Higher Levels Of Impulsivity Research Articles

Hypnosis reduces food impulsivity in patients with obesity and high levels of disinhibition: HYPNODIET randomized controlled clinical trial

The obesogenic environment of Western countries raises questions about its current management. Some clinical studies have explored hypnosis, although the current state of knowledge does not lead to definitive conclusions about its efficacy. We assessed the impact of Ericksonian hypnosis and self-hypnosis on disinhibition of eating in adults with obesity and high food impulsivity levels, compared with standard nutritional education. From September 2014 to July 2015, adults with BMI (in kg/m2) of 30-40 and a high disinhibition score [>8 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-51)] were included in a randomized controlled trial. The control and hypnosis groups received the same standard nutrition education in 8 workshops. In the hypnosis group, subjects had 8 sessions of hypnosis combined with training in self-hypnosis. Disinhibition (primary outcome) and other scores from the TFEQ-51 as well as anthropometric, food intake, cardiometabolic, and physical activity variables were collected at inclusion and at 8 mo. Of 82 randomly assigned adults, 70 participated in all sessions; 80 participated in ≥1 session and were included in the main analysis (hypnosis group, n=41; control group, n=39). After 8 mo of follow-up, disinhibition scores adjusted for baseline values were lower in the hypnosis group, with a mean between-group difference of 4.2 (95% CI: 2.8, 5.5; P<0.001); 67.7% of adults in the hypnosis group had normalized their disinhibition (compared with 11.1% in control; P<0.0001). Differences for weight (1.8kg; 95% CI: -0.1, 3.7kg; P=0.052), BMI (0.8; 95% CI: 0.1, 1.4; P=0.028), susceptibility to hunger score (2.2; 95% CI: 1.0, 3.3; P<0.001), and its 2 subscales also favored the hypnosis group. In the management of adults with obesity and a high disinhibition score, hypnosis and self-hypnosis can significantly improve the deep mechanisms of eating behaviors and seem to have a beneficial effect on weight loss.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02292108.

Assessment of impulsivity and other psychological factors in obese patients

IntroductionObesity is a multiorgan disorder that is caused by eating a much larger overeating that the body needs to live. Obese people tend to eat a lot and after hours, and it is hypothetised that it exists a relationship between increased impulsivity and obesity. In addition these patients tend to have more psychopathology,ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to observe if obese people ingest impulsively and if there are differences between the sexes regarding impulsivity. Also it will be studied the relationship between impulsivity in these patients and other psychosocial factors, anxiety and depression symptoms and personality traits.Methods It was carried out an assessment of impulsivity in 30 obese population followed at the outpatient Endocrinology that attended pre-bariatric surgery groups.Patients were handed the Plutchik impulsivity questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).Results In our sample, 43.4% of the obese patients did not show high levels of impulsivity, while 56.6% did show markedly impulsive traits. No differences in impulsivity between sexes were found. No other significant relationships with addititional psychological factors were found.ConclusionsA larger sample is needed to reach a conclusion and to extrapolate the results to the general population. People with morbid obesity have higher impulsivity and a binge eating;in addition they have more psychopathology, mainly affective, greater impulsivity and greater severity on scales that assess the core symptoms of disordered eating behavior and body dissatisfaction.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Association of paternal rejection with externalizing problems of adolescents: A moderated mediation model.

Despite evidence suggesting the role of the parent-child relationship in externalizing problems, few studies have examined the direct and indirect association of father rejection and externalizing problems. This research examines the mediation effect of peer victimization in the association of paternal rejection with externalizing problems in adolescents. Besides, it explores the moderating effect of impulsivity on this association. In total, 2,116 pupils completed anonymous questionnaires about paternal rejection, peer victimization, externalizing problems, and impulsivity. Sex, age, paternal and maternal education, and per capita income were set as covariates. The results revealed that peer victimization mediated the relationship between paternal rejection and externalizing problems in adolescents. Impulsivity played a moderating role not only in the relationship between paternal rejection and externalizing problems but also in the link between peer victimization and externalizing problems. Specifically, paternal rejection predicted greater externalizing problems only for adolescents with high-level impulsivity, and peer victimization was predictive of greater externalizing problems only for adolescents with high levels of impulsivity. The findings highlight that paternal rejection and peer victimization have a potential, long-lasting influence on the psychological well-being of adolescents, particularly for adolescents high in impulsivity.

Interactions between impulsivity and MDPV self-administration in rats.

Synthetic cathinones, such as 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), are recreational drugs of abuse often identified in 'bath salts' preparations. Humans report compulsive patterns of bath salts use, and previous work suggests that a subset of rats develop unusually high levels of MDPV self-administration. This study aims to test the hypothesis that high levels of impulsivity (e.g., inability to withhold responding for a sucrose reward) will predispose rats to high levels of MDPV self-administration relative to rats with lower levels of impulsivity. The 1-choice serial reaction time task (1-CSRTT) was used to assess impulsivity (i.e., premature responding) in 10 female and 10 male Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were then allowed to self-administer 0.032 mg/kg/inf MDPV or 0.32 mg/kg/inf cocaine, after which full dose-response curves for MDPV (0.001-0.1mg/kg/inf) or cocaine (0.01-1mg/kg/inf) were generated under a FR5 schedule of reinforcement. After a history of self-administering MDPV or cocaine, impulsivity was reassessed under the 1-CSRTT, prior to evaluating the acute effects of MDPV (0.032-0.32 mg/kg) or cocaine (0.1-1mg/kg) on impulsivity. Level of impulsivity was not correlated with subsequent levels of either MDPV or cocaine self-administration, and level of drug self-administration was also not correlated with subsequent levels of impulsivity, although acute administration of MDPV and cocaine did increase premature responding. In failing to find direct relationships between either impulsivity and subsequent drug-taking behaviour, or drug-taking behaviour and subsequent assessments of impulsivity, these findings highlight the complexity inherent in the associations between impulsive behaviour and drug-taking behaviour in both animal models and humans.

Alcohol Use and Gambling Associated with Impulsivity among a Swedish University Sample.

Excessive alcohol use and gambling can have negative consequences. Across countries, the risk of excessive alcohol use is more common in university populations than in the general population. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence of both alcohol use and gambling in this group. This study explores these behaviours in a Swedish university setting. In addition, this study investigates how impulsivity affects alcohol use and gambling. In total, 794 Swedish students answered an online survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics to determine prevalence, and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the contribution of impulsivity, age, and sex to alcohol use and gambling. Compared to the Swedish national prevalence, the prevalence was higher for excessive alcohol use, but the prevalence of gambling was at the same level or lower. High levels of impulsivity and male sex increased the risk of excessive alcohol use, while older age lowered the risk of excessive alcohol use and gambling. The results indicate that primarily young men could benefit from primary prevention in a university setting. Also, screening for impulsivity in men might be one way to identify risk groups in a university population.

Impulsivity and Emotional Dysregulation Predict Choice Behavior During a Mixed-Strategy Game in Adolescents With Borderline Personality Disorder.

Impulsivity and emotional dysregulation are two core features of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and the neural mechanisms recruited during mixed-strategy interactions overlap with frontolimbic networks that have been implicated in BPD. We investigated strategic choice patterns during the classic two-player game, Matching Pennies, where the most efficient strategy is to choose each option randomly from trial-to-trial to avoid exploitation by one’s opponent. Twenty-seven female adolescents with BPD (mean age: 16 years) and twenty-seven age-matched female controls (mean age: 16 years) participated in an experiment that explored the relationship between strategic choice behavior and impulsivity in both groups and emotional dysregulation in BPD. Relative to controls, BPD participants showed marginally fewer reinforcement learning biases, particularly decreased lose-shift biases, increased variability in reaction times (coefficient of variation; CV), and a greater percentage of anticipatory decisions. A subset of BPD participants with high levels of impulsivity showed higher overall reward rates, and greater modulation of reaction times by outcome, particularly following loss trials, relative to control and BPD participants with lower levels of impulsivity. Additionally, BPD participants with higher levels of emotional dysregulation showed marginally increased reward rate and increased entropy in choice patterns. Together, our preliminary results suggest that impulsivity and emotional dysregulation may contribute to variability in mixed-strategy decision-making in female adolescents with BPD.

Caregivers\u2019 experience of sleep management in Smith\u2013Magenis syndrome: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundSmith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a rare genetic syndrome associated with a unique profile of early morning waking and daytime sleepiness. Children with SMS evidence high rates of self-injury and aggression and have a preference for adult over peer attention, with strong motivation to interact with a particular caregiver. In addition, people with SMS have lower adaptive functioning skills relative to cognitive abilities and demonstrate high levels of impulsivity. Taken together, these factors may result in individuals being awake overnight requiring vigilant caregiver supervision. Despite these complexities, no study has described the strategies caregivers take to keep their children with SMS safe overnight or considered the impact of these experiences on caregivers or the wider family.MethodsThe current study used a mixed-methods approach to consider sleep management strategies and challenges for caregivers of people with SMS at different ages. Caregivers completed an international online survey about sleep management and related difficulties, use of interventions and access to services and support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 caregivers in the UK to increase understanding of caregiver experiences and priorities for change in the UK context. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using thematic analysis.ResultsEvidence from the online survey (n = 40) revealed wide-ranging impacts of poor sleep on the person with SMS and the wider family. Only 5% of caregivers reported that the sleep problems had no impact on their child, and 76% reported a moderately or extremely significant impact on themselves. For some individual caregivers, sleep management difficulties improved over time whereas for others no change was reported. Weekly respite emerged as the ideal provision for 49% of caregivers, although only 14% had access to this. The majority of caregivers (54%) received no respite. Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews revealed interactions between aspects of the behavioural phenotype of SMS which may contribute to complex and unusual presentations in relation to sleep management and safety.ConclusionsCaregivers’ priorities for sleep management and support were delineated, with key implications for services in terms of the use of SMS-sensitive strategies and respite provision.

Hedonic hunger status and related factors in adults.

The aim of this study is to determine factors affecting hedonic hunger in adults. A cross-sectional research design was used to collect face-to-face data from 315 adults, aged 18-65 years, residing in Balıkesir/Turkey by way of a questionnaire. Hedonic hunger was found to be higher in women and also rates decreased with age. As body mass index increased, so did hedonic hunger. Hedonic hunger was seen as higher in individuals who do not engage in regular physical activity, those who consume nighttime snacks, and persons who follow a weight loss diet. It has been determined that individuals with hedonic hunger have a high level of food craving, impulsiveness, and low self-esteem. Controlling psychological factors such as impulsiveness and self-esteem can be effective in reducing hedonic hunger.

Impulsivity assessed ten years earlier and sociodemographic factors predict adherence to COVID-19 related behavioral restrictions in old individuals with hypertension

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had clear and dramatic repercussions on health, the economy, and psychosocial well-being. Behavioral measures, such as wearing facemasks and maintaining distance from others, have proven crucial in fighting the contagion’s spread. This study aimed to investigate Type A personality traits and sociodemographic predictors of adherence to governmental measures in a sample of frail individuals.MethodsA sample of 105 Italians over age 60 (Mean age = 70 years; 60.6% male) affected by hypertension who participated in a previous longitudinal study were assessed through a telephone structured interview. Sociodemographic information and Type A personality traits were retrieved from the original longitudinal study. Adherence behaviors were investigated through several questions regarding the compliance with home confinement, the use of facemasks and the observance of social distancing. Repeated measures Analyses of Variance (RMANOVA), Reliable Change Index, and binomial logistic regression analysis were performed.ResultsOnly 33.3% of the participants reported adherence to all the governmental COVID-19 measures. Being a woman (OR = 4.84; 95% CI = 1.58, 14.90; p < 0.01), being retired (OR = 4.89; 95% CI = 1.09, 21.86; p < 0.05), and suffering from hypertension for a relatively short time (OR = 4.20; 95% CI = 1.22, 14.44; p < 0.05) positively predicted adherence to the governmental measures. Impulsivity resulted in a stable personality characteristic over the last ten years (p = 0.30). Having high levels of impulsivity (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.13, 4.59; p < 0.05) negatively predicted adherence.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that impulsivity is a stable personality facet that can have a robust negative impact on adherence behaviors to health claims. Overall, results show the importance to tailor communication strategies that consider the role of sociodemographic indicators and impulsivity to achieve a high level of adherence.

Do anxiety sensitivity and impulsivity interact in predicting exercise involvement in emerging adult drinkers and cannabis users?

ABSTRACT Anxiety sensitivity (AS; i.e. fear of arousal-related sensations) and impulsivity (i.e. tendency to act quickly without regard for longer-term consequences) represent risks for low physical activity participation. Theoretically, higher impulsivity may exacerbate the negative exercise behaviours of high AS individuals given the tendency of impulsive individuals to favour immediate (e.g. watching TV) over delayed rewards (e.g. the benefits of exercise). Our goal was to investigate the main and interactive effects of AS and impulsivity on physical activity levels at varying exercise intensities. Participants were 178 emerging adults (Mean age = 21.9; 68.8% women). Higher AS was associated with less engagement in vigorous intensity exercise. Moderator analyses revealed an AS x impulsivity interaction: high AS predicted significantly less engagement in moderate intensity exercise at low impulsivity levels and marginally more engagement in moderate intensity exercise at high impulsivity levels. Finally, higher impulsivity was associated with more time spent walking. Cognitive behavioural therapy for high AS, or teaching individuals with high AS to focus on immediate, external rewards of exercise, may help them engage in more physical activity. Given the wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits of exercise involvement, developing effective strategies to increase such involvement in high AS individuals is vital.

The Interaction Between Genetic Variant ZNF804A rs1344706 and Alcohol Withdrawal on Impulsivity: Evidence for the Diathesis-Stress Model.

Objective: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most common substance use disorder, which may relate to increased impulsivity. A more detailed understanding of the potential moderating factor on association between AUD and impulsivity is likely to have far-reaching effects. This study aims to examine whether the interaction between a genetic variant ZNF804A rs1344706 and alcohol use is related to impulsivity in Chinese Han adult males diagnosed with AUD.Methods: A total of 455 Chinese Han adult males diagnosed with AUD were included in this study. Impulsivity was assessed using Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Alcohol dependence was measured by Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of participants and genotyped.Results: Hierarchical multiple regression yielded a significant interaction between ZNF804A rs1344706 and alcohol use (β = 0.20, p = 0.0237). Then, A region of significance (RoS) test was performed to interpret the interaction effect. Re-parameterized regression models revealed that the interaction between ZNF804A rs1344706 and alcohol problem severity fit to the weak diathesis-stress model (R2 = 0.15, p < 0.0010), indicating that the T allele carriers are more susceptible to alcohol problem severity, jointly contributing to impulsivity.Conclusions: This study, which analyzed a specific gene-environment interaction, demonstrated that carriers of the T allele of ZNF804A rs1344706 may be more susceptible to alcohol problem severity, correlated with higher levels of impulsivity during withdrawal.

The feasibility of a strategy for the remote recruitment, consenting and assessment of recent referrals: a protocol for phase 1 of the On-Line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA)

BackgroundIn the UK, children with high levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention referred to clinical services with possible attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often wait a long time for specialist diagnostic assessment. Parent training (PT) has the potential to support parents during this difficult period, especially regarding the management of challenging and disruptive behaviours that often accompany ADHD. However, traditional face-to-face PT is costly and difficult to organise in a timely way. We have created a low-cost, easily accessible PT programme delivered via a phone app, Structured E-Parenting Support (STEPS), to address this problem. The overall OPTIMA programme will evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of STEPS as a way of helping parents manage their children behaviour while on the waitlist. To ensure the timely and efficient evaluation of STEPS in OPTIMA, we have worked with children’s health services to implement a remote strategy for recruitment, screening and assessment of recently referred families. Part of this strategy is incorporated into routine clinical practice and part is OPTIMA specific. Here, we present the protocol for Phase 1 of OPTIMA—a study of the feasibility of this remote strategy, as a basis for a large-scale STEPS randomised controlled trial (RCT).MethodsThis is a single arm observational feasibility study. Participants will be parents of up to 100 children aged 5-11 years with high levels of hyperactivity/impulsivity, inattention and challenging behaviour who are waiting for assessment in one of five UK child and adolescent mental health or behavioural services. Recruitment, consenting and data collection will occur remotely. The primary outcome will be the rate at which the families, who meet inclusion criteria, agree in principle to take part in a full STEPS RCT. Secondary outcomes include acceptability of remote consenting and online data collection procedures; the feasibility of collecting teacher data remotely within the required timeframe, and technical difficulties with completing online questionnaires. All parents in the study will receive access to STEPS.DiscussionEstablishing the feasibility of our remote recruitment, consenting and assessment strategy is a pre-requisite for the full trial of OPTIMA. It can also provide a model for future trials conducted remotely.

The role of self-discontentment and impulsivity for youth smoking behavior, nicotine dependence and future smoking intention in a clinical sample of Turkish adolescents.

Smoking is one of the most important public health problems among young people. Potential risk factors that may cause vulnerability to smoke in youth should be well known and investigated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations of current smoking behavior and future smoking intention with high-risk personality traits for substance abuse in a clinical sample of Turkish adolescents, and also evaluate nicotine dependence and smoking characteristics with the personality traits in a subsample of regular smokers. A cross-sectional study was adopted in which 196 participants took part (aged 14-18 years with a mean of 16.7 years). The assessment consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire that also questions current smoking behavior and future smoking intention; and additionally, two self-administered instruments including the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) for all participants, and Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) for only regular smokers. Regular smokers scored higher than never smokers on the lack of self-contentment subscale of SURPS (F(2)=3.30, p=.039). Future smoking intention was found to be associated with nicotine dependence (F(3)=6.67, p=.001). Regular smokers with high levels of nicotine dependence had higher levels of impulsivity and smoked more cigarettes per day than those with low levels of nicotine dependence (t=2.489, p=.017; and t=3.530, p=.001, respectively). The structural equation models (SEM) were created based on these results and the personality theory for substance abuse. The SEM results showed that the first evidence that lack of selfcontentment positively influences regularly smoking behavior and impulsivity positively influences future smoking intention through nicotine dependence. Lack of self-contentment and impulsivity may mediate the transition from current smoking behavior to future tobacco use disorders in Turkish adolescents. The assessment and intervention of selfdiscontentment and impulsivity can be beneficial in reducing the current smoking behavior in Turkish adolescents.

Levels of impulsivity in individuals with cannabis use disorder.

Introduction Substance use disorder consists of the presence of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms, indicating continuous use of one or more substances by the individual. The literature points to the existence of a relationship between impulsive behavior, in which individuals tend to act thoughtlessly and with a lower level of planning, and consumption of substances including cannabis.Objectives To examine the presence and severity of impulsivity in individuals with cannabis use disorder and investigate associations between sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and impulsivity.Method Participants completed a sociodemographic data sheet and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). A total of 122 subjects with a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder participated, with a mean age of 34.46 years (standard deviation = 9.62).Results The prevalence of high levels of impulsivity in the sample ranged from 30 to 33%; the BIS-11 total score was significantly associated with cohabitation and alcohol use. The BIS-11 scores for motor impulsivity and attentional impulsivity were also associated with consumption of alcohol. No associations were found between impulsivity and the variables age, education, use of tobacco, or use of cocaine/crack.Conclusion This study contributes to understanding of substance dependence, especially cannabis. It found presence of impulsive behavior among individuals with cannabis use disorder, which is corroborated by reports in the literature.

Low doses of quetiapine (Seroquel) as an impulsivity corrector in patients with bipolar affective disorder in remission

To evaluate the effectiveness of low doses (25-75 mg/day) of quetiapine (Seroquel) in patients with bipolar affective disorders in a euthymic state with signs of impaired impulse control. The main criteria for patients' selection were as follows: both sex, diagnoses of bipolar affective disorders, remission (euthymic state), adult age (from 18 to 60 years old), stable basic therapy. The duration of the study was 6 weeks, a dose of quetiapine (Seroquel) varied from 25 to 75 mg. The examinations were carried out with the Barratt scale, computerized Go-No-Go and Balloon tests. The study group included 32 patients (11 men and 21 women), mean age 31.2±9.7 years (minimum 18, maximum 60 years). The changes in Barratt total score (p=0.000014, Wilcoxon test, effect size 0.48) and Balloon total earnings (p=0.03, Wilcoxon test, effect size 0.22) were statistically significant and reflected clinically significant improvement. The changes of the indices of the Go-No-Go test were not significant. The data of fMRI showed an increase in the connectivity of the cortex of the central and parietal tegmentum of the left hemisphere with other areas of the brain, which correlated with the changes in psychometric and test parameters. The results of the study showed that add-on of the low doses of quetiapine (Seroquel) significantly decreases impaired impulse control in remitted patients with bipolar affective disorders both in self-evaluation and in risk-taking experimental test. The drop of high level of impulsivity can improve the quality and stability of remission and reduce behavioral risks due to impaired impulse control.

The Association between Neuroticism and Re-Attempted Suicide

Background: Strong evidence suggests that suicide attempters who repeat suicide (re-attempters) may differ from those with a single attempt (single attempters) in various clinical and sociodemographic factors. Furthermore, there is some evidence that re-attempters may be characterized by higher levels of neuroticism, a well-known risk factor for completed suicide compared to single attempters. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association between neuroticism and re-attempted suicide. Methods and Materials: 230 recent drug-free suicide attempters were involved into the study. Clinical diagnoses were assessed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition-Revised (DSM-III-R). Personality traits were measured by the Karolinska Scale of Personality (KSP). Results and Conclusions: There was a significant association between re-attempted suicide, female gender, personality disorder and higher levels of impulsivity. We found that re-attempters had significantly higher levels of neuroticism compared to single attempters adjusted of gender, personality disorder diagnosis, age and impulsivity. Our result gives further evidence for the association between re-attempted suicide and neuroticism.

Transdiagnostic Perspective of Impulsivity and Compulsivity in Obesity: From Cognitive Profile to Self-Reported Dimensions in Clinical Samples with and without Diabetes

Impulsive and compulsive behaviors have both been observed in individuals with obesity. The co-occurrence of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more strongly associated with impulsivity, although there are no conclusive results yet. A multidimensional assessment of impulsivity and compulsivity was conducted in individuals with obesity in the absence or presence of T2D, compared with healthy, normal-weight individuals, with highly impulsive patients (gambling disorders), and with highly compulsive patients (anorexia nervosa). Decision making and novelty seeking were used to measure impulsivity, and cognitive flexibility and harm avoidance were used for compulsivity. For impulsivity, patients with obesity and T2D showed poorer decision-making ability compared with healthy individuals. For compulsivity, individuals with only obesity presented less cognitive flexibility and high harm avoidance; these dimensions were not associated with obesity with T2D. This study contributes to the knowledge of the mechanisms associated with diabetes and its association with impulsive–compulsive behaviors, confirming the hypothesis that patients with obesity and T2D would be characterized by higher levels of impulsivity.

The externalizing and internalizing pathways to marijuana use initiation: Examining the synergistic effects of impulsiveness and sensation seeking.

Adolescent marijuana use has become increasingly more problematic compared with the past; thus, understanding developmental processes that increase the liability of marijuana use is essential. Two developmental pathways to adolescent substance use have been proposed: an externalizing pathway that emphasizes the expression of aggressive and delinquent behavior, and an internalizing pathway that emphasizes the role of depressive symptoms and negative affect. In this study, we aimed to examine the synergistic role of impulsiveness and sensation seeking in the two risk pathways to determine whether both high and low levels of the traits are risk factors for marijuana use. Our study included 343 adolescents (52% were girls, 78% identified as Hispanic) that oversampled high-risk youth (78% had a family history of substance use disorder), assessed biannually between the ages of 13-16 years old. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that high levels of sensation seeking indirectly predicted marijuana use through higher mean levels of externalizing behavior. The positive relationship between sensation seeking and externalizing behavior was only significant at high levels of impulsiveness. Conversely, low levels of sensation seeking indirectly predicted marijuana use through higher mean levels of internalizing behavior. The negative relationship between sensation seeking and internalizing behavior was only significant at low levels of impulsiveness. Collectively, these results demonstrate that high and low levels of both impulsiveness and sensation seeking confer increased risk of marijuana use, albeit through different mechanisms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Young age and the risk of violent behaviour in people with severe mental disorders: prospective, multicentre study

BackgroundDuring adolescence and young adulthood people appear to be more prone to violent behaviour. A greater tendency to violent behaviour appears to be associated with hyperactivity, impulsivity and low tolerance for frustration and provocation in social settings.AimsThis prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate rates of violent behaviour among young people with mental disorders, compared with older age groups.MethodA total of 340 individuals with severe mental disorders (125 living in residential facilities and 215 out-patients) were evaluated at baseline with the SCID-I and II, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Specific Level of Functioning scale, Brown–Goodwin Lifetime History of Aggression scale, Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2. Aggressive behaviour was rated every 15 days with the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS).ResultsThe sample comprised 28 individuals aged 18–29 years, 202 aged 30–49 and 110 aged 50 and over. Younger age was associated with a personality disorder diagnosis, substance use disorder, being single and employed. These results were confirmed even controlling for the gender effect. The patterns of the cumulative MOAS mean scores showed that younger (18–29 years old) individuals were significantly more aggressive than older (≥50) ones (P&lt; 0.001).ConclusionsThis study highlights how young age in people with severe mental disorders is correlated with higher levels of impulsivity, anger and hostility, confirming previous analyses. Our results may assist clinicians in implementing early interventions to improve anger and impulsivity control to reduce the risk of future aggressive behaviours.

Socio-demographic and clinical correlates of parenting style among parents having ADHD children: a cross-section study

BackgroundADHD affects 7.8% of the school-aged population, making it one of the most common childhood brain illnesses. It is characterized by abnormally high levels of inattention, activity, and impulsivity at a young age. Being a parent of a child with ADHD is a real challenge, as the parents tend to be more disapproving, critical, and provide more impulse control directions; such parenting style can have an impact on the illnesses course, accentuate its signs and symptoms, and lead to secondary development of co-morbid psychiatric and behavioral problems. This makes the parent-child effect a matter of clinical importance that needs to be carefully assessed and managed. We aimed to estimate the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of parenting attitudes among parents having ADHD children. This cross-sectional study included 48 ADHD children from both sexes, aged from 6 to 12 years old, and their parents. In our study, we applied the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale 5th edition, the Conner’s Parent Rating Scale-revised, the parenting style as perceived by children questionnaire, and the Fahmy and El-Sherbini questionnaire for the measurement of socioeconomic status.ResultsMothers of ADHD children had significantly lower scores of over-protections parenting style than the fathers; the current study showed a significant increase in total parenting scores and warmth/support in mild ADHD cases than in moderate and severe ones, and there is a significant increase in the mother’s positive parenting style toward ADHD children with lower levels of social problems, mild cases, and older age. There is a significant increase of positive parenting style toward ADHD children exerted by post graduated, professionally working, and high social class fathers and by working mothers among rural residents and high social class mothers. There is a positive correlation between IQ and a mother’s warmth/support.ConclusionADHD children with mild symptoms, higher social functioning of the child, high socioeconomic level of the family, better education, and professional occupations of parents were associated with positive parenting style.