Forms Of Psychopathology Research Articles

Psychiatry as Mind-shaping

AbstractI argue that psychiatric researchers, clinicians, and the wider public actively regulate the minds of individuals with mental disorder through the prescriptive processes of mind-shaping (see Andrews in South J Philos 53:50–67, 2015a; Andrews in Philos Explor 18(2):282–296, 2015b; McGeer, in: Folk psychology re-assessed, Springer, Berlin, 2007; McGeer in Philos Explor 18:259–281, 2015; Mameli in Biol Philos 16(5):595–626, 2001; Zawidzki in Philos Explor 11(3):193–210, 2008; Zawidzki, in: Kiverstein (ed) The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of the Social Mind, Taylor and Francis Group, London, 2016). Consequently, all those with a vested interest in the language of mental disorder should take a critical and dialogical approach in how concepts of psychopathology are developed, disseminated and used. Mind-shaping describes how our folk-psychological categorizations actively regulate the behaviour of those categorized. This is done through setting certain norms, which can be achieved through the application of folk-psychological concepts. I argue that psychiatry has embedded norms and goals in its activities that are non-epistemic in nature and these are not only bound up in disorder concepts, but also in the social roles that clinicians, researchers and patients play. In this way, psychiatry uses folk-psychological type tools for the social understanding of individuals with mental disorder, and the application of these tools also helps it meet these non-epistemic goals. Given this, I characterise psychiatry as partaking in mind-shaping. When we characterise psychiatry as mind-shaping, we are then able to explain occurrences of looping effects between disorder categories and individuals categorized (Haslam in J Psychopathol 22(1):4–9, 2016) and provide a theoretical basis for the occurrence of hermeneutical injustice in the field of mental health.

Co-development of general psychopathology and high-risk personality traits during adolescence.

There is strong evidence for a general psychopathology dimension which captures covariance among all forms of psychopathology, yet its nature and underlying association with personality remain unclear. This study examined the co-development of general psychopathology and four high-risk personality traits: anxiety sensitivity, negative thinking, sensation seeking, and impulsivity. Data from two large Australian school-based randomised controlled trials of substance use prevention programs were analysed (N = 2,083, mean age at baseline = 13.49 years). Adolescents completed self-report measures of psychopathology symptoms and personality at baseline, one-, two-, and three-years post-baseline. Latent curve models with structured residuals, were used to examine the co-development of general psychopathology (extracted from a higher-order model) and personality traits from 13 to 16 years of age, controlling for age, sex, and cohort. Higher than usual levels of anxiety sensitivity and impulsivity were associated with higher than usual levels of general psychopathology at subsequent time points, and higher than usual levels of general psychopathology were associated with higher than usual levels of negative thinking at later time points. Sensation seeking was unrelated to general psychopathology. These findings enhance our understanding of the meaning and validity of general psychopathology, highlighting potential personality-based prevention and intervention targets.

Exploring the p-Factor in Adolescence: A Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Approach and Its Association With Emerging Personality Pathology.

To account for the limitations of categorical taxonomies, a general psychopathology factor (p-factor) has been proposed as a transdiagnostic dimension that captures the shared variance across various forms of psychopathology. However, further research is required to clarify the specific characteristics that define the p-factor, particularly in adolescence - a period marked by heightened vulnerability to psychological disorders and significant developmental changes. This study utilized a sample of 1366 cisgender adolescents (56% assigned female at birth, Mage = 16.25, SD = 1.44) to examine the structure of the p-factor using Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling. The study also explored the association between the p-factor and emerging personality pathology, focusing on self and interpersonal dimensions. The p-factor was characterized by items reflecting negative affectivity, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral problems. Greater difficulties in self-related (e.g., sense of self, self-acceptance, and goals) and interpersonal dimensions (e.g., family relationships, aggression, and sexuality) were associated with higher levels of general psychopathology. A small but significant negative association was found between the quality of peer relationships and the p-factor, suggesting a potential protective role of friendships. The study highlights the multifaceted nature of the p-factor, confirming its relevance in capturing general psychological maladjustment during adolescence. The p-factor demonstrated a double-edged nature, encapsulating externalizing (e.g., impulsive behaviors, aggression) and internalizing symptoms (e.g., feelings of inadequacy and guilt). These findings provide insights into the interplay between general psychopathology and personality pathology, supporting a model that integrates self and interpersonal dimensions to understand adolescent psychopathology.

Differential Mapping of Psychopathic Traits and General Psychopathology in a Large Young Adult Sample.

Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by affective-interpersonal features and an impulsive-antisocial lifestyle. Psychopathy commonly co-occurs with other forms of psychopathology, but current understanding of how behavioral features of psychopathy co-occur with, or are distinct from, other mental health problems is limited. In this study, we analysed data from a large sample of young adults to study the relationship between different facets of psychopathic traits and general psychopathology ("p"). Data were collected between 2010 and 2016 and included 1,324 U.S. undergraduate students (Mage = 19.7 years; 57% female). Linear regression models revealed that the antisocial facet of psychopathy was distinct from p, while the lifestyle facet was correlated with p and externalizing behavior. Interpersonal and affective facets were correlated with internalizing behaviors. Collectively, these findings suggest that psychopathic traits of severe, premeditated antisocial behavior are distinct from general psychopathology, whereas impulsive and uninhibited lifestyle traits are a shared feature of psychopathology.

Dentate Gyrus Norepinephrine Ramping Facilitates Aversive Contextual Processing.

Dysregulation in aversive contextual processing is believed to affect several forms of psychopathology, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The dentate gyrus (DG) is an important brain region in contextual discrimination and disambiguation of new experiences from prior memories. The DG also receives dense projections from the locus coeruleus (LC), the primary source of norepinephrine (NE) in the mammalian brain, which is active during stressful events. However, how noradrenergic dynamics impact DG-dependent function during contextual discrimination and pattern separation remains unclear. Here, we report that aversive contextual processing in mice is linked to linear elevations in tonic norepinephrine release dynamics within the DG and report that this engagement of prolonged norepinephrine release is sufficient to produce contextual disambiguation, even in the absence of a salient aversive stimulus. These findings suggest that spatiotemporal ramping characteristics of LC-NE release in the DG during stress likely serve an important role in driving contextual processing.

A viewpoint on stress generation methodology.

This article provides an overview of Stress Generation Methodology. Stress generation is a phenomenon in which individuals with depression or vulnerability to depression experience greater dependent stressful life events (SLEs), defined as stressors in which individuals at least partially contributed to occurrence. The stress generation process demonstrates how depressed individuals shape their environments, contributing to depression maintenance and exacerbation. Subsequent extensions have shown that other forms of psychopathology and a variety of cognitive and personality risk factors also predict stress generation. The focus on stress generation in women is accompanied by an emphasis on interpersonal stress. In addition to emphasizing communal SLEs, stress generation studies have also focused on communal vulnerability factors. However, men do not typically exhibit communal vulnerabilities to the degree that women do. Thus, it is also important to broaden the scope of vulnerability factors examined to include vulnerabilities associated with stress generation in men. These could include impulsivity, anger and aggression, and the need for autonomy and self-definition, all of which tend to be more common in males. Lastly, studies often employ self-report measures of SLEs which could artificially accentuate gender differences in stress generation findings. As existing studies may be more sensitive to detecting stress generation in women, future research should examine this phenomenon with the following methodological refinements: (a) use male-only or adequately sized samples with equal gender representation to test gender moderation effects, (b) expand the range of SLEs to include agentic and achievement-oriented stressors and use wider assessment windows, and (c) examine vulnerability factors that may be relevant to men such as impulsivity, anger, aggression, and the need for autonomy and self-definition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Problematic social Internet use and associations with ADHD symptoms in girls: a longitudinal observational study

BackgroundProblematic Internet use (i.e., Internet use that disrupts functioning in other important domains; PIU) is increasingly prevalent worldwide, particularly among youth. One form of PIU relates specifically to interpersonal interaction and communication, deemed social PIU. Social PIU has been linked to various forms of psychopathology, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Yet with limited longitudinal research, the direction of this association remains unclear. Moreover, little research investigates whether social PIU is linked to one or both symptom dimensions of ADHD (inattention vs. hyperactivity/impulsivity).MethodsThe present study utilized data from the largest extant longitudinal study of girls with childhood-diagnosed ADHD (N = 228). Linear regression and structural equation models were used to analyze social PIU as both a prospective predictor and outcome of ADHD symptoms.ResultsInattentive ADHD symptoms were positively associated with concurrent social PIU in initial regression models but were non-significant in path analyses. Social PIU was only marginally significant in predicting subsequent inattention six years later. Symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity were unrelated to social PIU among girls at either time point.ConclusionsInattentive ADHD symptoms were initially positively linked to concurrent problems with social Internet use, but bidirectional associations were non-significant in path analyses. Relations between PIU and ADHD in girls may be less robust than previously thought, although further longitudinal research with clinical samples is needed to clarify which groups of adolescents are particularly vulnerable to social PIU and its long-term effects.

Pathological personality dimensions and neurobiological emotional reactivity.

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) offers a promising framework to identify the neurobiological mechanisms of psychopathology. Many forms of psychopathology are characterized by dysfunctional emotional reactivity. The late positive potential (LPP) is an event-related potential component that provides an index of neurobiological emotional reactivity. Several categorical disorders have demonstrated a similar association with the emotion-modulated LPP. It is possible that higher-order dimensional representations of psychopathology might explain the comparable results. The present study examined the association between HiTOP-consistent pathological personality dimensions across multiple levels of the hierarchy and neurobiological emotional reactivity. The sample included 215 18-35-year-old adults (86% female) who were oversampled for psychopathology. Participants completed the emotional interrupt task while electroencephalography was recorded to examine the LPP. Participants also completed the Comprehensive Assessment of Traits relevant to Personality Disorders to assess pathological personality. At the spectra level, higher negative emotionality was associated with a larger emotion-modulated LPP, while higher detachment was associated with a smaller emotion-modulated LPP. There were no associations between higher-order psychopathology levels and the emotion-modulated LPP. Compared to categorical diagnoses, spectra-level personality pathology dimensions significantly improved the prediction of the emotion-modulated LPP. The present study indicates that HiTOP spectra levels of negative emotionality and detachment demonstrate unique associations with neurobiological emotional reactivity. The study highlights the utility of examining dimensional and hierarchical, rather than categorical, representations of psychopathology in the attempt to identify the neurobiological origins of psychopathology.

Emotion Regulation Self-Efficacy as a Mechanism of Alliance and Outcomes in a Brief, Transdiagnostic Digital Mental Health Intervention: L'auto-efficacité de la régulation des émotions en tant que mécanisme d'alliance et de résultats dans une brève intervention transdiagnostique numérique en santé mentale.

Digital mental health interventions have shown promise for alleviating various forms of psychopathology, including depression and anxiety. However, the mechanisms of such interventions remain largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate a potential mechanistic process through which one hybrid digital mental health intervention (i.e., the Digital Clinic) might operate. We hypothesized that emotion regulation (ER) self-efficacy at the treatment midpoint may mediate the relationship between alliance (i.e., therapeutic alliance and digital alliance) and outcome (i.e., co-morbid symptoms of depression and anxiety) at the treatment endpoint. Data used in this study came from the Digital Clinic, a brief transdiagnostic telehealth treatment program augmented by a dual-purpose digital phenotyping and intervention smartphone app. Recruited primarily from primary care, participants were 82 adults (73% White, 64% cisgender women, mean age 41) receiving outpatient treatment in the northeastern United States. All constructs were measured with validated scales, including The Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised (WAI-SR) for therapeutic alliance, the Digital Working Alliance Inventory (DWAI) for digital alliance, the PROMIS Self-Efficacy for Managing Emotions Short Form scale for ER self-efficacy, and the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) for co-morbid symptoms of depression and anxiety. Significant reductions in co-morbid symptoms of depression and anxiety and significant increases in ER self-efficacy were found from baseline to treatment endpoint. Therapeutic and digital alliance at the midpoint each predicted reductions in co-morbid symptoms of depression and anxiety at the endpoint through ER self-efficacy, controlling for baseline scores. Findings suggest that ER self-efficacy may be a proximal predictor of clinical improvement that may be enhanced by therapeutic and digital alliance. Future controlled research is essential to improve knowledge of the mechanisms of digital mental health interventions and to enhance their effectiveness.

An intersubjective conception of complex trauma in the framework of the semiotic function of affectivity

The current conception of complex trauma is based on an implicit materialized, orthopedic conception of the mind. Just as in osteoporosis, chronic damage to the bone can cause it to fracture, so the self can be chronically damaged by repeated damaging events inflicted upon it by the relational environment. In this paper, we first look at the severe problems of this conception, and subsequently argue for a different conception - an intersubjective conception of complex traumain the framework of the semiotic function of affectivity - that may help us overcome problems. We propose to conceive complex trauma as an adaptation imposed on the mind by a relational environment endowed with limited affective complexity, to which the mind responds by reducing its affective complexity to varying degrees and adopting a variably rigid, affectively hyper-simplified “successful” form of interpretation of reality. In this perspective, complex trauma would be a ubiquitous form of adaptation that takes on the appearance of ways of being in the world and in relationships, if not the only possible form of existence, which often manifest as various forms of psychopathology.

Predictive models of post-traumatic stress disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents following a single-event trauma.

This study examined the power of theory-derived models to account for the development of PTSD, Complex PTSD (CPTSD), depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents who had experienced a single-event trauma. Children (n = 234, aged 8-17 years) recruited from local Emergency Departments were assessed at two and nine weeks post-trauma. Data obtained from self-report questionnaires completed by the child, telephone interviews with parents, and hospital data were used to develop four predictive models of risk factors for PTSD, CPTSD, depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). ICD-11 proposed diagnostic criteria were used to generate measures for CPTSD and PTSD to assess for risk factors and identify the sample prevalence of these disorders. At nine weeks post-trauma, 64% did not meet criteria for any disorder, 23.5% met criteria for PTSD, and 5.2% met criteria for CPTSD. 23.9% and 10.7% had developed clinically significant symptoms of depression and GAD, respectively. A cognitive model was the most powerful predictive model, a psychosocial model was weak, and subjective markers of event severity were more powerful than objective measures. Youth exposed to single-incident trauma may develop different forms of psychopathology, and PTSD and CPTSD are frequently experienced alongside other conditions. The cognitive model of PTSD shows utility in identifying predictors of PTSD, CPTSD, depression, and GAD, particularly the role of trauma-related negative appraisals. This supports the application of cognitive interventions which focus upon re-appraising trauma-related beliefs in youth.

Resource-rational psychopathology.

Psychopathology is vast and diverse. Across distinct disease states, individuals exhibit symptoms that appear counter to the standard view of rationality (expected utility maximization). We argue that some aspects of psychopathology can be described as resource-rational, reflecting a rational trade-off between reward and cognitive resources. We review work on two theories of this kind: rational inattention, where a capacity limit applies to perceptual channels, and policy compression, where the capacity limit applies to action channels. We show how these theories can parsimoniously explain many forms of psychopathology, including affective, primary psychotic, and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as many effects of psychoactive medications on these disorders. While there are important disorder-specific differences and the theories are by no means universal, we argue that resource rationality offers a useful new perspective on psychopathology. By emphasizing the role of cognitive resource constraints, this approach offers a more inclusive picture of rationality. Some aspects of psychopathology may reflect rational trade-offs rather than the breakdown of rationality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Genotypic variation in the promoter region of the CRH-248 gene interacts with early rearing experiences to disrupt the development of the HPA axis in infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Aberrant functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a hallmark of conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Early-life adversity and genetic variation can interaction to disrupt HPA axis regulation, potentially contributing to certain forms of psychopathology. This study employs a rhesus macaque model to investigate how early parental neglect interacts with a single nucleotide polymorphism within the promoter region of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH-248) gene, impacting the development of the HPA axis. For the initial six months of life, 307 rhesus monkey infants (n = 146 females, n = 161 males) were either reared with their mothers (MR) in conditions emulating the natural environment (control group) or raised without maternal care in groups with constant or 3-hours daily access to same-aged peers (NR). Blood samples collected on days 30, 60, 90, and 120 of life under stressful conditions were assayed for plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations. Findings revealed that NR subjects exhibited a significant blunting of both ACTH and cortisol concentrations. Notably, there was a gene-by-environment interaction observed for ACTH and cortisol levels, with NR subjects with the polymorphism displaying higher ACTH concentrations and lower cortisol concentrations. To the extent that these results generalize to humans, they suggest that early parental neglect may render individuals vulnerable to HPA axis dysfunction, a susceptibility that is modulated by CRH-248 genotype—a gene-by-environment interaction that leaves a lasting developmental signature.

Gene-environment interaction between gaming addiction and perceived stress in late adolescents and young adults: A twin study.

The association between perceived stress (PS) and gaming addiction (GA) is well documented. However, the mechanism for explaining this association remains unclear. Using a genetically informative design, this study aims to distinguish between the diathesis-stress and bio-ecological models of gene by environment interaction (G x E) to explain the underlying mechanism of the relationship. In total, 1,468 twins (mean age = 22.6 ± 2.8 years) completed an online survey including the GA and PS scales. Twin correlations for GA and PS were computed and univariate model-fitting analysis was conducted to determine genetic and environmental influences on GA and PS. The bivariate G x E model-fitting analysis was performed to determine the best G x E interaction model. Additive genetic, shared environmental, and non-shared environmental effects were 0.70 (95%CI = 0.61, 0.77), 0.00, and 0.30 (95%CI = 0.26, 0.33), and 0.38 (95%CI = 0.24, 0.55), 0.35 (95% CI= 0.18, 0.51), and 0.22 (95%CI = 0.20, 0.26) for GA and PS, respectively. Bivariate G x E model-fitting analysis supported the diathesis-stress model, where genetic influences on GA were greater in higher levels of PS, whereas environmental influences on GA were small and constant across levels of PS. The evidence for the diathesis-stress model for GA is consistent with the etiological process of many forms of psychopathology. The findings should be incorporated in clinical settings to improve the treatment of GA, and used in developments of intervention and prevention methods for GA.

Exploring the genetic etiology across the continuum of the general psychopathology factor: a Swedish population-based family and twin study

Psychiatric comorbidity can be accounted for by a latent general psychopathology factor (p factor), which quantifies the variance that is shared to varying degrees by every dimension of psychopathology. It is unclear whether the entire continuum of the p factor shares the same genetic origin. We investigated whether mild, moderate, and extreme elevations on the p factor shared the same genetic etiology by, first, examining the linearity of the association between p factors across siblings (N = 580,891 pairs). Second, we estimated the group heritability in a twin sample (N = 17,170 pairs), which involves testing whether the same genetic variants influence both extreme and normal variations in the p factor. In both samples, the p factor was based on 10 register-based psychiatric diagnoses. Results showed that the association between siblings’ p factors appeared linear, even into the extreme range. Likewise, the twin group heritabilities ranged from 0.42 to 0.45 (95% CI: 0.33–0.57) depending on the thresholds defining the probands (2–3.33 SD beyond the mean; >2 SD beyond the mean; >4.33 SD beyond the mean; and >5.33 SD beyond the mean), and these estimates were highly similar to the estimated individual differences heritability (0.41, 95% CI: 0.39–0.43), indicating that scores above and below these thresholds shared a common genetic origin. Together, these results suggest that the entire continuum of the p factor shares the same genetic origin, with common genetic variants likely playing an important role. This implies, first, genetic risk factors for the aspect that is shared between all forms of psychopathology (i.e., genetic risk factors for the p factor) might be generalizable between population-based cohorts with a higher prevalence of milder cases, and clinical samples with a preponderance of more severe cases. Second, prioritizing low-cost genome-wide association studies capable of identifying common genetic variants, rather than expensive whole genome sequencing that can identify rare variants, may increase the efficiency when studying the genetic architecture of the p factor.

Comparing the interactions of risk factors by method of suicide among veterans: A moderated network analysis approach.

Despite the well-established link between firearm access and suicide, less is known about other variables that may influence the risk for death by self-inflicted gunshot versus other methods of suicide. As individual factors have demonstrated limited predictive ability, scholars have called for studies that consider the multifaceted relations between myriad variables. One alternative to the typical cause-and-effect approach for investigating various forms of psychopathology is network analysis. However, few studies have applied this method to suicidal outcomes, particularly in the context of a veteran population. Data from 19,234 male veteran suicide decedents (89.1% White; Mage = 57.16, SD = 18.64) acquired from the National Violent Death Reporting System were used to investigate characteristics of veteran suicide decedents who died by self-inflicted gunshot (gun; 66.4%) versus alternative methods (nongun, e.g., poisoning, hanging; 33.5%). Results of the overall moderated network model indicated that veterans in the gun group were more likely to have a physical health problem that contributed to the suicide than veterans in the nongun group. Additionally, results of the moderated network model revealed several pairs of associated circumstances whose relationships were significantly moderated by method of suicide, the three strongest of which included having a physical health problem that contributed to the suicide. Overall, results suggest that public health prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing the overall burden of physical health problems among male veterans may mitigate the risk of firearm suicides. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluating the sensitivity to threat and affiliative reward (STAR) model in relation to the development of conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits across early adolescence.

The Sensitivity to Threat and Affiliative Reward (STAR) model proposes low threat sensitivity and low affiliation as risk factors for callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Preliminary evidence for the STAR model comes from work in early childhood. However, studies are needed that explore the STAR dimensions in late childhood and adolescence when severe conduct problems (CP) emerge. Moreover, it is unclear how variability across the full spectrum of threat sensitivity and affiliation gives rise to different forms of psychopathology beyond CU traits. The current study addressed these gaps using parent- and child-reported data from three waves and a sub-study of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study® of 11,878 youth (48% female; ages 9-12). Consistent with the STAR model, low threat sensitivity and low affiliation were independently related to CU traits across informants and time. Moreover, there was significant interaction between the STAR dimensions, such that children with lower sensitivity to threat and lower affiliation had higher parent-reported CU traits. Unlike CU traits, children with higher threat sensitivity had higher parent-reported CP and anxiety. Finally, children with lower affiliation had higher parent-reported CP, anxiety, and depression. Results largely replicated across informants and time, and sensitivity analysis revealed similar findings in children with and without DSM-5 defined CP. Results support the STAR model hypotheses as they pertain to CU traits and delineate threat sensitivity and affiliation as independent transdiagnostic risk factors for different types of psychopathology. Future research is needed to develop fuller and more reliable and valid measures of affiliation and threat sensitivity across multiple assessment modalities.

Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Psychopathology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Decades of research implicate perfectionism as a risk factor for psychopathology. Most research has focused on trait perfectionism (i.e., needing to be perfect), but there is a growing focus on perfectionistic self-presentation (PSP) (i.e., the need to seem perfect). The current article reports the results of a meta-analysis of previous research on the facets of PSP and psychopathology outcomes (either clinical diagnoses of psychiatric disorders or symptoms of these disorders). A systematic literature search retrieved 30 relevant studies (37 samples; N = 15,072), resulting in 192 individual effect-size indexes that were analysed with random-effect meta-analysis. Findings support the notion of PSP as a transdiagnostic factor by showing that PSP facets are associated with various forms of psychopathology, especially social anxiety, depression, vulnerable narcissism and-to lesser extent-grandiose narcissism and anorexia nervosa. The results indicated that there both commonalities across the three PSP and some unique findings highlighting the need to distinguish among appearing perfect, avoiding seeming imperfect and avoiding disclosures of imperfections. Additional analyses yielded little evidence in the results across studies including undergraduates, community samples and clinical samples. Our discussion includes a focus on factors and processes that contribute to the association between PSP and psychopathology.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the 15-item Need for Closure Scale: Scale validation and associations with mental health.

Need for closure (NFC) has been found to be implicated in different forms of psychopathology. The 15-item Need for Closure Scale (NFCS) is an efficient and easy tool for assessing individuals' NFC in Western contexts. However, the psychometric properties of the 15-item NFCS have not yet been validated in Chinese populations. Two different samples of university students from China were recruited in this study. The first sample (N = 5080, 49.9% females) was used to conduct exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. The second sample (N = 3968, 64.2% females) was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), and bifactor models, followed by tests of measurement invariance and criterion validity. The full scale showed good internal consistency. The bifactor-ESEM result with a general factor and four specific factors was chosen as our final model. Strong measurement invariance across sex and ethnicity groups was supported. Evidence was obtained for the criterion validity of NFCS scores with respect to depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. The Chinese NFCS appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the NFC, which could promote both the assessment and research of the NFC in Chinese populations.

ERP correlates of self-referential processing moderate the association between pubertal status and disordered eating in preadolescence.

Preadolescence is a critical period for the onset of puberty and eating-related psychopathology. More advanced pubertal status is associated with elevated eating pathology. However, it was unclear whether this association was moderated by self-referential processing, an important, modifiable cognitive risk for various forms of psychopathology, including eating problems. Further, no study has examined the neural correlates of self-referential processing in relation to eating pathology. To address these gaps, we examined how the association between pubertal status and disordered eating was moderated by self-referential processing in a community sample of 115 nine-to-12-year-old preadolescents (66 girls; mean age/SD = 10.98/1.18 years; 87.5% White). Youths reported their pubertal status and disordered eating behaviors and completed an ERP version of the Self-Referent Encoding Task (SRET) to assess self-referential processing. A Principal Component Analysis of the ERP data identified an anterior late positive potential (LPP) in both the positive and negative SRET conditions. The LPP in the positive condition moderated the positive association between pubertal status and disordered eating behaviors, such that this association was significant for youths with a smaller LPP toward positive self-referential cues, but non-significant for those showing a larger LPP toward positive self-referential cues. These results suggest that a deeper processing of positive self-referential information, indicated by a potentiated LPP, may weaken the negative impact of pubertal status on disordered eating. Our findings also suggest that enhancing positive self-referential processing may be a useful tool in preventing the development of eating pathology in preadolescents, especially for those with more advanced pubertal status.