial disorder nowadays, with chronicity in >50% of cases. The INTERMED Self-Assessment Questionnaire (IMSA) assesses the various domains and indicates biopsychosocial complexity. ObjectiveFND patients were compared with a sample of psychosomatic (PSM) patients as well as post-stroke patients. MethodsThe three samples (N = 287 altogether) were largely in inpatient and day clinic psychotherapeutic treatment or inpatient neurological rehabilitation. The IMSA covers all three biopsychosocial domains as well as health care utilisation in the time frame of the past, the present and the future. In addition, affective burden (GAD-7, PHQ-9), somatoform symptoms (PHQ-15), dissociation (FDS) and quality of life (SF-12) were evaluated. ResultsFND and PSM patients scored highly in the IMSA, with ≥70% regarded as complex, compared to 15% of post-stroke patients. Affective, somatoform and dissociation scores were high in FND and PSM patients. Mental and somatic quality of life were lower in these groups compared to post-stroke patients. DiscussionFND patients showed high biopsychosocial strain, similar to a typical sample of inpatient and day clinic, i.e. severely affected, PSM patients, and they were more affected than post-stroke patients. These data emphasize that FND should be evaluated with a biopsychosocial perspective. The IMSA likely represents a valuable tool, which has to be assessed by further longitudinal studies.

A biopsychosocial perspective of the effects of stress during development and its relationship to one’s vulnerability to psychopathology

Various stress-related psychopathologies, for which the prevalence is known to increase during late childhood and early adolescence, have been associated with dysregulated patterns of cortisol secretion and distinct cognitive profiles. Most studies have been performed in clinical populations and utilize cross-sectional designs. As such, this has prevented researchers from drawing clear conclusions regarding the temporality of the observed effects. Importantly, different individual, familial, and societal factors are known to impact the regulation of the HPA axis activity. Therefore, these factors may moderate one’s risk of developing certain psychopathologies and/or modulating symptom severity or cognitive profiles that characterize various stress-related psychopathologies. This symposium is composed of four young investigators and will focus on the cognitive and clinical correlates of stress exposure in childhood, as well as the various individual, familial, and societal influences that moderate these effects. First, Catherine Raymond (Université du Québec à Montréal) will present data on cortisol reactivity and emotional cognitive processes in healthy children exhibiting high levels of vulnerability to anxiety, as assessed by various personality traits known to be predictive of clinical anxiety. Then, the two following presentations will address COVID-related stress in children. Alexe Bilodeau-Houle (Université du Québec à Montréal) will first discuss how cortisol levels prior to and following the first COVID-19 lockdown are related to psychological distress symptoms in healthy children. Thereafter, Sydney Yi (University of California) will present data related to the pandemic from a family-related perspective. Of note, she will comment on the effect of COVID-19-related parental job loss and financial stress on executive functioning performance and mental health in a parent and their child. Finally, Christina Cantave (University of Montreal) will present data pertaining to socio-economic status mobility during childhood and adolescence and how this relates to HPA axis activity in twin dyads. Altogether, this data will present a biopsychosocial perspective of how stress during childhood modulates one’s vulnerability to develop stress-related psychopathologies.