The dark side of online food delivery: Evidence of impulsive consumption behavior.

Prenatal exposure to infectious or non-infectious maternal immune activation (MIA) represents a transdiagnostic environmental risk factor for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Building on previous findings of locomotor hyperactivity in a subset of male MIA offspring, the present study investigated whether viral-like MIA in mice recapitulates features of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in this subgroup. We show that 40-50% of MIA-exposed male offspring develop locomotor hyperactivity in a novel environment, which is most pronounced during early- to mid-adolescence and precedes the emergence of increased impulsive behavior and pre-attentive filtering deficits in early adulthood. We further identified subgroup-specific dopaminergic and noradrenergic alterations in cortical and subcortical brain regions of MIA offspring. These neuronal alterations were age-dependent and correlated with behavioral changes. Moreover, treatment with methylphenidate (MPH), a first-line pharmacological therapy for ADHD, normalized locomotor hyperactivity and restored abnormal mesolimbic and striatal activation patterns in susceptible MIA offspring. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that MIA in mice recapitulates key features of ADHD in a susceptible subset of offspring, supporting the notion that MIA may contribute etiologically to ADHD in some individuals. More broadly, our results suggest that the heterogeneous neurobehavioral outcomes of MIA offspring may result from distinct yet overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms across neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Adolescence involves pronounced changes in sleep timing and duration that have been linked to executive functioning, impulsivity, and risk behaviors, yet evidence for generalizable sleep - self-regulation associations remains limited. We used regularized canonical correlation analysis to examine multivariate relationships between sleep and self-regulation across two independent cohorts. In the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (n = 11,143), later chronotype and shorter sleep duration were associated with higher impulsivity, particularly urgency and deficits in planning and perseverance (r = 0.21, permutation p < 0.001), with minimal contribution from delay discounting. Social jetlag showed weak loadings. In the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence cohort (n = 831), only one canonical function was statistically significant (r = 0.15, p = 0.011), characterized by later chronotype and greater social jetlag, with minimal contribution from sleep duration and primary loadings on impulsivity-related measures. Applying the ABCD-derived sleep - self-regulation pattern to NCANDA produced a small but nonzero association, driven primarily by social jetlag and delayed sleep timing, with minimal influence of sleep duration. These findings provide multivariate evidence linking delayed sleep timing and circadian misalignment to adolescent self-regulation, though effect sizes attenuate across cohorts. Longitudinal work is needed to clarify predictive pathways and inform sleep-focused interventions during this vulnerable developmental period.

Extensive research with rodent models has shown detrimental effects of early-life adversity (ELA) on behavioral (e.g., impulsive behavior, anxiety, and depression) and neurobiological processes (e.g., alterations of neuroendocrine processes and maturation of brain areas). However, heterogeneous methodologies, including types and variations of ELA manipulations could have contributed to inconsistent findings across studies. Recent research indicates that the combination of the two most widely implemented rodent ELA protocols, Maternal Separation (MS) and Limited Bedding/Nesting (LBN), produces consistent and robust behavioral effects. We assessed the effects of combined MS-LBN on four processes linked to both ELA and behavioral disorders in later stages of life: incentive salience of reward cues, and impulsive choice, action, and persistence/perseverance. Sixteen male Sprague Dawley rats were divided in groups of combined MS-LBN during postnatal days 2-21 and without ELA. They were exposed to an Autoshaping Pavlovian conditioning task (AUT), a delay-discounting task (DDT), and acquisition and extinction of a multiple schedule of reinforcement with long and short Variable Intervals (VI) across a span of 18 weeks. Compared to the No-ELA group, ELA rats displayed higher goal-tracking during the AUT (higher nose-poking in the food-delivery location), higher impulsive choice during test and 7-week re-test of the DDT (preference for the smaller-sooner reinforcer over the larger-later), and less efficient responding during the long-interval schedule of reinforcement (more unnecessary responses per pellet). Associations between autoshaping and reinforcement-schedule performance were identified, with ELA moderating the relationship between sign tracking and efficiency during training and persistence/perseverance during extinction. Combined MS-LBN was associated with task-specific changes in reward-related and impulsive behavior in male rats. These complex patterns of disruptions across behavioral processes adds further support to the notion that combined ELA protocols are promising robust models of adverse rearing in humans, which often entails multiple stressors. Not applicable.

Objective: Engagement in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is one of the strongest risk factors for suicide attempt. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the relationship between NSSI and suicide attempt is not well-understood and limits the ability to predict future suicidal behaviors among people who engage in NSSI. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of NSSI and suicide attempt based on the integrated motivation – volitional model 1 (IMV; O’Connor, 2011) that might have a salient impact on informing suicide prevention in a U.S. college student sample using a qualitative, narration-based design approach. Method: Participants were 4 college students (Mage = 24) who have engaged in NSSI in the past. Interviews were conducted via Zoom. Reflective thematic analysis 2 (Bruan & Clarke, 2019) was applied to identify key themes in the transcripts. Results: Analysis yielded nine major themes related to the following: (a) characteristics of NSSI, (b) relationship between NSSI and suicidal behaviors and moderators, and (c) resources and future direction. More specifically, it was worth noting that burdensomeness and impulsivity each played a prominent role in NSSI behaviors and suicidal behaviors which aligned with the IMV model that posits burdensomeness as a motivational moderator while impulsivity as a volitional moderator. Early intervention and interdisciplinary care are needed to prevent and reduce these behaviors. Conclusion: Findings from the present study are expected to assist service providers in implementing risk assessments when working with college students with poor self-image and impulsive behaviors and continue developing effective interventions to minimize future risks.

The evolution of the digital fashion sector has transformed consumption patterns, particularly among Generation Z. Fast fashion has emerged as a well-known business model characterized by affordable trendy products and extremely rapid production cycles. This phenomenon has triggered more impulsive consumer behavior and a heightened “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) among young buyers. However, growing awareness of environmental issues, labor exploitation, and manipulative marketing strategies has given rise to a new phenomenon known as “de-influencing.” This study aims to explore how de-influencing has affected Generation Z’s purchasing behavior, shifting them from fast fashion culture toward more critical and conscious consumption patterns. The study employs a qualitative method by integrating literature review and analyzing various academic articles, journals, and online sources related to consumer behavior, social media, fast fashion, and de-influencing. The findings indicate that social media serves as a dominant factor shaping Generation Z consumer behavior, both through influencer impact and digital platform algorithms. Nevertheless, increasing digital literacy and social awareness encourage Generation Z to question overconsumption culture and place greater value on sustainability, brand transparency, and long-term product utility. The phenomenon of de-influencing represents a form of resistance to consumerist culture while also reflecting this broader behavioral shift.

Apathy and impulsivity are multidimensional constructs that shape goal-directed behavior. Although the motivational dopaminergic spectrum hypothesis frames them as opposing ends of a single continuum, questionnaire-based studies consistently show that they positively co-occur in both healthy and clinical populations. An emerging theoretical resolution of this paradox is that apathy and impulsivity relate to distinct components of goal-directed behavior, with co-occurrence potentially arising from domain-general factors and/or partially overlapping neurophysiological networks. Here, we examined this proposal in the domain of action control using the stop-signal task, which provides separable indices of action inhibition (stop-signal response time, SSRT) and action initiation (go response time, goRT) within the independent race model. Based on prior findings and theoretical considerations, we expected SSRT to covary with urgency-related impulsivity and goRT with action-initiation apathy. A large sample of healthy young adults (N = 144) completed a stop-signal task implemented in accordance with consensus recommendations, alongside validated multidimensional measures of impulsivity (UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale) and apathy (Lille Apathy Rating Scale). Bayesian analyses replicated a positive association between global apathy and impulsivity scores. However, SSRT was not associated with urgency, and goRT was not associated with action-initiation apathy, with moderate evidence for the null. Additional exploratory analyses provided moderate evidence against the majority of correlations between stop-signal indices and the remaining scale dimensions, including global scores. Thus, stop-signal indices did not dissociate apathy and impulsivity in action control, highlighting limits of task-based accounts of their co-occurrence.

Objective: Evaluations for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood typically incorporate both self-report questionnaires and performance-based cognitive testing. Extant research has demonstrated weak or absent relationships between self-report and performance-based measures assessing the same or similar behavioral dimensions of ADHD (e.g., attention, planning); however, this dissociation remains understudied for impulsivity. This study examined the relationship between self-report and performance-based impulsivity measures in adults undergoing ADHD evaluation. Method: A clinical sample of 283 adults referred for ADHD evaluation completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 Impulsivity scale (MMPI-3 IMP), Clinical Assessment of Attention Deficit-Adult (CAT-A), and Conners Continuous Performance Test-Third Edition (CPT-3). Regression analyses and correlational methods examined relationships between self-report and performance-based impulsivity measures. Results: MMPI-3 IMP scores did not significantly predict CPT-3 impulsivity variables. Logistic regressions demonstrated that MMPI-3 IMP scores had 83.6% classification accuracy in predicting normal vs. abnormal impulsivity performance but did not significantly predict elevated CPT-3 impulsivity. Parallel CAT-A analyses essentially mirrored MMPI-3 IMP findings. MMPI-3 IMP scores and CAT-A current and childhood impulsivity scores were moderately correlated, with significant concordance between MMPI-3 IMP and CAT-A current and childhood impulsivity scale elevations. Conclusion: Present findings align with prior literature indicating the MMPI-3 Impulsivity scale may not adequately capture and behavioral impulsivity measured by the CPT-3. Dissociation between MMPI-3 IMP and CPT-3 performance, coupled with convergence among self-report measures, indicates these modalities capture distinct aspects: subjective behavioral tendencies versus objective inhibitory control. Findings reinforce the need for multimodal ADHD assessment approaches.

ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between dimensions of impulsivity, as conceptualized in the UPPS model, and cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions were conceptualized according to Franceschi’s framework (2007) and examined among adult males serving short prison sentences in France, in comparison to individuals from the general population. The sample comprised 83 participants: 41 incarcerated men serving short prison sentences (aged 19–48 years) and 42 men from the general population with no criminal history (aged 22–49 years). Participants completed the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale and the Cognitive Distortions Scale for Adults (EDC-A). Compared with the inmate group, the comparison group showed lower perseverance. In contrast, the inmate group reported significantly more cognitive distortions overall, particularly negative ones. In the inmate group, urgency, lack of premeditation, and lack of perseverance were positively associated with both positive and negative cognitive distortions. Beyond the comparison, we also explored whether these patterns varied within the inmate group according to reason for incarceration, recidivism status, and detention duration. Some differences were found according to recidivism status and reason for incarceration, and detention duration moderated several associations between impulsivity and cognitive distortions. These findings suggest that impulsivity-related self-regulation difficulties may be broadly linked to distorted reasoning in incarcerated men, supporting the clinical relevance of early assessment and targeted cognitive-behavioral interventions in correctional settings.

Impulsivity, a complex construct linked to addictions, is often inconsistently assessed and conceptualized, making it difficult to effectively target in addiction treatment. The current study aimed to identify neural substrates underlying distinct impulsivity domains and explore their relationships with alcohol use and stress in both women and men. We utilized a whole-brain machine learning strategy, connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM), to investigate brain networks linked to four composite impulsivity-related domains previously identified in the NIAAA-funded Brain and Alcohol Research in College Students dataset: impulsive action, approach/appetitive motivation, impulsivity/compulsivity, and behavioral inhibition/punishment sensitivity (BIPS). CPM (5-fold cross-validation, 100 repeats, and permutation testing) was applied using Monetary Incentive Delay Task fMRI data from 287 undergraduates. Identified networks were examined in relation to alcohol use and stress across sexes. The CPM model predicting BIPS was significant (r = 0.24, p = .001). Higher BIPS was associated with increased connectivity between default mode, motor/sensory, and cerebellar networks, and decreased connectivity among medial frontal, frontoparietal, default mode, and motor/sensory networks. BIPS network strength differed by sex (t(285) = 8.26, p < .001), with negative associations with alcohol use (p < .05) in men and positive associations with stressful life events (p < .05) in women. Identifying a neuromarker of BIPS in young adults may inform targeted interventions for impulsive behaviors, considering sex differences. Future research should explore whether neuromodulation or other interventions targeting this network could mitigate problem drinking in men and stress-related concerns in women.

Occupational injury risk and workplace safety challenges among adults with ADHD: A systematic review.

Impulsivity is an understudied area of post-traumatic stress disorder, a debilitating disorder specifically associated with stress. We examined reward-related impulsive behavior, anxiety-like behavior, locomotor activity and social behavior in the absence and presence of protracted pharmacological positive modulation of α5- and α6-GABAA receptors (GL-II-73 and DK-I-56-1, respectively) in male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to a combination of maternal deprivation (MD) and single prolonged stress (SPS). While locomotor and anxiety-like behavior were not affected in the SPS and MD+SPS groups, the double-hit group treated with DK-I-56-1 exhibited a higher locomotor distance compared with MD+SPS and a higher percentage of open-arm time in the elevated plus maze compared with the control group. In the variable delay-to-signal task of impulsivity, the total number of successful trials and premature responses (PR) in the first stage of the test day were reduced in all groups exposed to stress compared with the controls. Based on PR rates in the first and second set of trials, motor impulsivity was apparently suppressed in all stressed groups, while delay intolerance was suppressed only in the MD+SPS+GL-II-73 group, respectively. In the three-chamber test, social interaction was completely normal, while social recognition was preserved in the MD+SPS+GL-II-73 group. In the resident-intruder test, social play was reduced only in the SPS group. The evaluation of impulsive behavior in the used complex task was hindered by the lack of motivation of stressed rats, which in the case of omission percentage was ameliorated by positive modulation of α5 and α6 GABAA receptors.

Indirect relationship between alexithymia and binge eating disorder in the context of obesity.

The influence of mindfulness therapy on NSSI and serum proBDNF in adolescents with depressive episode of depressive episode of bipolar disorder.

The mental stigma: Influence of psychiatric comorbidity on treatment timelines and discharge processes in patients with pelvic injuries.

Objective Premature termination of treatment (PTT) is prevalent among patients with eating disorders (ED) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTT is associated with negative outcomes. This study examined whether variables collected at admission and during hospitalisation predicted PTT among female patients treated for PTSD and/or EDs. Method A total of 76 women hospitalised between 2019 and 2023 at the ‘By Your Side’ inpatient facility participated. PTT was defined as unplanned discharge without re-admission. Quantitative measures were analysed using t-tests and U-tests; qualitative measures were assessed using chi-square tests, followed by binary logistic regression. Results A total of 97% of participants met DSM-5 Criterion A for trauma; 96% were diagnosed with PTSD, 74% with an ED and 70% with both. 43.4% terminated treatment prematurely. PTT was significantly associated with sexual risk-taking behaviours (χ 2 = 4.601, df = 1, p = 0.032), impulsive departures from treatment (χ 2 = 7.165, df = 1, p = 0.007) and fewer prior hospitalisations (B = 0.535, df = 1, p = 0.026). No differences were found in socio-demographic or clinical symptom scores. Outcomes were comparable between patients who left treatment and returned and those who remained continuously. Conclusions Findings highlight the need to address impulsivity and risk-taking behaviours, and to support therapeutic re-engagement.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex personality disorder characterized by difficulties in emotion regulation, impulsivity, identity confusion, and problems in interpersonal relationships. Due to the high prevalence of self-harming behaviors and suicide attempts, it is considered a significant mental health problem in clinical settings. In recent years, the concept of mentalization has gained importance in explaining Borderline Personality Disorder. Mentalization is defined as the ability to understand both one’s own mental processes and the emotions, thoughts, and intentions of others. Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder may experience impairments in mentalization capacity, especially under intense stress. These impairments are thought to be associated with emotion regulation difficulties, impulsive behaviors, and interpersonal relationship problems. In this review study, the etiology, epidemiology, theoretical foundations, and DSM-5 classification of Borderline Personality Disorder were examined. In addition, the effects of Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) on Borderline Personality Disorder were evaluated in light of current literature. Research findings indicate that MBT has positive effects particularly on self-harming behaviors, impulsivity, and interpersonal relationship problems. Furthermore, Mentalization-Based Therapy has been shown to improve emotion regulation skills and overall functioning. As a result, MBT is considered one of the effective psychotherapy approaches in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Keywords: Borderline personality disorder, mentalization, mentalization-based therapy, impulsivity, emotion regulation.

Adolescent social isolation and food restriction impairs feeding in female mice.

Interpersonal and self-directed violence share many common risk factors, yet most studies examined the two forms of violence separately. To date, no research has investigated the mutually interactions between these shared and distinct features of the two forms of violence. A total of 2,223 men aged 18-34 were recruited via community-based random sampling in Chengdu, China. Assessments covered sociodemographic factors, psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, psychosis), child maltreatment, adulthood stress, impulsivity, substance use, interpersonal and self-directed violent behaviors. Ising model was used to construct a violence network. Community detection was used to identify clusters of violence related factors. Simulated interventions were used to determine potential intervention targets of interpersonal and self-directed violence. A stable socio-psychological network was established among the interpersonal and self-directed violence, which encompassed externalizing, internalizing and social isolation communities. Externalizing community included interpersonal violence, adulthood stress, impulsivity, child maltreatment and victim of stalking, while internalizing community encompassed self-directed violence, chronic illness/disability, anxiety, depression, and psychosis. Psychosis exhibited the highest bridge centrality. Child maltreatment presented the highest direct and indirect expected influence of the network. Child maltreatment and anxiety were identified as the most effective statistical leverage points of interpersonal and self-directed violence, respectively. This study highlights that interpersonal violence and self-directed violence tends to gather with stress factors and mental disorders, respectively. Psychosis is the vital bridge, while child maltreatment is a critical covariant of the network.

This study aims to investigate whether and how trait impulsivity differentiates suicidal ideation (SI) from suicide attempts (SA) in adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and the mechanisms through which impulsivity increases suicide attempt risk. A total of 185 adolescents diagnosed with MDD and suicidal ideation were categorized into SI (n = 118) and SA (n = 67) groups based on lifetime suicide attempt history. Study variables included impulsivity, depression severity, suicidal ideation intensity, and demographic and clinical characteristics. Group difference analysis compared variables between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression and moderated mediation models were applied to analyze the relationships between impulsivity and suicidal behavior. The SA group exhibited younger age, higher depression severity, higher impulsivity, and higher suicidal ideation intensity compared to the SI group. Unadjusted logistic regression revealed that higher impulsivity was associated with higher odds of suicide attempt risk (OR = 1.03, p = 0.030); however, this association became nonsignificant after adjusting for covariates. Mediation analysis revealed a pattern consistent with an indirect association: trait impulsivity was statistically associated with higher suicide attempt risk via depression severity and suicidal ideation intensity, whereas its direct association was not significant. Age moderated the relationship between impulsivity and suicidal ideation intensity (B = -0.05, p = 0.039), showing stronger associations in younger adolescents. Trait impulsivity alone does not directly differentiate suicidal ideation from suicide attempts. It is indirectly linked to suicidal behavior through the severity of depression and the intensity of suicidal ideation. The correlation between impulsivity and suicidal ideation intensity diminishes as age increases.