Medium-sized Correlations Research Articles

Network structure of functional somatic symptoms

ObjectiveThe overlap among functional somatic syndromes (FSS) is substantial, which is why various empirical attempts at an improved understanding of related symptoms have been undertaken. Network analyses are particularly valuable from a clinical point of view, since they focus on the extent to which symptoms expression is co-dependent. The aim of this study was to provide the first estimation of the network structure of symptoms in 17 FSS. MethodsN = 3054 young adults participated in an online survey. The Questionnaire on Functional Somatic Syndromes (FSSQ) was used to diagnose FSS and to assess related symptoms. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess (comorbid) depression. Various R packages were used for network analysis, which yielded correlations between symptoms (edges), symptom groups (communities), and measures of centrality for individual symptoms (e.g., node strength). ResultsThe final network had a relatively small number of edges, with small (46.5 %) or small- to medium-sized (47.1 %) correlations. Ten communities were identified: cognitive problems/fatigue/depression, sensory problems, facial pain, head/neck/upper back pain, dizziness/nausea, throat pain/problems with swallowing, chest pain, widespread pain, abdominal pain/problems with digestion, and genital pain. The highest node strength in the network was found for the symptoms “tired”, “down, depressed, or hopeless”, and “tired after minimal exertion”. ConclusionsThe network analyses pointed to ten distinct groups of moderately associated symptoms in individuals with FSS. Fatigue and depression emerged as important symptoms connecting groups. Future studies should test whether (transdiagnostic) interventions specifically targeting these symptoms are particularly potent in alleviating FSS.

Parent version of the Eating Disorder Examination: Reliability and validity in a treatment-seeking sample

BackgroundAssessment of eating disorders (ED) in youth relies heavily on self-report, yet persistent lack of recognition of the presence and/or seriousness of symptoms can be intrinsic to ED. This study examines the psychometric properties of a semi-structured interview, the parent version of the Eating Disorder Examination (PEDE), developed to systematically assess caregiver report of symptoms.MethodsA multi-site, clinical sample of youth (N = 522; age range: 12 to 18 years) seeking treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) and subsyndromal AN were assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) for youth and the PEDE for collateral caregiver report.ResultsInternal consistencies of the four PEDE subscales were on par with established ranges for the EDE. Significant medium-sized correlations and poor to moderate levels of agreement were found between the corresponding subscales on each measure. For the PEDE, confirmatory factor analysis of the EDE four-factor model provided a poor fit; an exploratory factor analysis indicated that a 3-factor model better fits the PEDE.ConclusionsFindings suggest that the PEDE has psychometric properties on par with the original EDE. The addition of the caregiver perspective may provide incremental information that can aid in the assessment of AN in youth. Future research is warranted to establish psychometric properties of the PEDE in broader transdiagnostic ED samples.

Validation of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Comprehensive Nodal Irradiation in the RadComp Trial

Our purpose was to evaluate the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures used in the ongoing RadComp pragmatic randomized clinical trial (PRCT). The deidentified and blinded data set included 774 English-speaking female participants who completed their 6-month posttreatment assessment. Eleven PRO measures were evaluated, including the Trial Outcome Index from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), Satisfaction with Breast Cosmetic Outcomes, the BREAST-Q, and selected Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures. PROs were measured at 3 timepoints: baseline, completion of radiation therapy (RT), and 6 months post-RT. Ten variables were used as validity anchors. Pearson or Spearman correlations were calculated between PROs and convergent validity indicators. Mean PRO differences between clinically distinct categories were compared with analysis of variance methods (known-groups validity). PRO change scores were mapped to change in other variables (sensitivity to change). Most correlations between PROs and validity indicators were large (≥0.5). Mean score for Satisfaction with Breast Cosmetic Outcomes was higher (better) for those with a lumpectomy compared with those with a mastectomy (P < .001). Mean scores for the FACT-B Trial Outcome Index and for PROMIS Fatigue and Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities were better for those with good baseline performance status compared with those with poorer baseline performance status (P < .05). At completion of RT and post-RT, mean scores for Satisfaction with Breast Cosmetic Outcomes and BREAST-Q Radiation were significantly different (P < .001) across categories for all Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy -Treatment Satisfaction - General items. There were medium-sized correlations between change scores for FACT-B Trial Outcome Index, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Ability to Participate in Social Roles and change scores in the Visual Analog Scale. For patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer receiving radiation in the RadComp PRCT, our findings demonstrate high reliability and validity for important PRO measures, supporting their psychometric strength and usefulness to reflect the effect of RT on health-related quality of life.

Personal resources for addressing the work demands of Ukrainian oncologists in stressful crisis situations

BackgroundMany work-related stresses are experienced by oncologists. Ukraine is currently undergoing numerous crises, including the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and military conflicts, which represent stressful situations. The aim of this study was to explore the personal resources that Ukrainian oncologists use to cope with work demands in a situation featuring manifold crises. This study identified the ways in which people deal with stressful situations and the roles that they play in shaping the challenging situations that they encounter (work-related behavior) as well as how they cope with stress (stress management).MethodsForty oncologists (18 men and 22 women) working in a clinic in Kharkiv (Ukraine) with an average age of 46.3 ± 13.37 years (ranging from 26 to 74 years) participated in this study. The occupational psychological survey consisted of the Work-Related Behavior and Experience Patterns (German: Arbeitsbezogenes Verhaltens- und Erlebensmuster, AVEM) questionnaire, which was developed by Schaarschmidt and Fischer, and the Differential Stress Inventory (DSI), which was developed by Léfevre and Kubinger.Results65% of oncologists exhibited AVEM risk pattern A or B. No gender differences were observed with regard to the distribution of AVEM patterns. Women obtained significantly higher scores than did men on only one dimension: experience of social support (4.86 vs. 3.44; p = 0.045). When the DSI categories were differentiated by gender, no significant differences were observed. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a medium-sized correlation between perfection striving and palliative coping (ρ = 0.404).ConclusionsFew gender-based differences in work-related behaviors, experiences, and stress management strategies are evident among oncologists. AVEM risk patterns are more prevalent among Ukrainian oncologists than among comparable occupational groups, and interventions in the context of health management are recommended.

Exploring the influence of bilingual experience on speech-in-competition measures

Speech-in-Competition (SIC) tasks mimic real-world environments by including background noise and multi-speaker scenarios. However, few SIC tasks have been translated into Spanish and validated. Moreover, the influence of bilingual experience on SIC measures is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate how bilingual experience influences performance on speech-in-competition tasks conducted in Spanish versus English. We tested fifty-six Mexican undergraduate students whose native language was Spanish who self-rated English dominance on a 10-point scale (M = 5.8, SD = 2.3). Participants performed better on the Spanish version of a spatial release from masking compared to the English version but had similar performance in a digits-in-noise test. The relationship between performances and bilingual experience was tested by creating a linguistic profile based on five dimensions of the second language. Statistically significant medium-size correlations were found between performance and the linguistic dimensions of status, proficiency, and history, but not with demand of use, or stability. This indication that the influence of bilingual experience on SIC measures can be substantial suggests that SIC tasks may be inappropriate for individuals whose native language is not English. This also suggests that other linguistically diverse populations may need specialized SIC measures as well.

"I completely shut down": A mixed methods evaluation of the fear-avoidance model for young adults with a recent concussion and anxiety.

The fear-avoidance model is a well-established framework for understanding the transition from acute to chronic pain. However, its applicability to concussions is not yet well understood. Here, we conduct the first mixed methods analysis of the fear-avoidance model in young adults with a recent concussion and co-occurring anxiety and assess the model's alignment with their lived experience. We conducted a mixed methods analysis using a cross-sectional parallel design. Seventeen participants completed questionnaires corresponding with the elements in the fear-avoidance model (e.g., pain catastrophizing, avoidance, disability, anxiety, depression, etc.) and participated in semistructured interviews probing their experiences following their concussion between March 2021 and February 2022. We calculated bivariate correlations for quantitative data and analyzed the qualitative data using hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis. Quantitative results demonstrated strong and medium-sized correlations among theorized relationships within the fear-avoidance model (rs = .40-.85) with the majority being statistically significant. Qualitative results provided substantial convergent and complementary support (e.g., bi-directionality of some relationships, associations between nonadjacent model components, centrality of anxiety in symptom persistence) for the application of the fear-avoidance model to concussions. Findings highlighted additional factors (social factors and post-injury endurance patterns) relevant to this population. The fear-avoidance model is a useful lens for understanding the lived experience of young adults with a recent concussion and co-occurring anxiety. Psychosocial treatment for this population would benefit from focusing on the interplay of concussion symptoms, anxiety, depression, disability, and pain-related fear, offering adaptive confrontation strategies, and addressing the interpersonal impact of concussion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of an implementation intentions intervention for managing university student stress.

University students consistently report high levels of stress, which has been associated with a range of adverse outcomes. Promoting adaptive coping behaviours, such as problem-focused coping for managing university stress, is therefore a timely area of investigation. Current coping intervention approaches target reasoned cognitive processes; however, recent research has suggested that automatic processes are more strongly associated with problem-focused coping behaviour. The current study examined the effect of an implementation intentions intervention, a technique that can support behaviour to be performed automatically by facilitating continued repetition of a plan, on problem-focused coping behaviour under stress and stress-related outcomes. Following a pilot study (N=21), a preregistered randomized controlled trial was conducted with university students (N=154) using an online survey. Participants completed baseline measures of problem-focused coping behaviour, behavioural automaticity, behavioural intentions, action planning, perceived stress, procrastination, and psychological wellbeing; before receiving the intervention or control condition stimuli, and then at a 2-week follow-up. Behavioural intention and action planning were also measured immediately post-intervention. The intervention had a significant medium-sized effect on action planning for problem-focused coping, but no other significant effects were detected. Exploratory assessment of plan quality revealed medium-sized correlations between plan quality and changes in problem-focused coping behaviour. Findings indicate that implementation intentions may be a promising approach for increasing planning for the use of problem-focused coping. Indicators of plan quality found to be associated with changes in problem-focused coping provide valuable avenues for intervention optimisation in future research.

Measurement of transdermal alcohol concentration using a wrist-wornenzymatic transdermal monitor.

New-generation transdermal monitors such as the ION Research Alpha Prototypes (ION RAP) hold promise for real-time alcohol measurement, with improvements in design features such as sampling frequency, size, and comfort. This paper aims to provide the first comparisons of the wrist-worn enzyme-based ION RAP and the fuel cell-based SCRAM-CAM against breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) readings. Participants (N=23) completed a total of 69 laboratory alcohol administration sessions while wearing both a prototype of the ION RAP wristband and a SCRAM-CAM ankle monitor; they also gave breath samples each 10min. Analyses focused on latencies of transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) after alcohol ingestion, correlations, and cross-correlations between BrAC and TAC measurements. A high failure rate of the ION RAP was observed (61.5% of the sessions were excluded due to the sessions not containing enough valid data). On average, the SCRAM-CAM and ION RAP detected alcohol 43 (SD=21) and 50 (SD=27) minutes after the first drink, with peak values reached after 138 (SD=47) and 154 (SD=56) minutes, respectively. SCRAM-CAM TAC peak (r=0.185, p=0.375) and area under the curve (AUC; r=0.320, p=0.118) showed small- and medium-sized correlations to BrAC. ION RAP TAC peak (r=-0.082, p=0.698) and AUC (r=0.040, p=0.852) correlations to BrAC were close to zero. In this study, the new-generation ION RAP and the traditionally used SCRAM-CAM show similar delays in detection and similar TAC curves over time, despite using either enzyme- or fuel cell-based technologies, respectively. Due to high failure rates of the ION RAP prototypes and close to zero correlations to BrAC, further developments and improvements of these TAC wristbands are required for reliable and valid use in real-time alcohol measurement.

Accuracy of physician self-estimation of time spent during patient care in the emergency department.

Accurate measurement of physicians' time spent during patient care stands to inform emergency department (ED) improvement efforts. Direct observation is time consuming and cost prohibitive, so we sought to determine if physician self-estimation of time spent during patient care was accurate. We performed a prospective, convenience-sample study in which research assistants measured time spent by ED physicians in patient care. At the conclusion of each observed encounter, physicians estimated their time spent. Using Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman's rho, we compared physician estimates to actual time spent and assessed for associations of encounter characteristics and physician estimation. Among 214 encounters across 10 physicians, we observed a medium-sized correlation between actual and estimated time (Spearman's rho=0.63, p<0.001), and in aggregate, physicians underestimated time spent by a median of 0.1 min. An equal number of encounters were overestimated and underestimated. Underestimated encounters were underestimated by a median of 5.1 min (interquartile range [IQR] 2.5-9.8) and overestimated encounters were overestimated by a median of 4.3 min (IQR 2.5-11.6)-26.3% and 27.9% discrepancy, respectively. In terms of actual time spent, underestimated encounters (median 19.3 min, IQR 13.5-28.3) were significantly longer than overestimated encounters (median 15.3 min, IQR 11.3-20.5) (p<0.001). Physician self-estimation of time spent was accurate in aggregate, providing evidence that it is a valid surrogate marker for larger-scale process improvement and research activities, but likely not at the encounter level. Investigations exploring mechanisms to augment physician self-estimation, including modeling and technological support, may yield pathways to make self-estimation valid also at the encounter level.

Multimethod Validation of the Cinematic Self Scale as a Measure of Narrative Identity by Convergent Self and Informant Ratings

According to narrative identity people understand themselves through story. However, evidence suggests people vary dispositionally in how strongly they experience narrative identity. Recently, a self-report scale called the Cinematic Self scale was constructed and validated to measure this trait variation in narrative identity. In that article, evidence across five studies supported the validity of the cinematic self scale as measuring narrative identity. A limitation of that evidence was its exclusive reliance on self-reports; this can be problematic because associations may be inflated by shared method biases. The present research builds on that limitation by using data from multiple methods: self-reports and informant reports. Do self-reported cinematic self scores correspond with informant-reported narrative behaviors? University students ( N = 127) completed the cinematic self scale and informants reported on their narrative behaviors ( N = 395). Positive, medium-sized correlations between self-reports and informant reports were found across multiple analytical approaches, controlling for personality variables. The results extend validation evidence of the cinematic self scale as a measure of narrative identity.

Epistemic beliefs in science, socio-economic status, and mathematics and science test results in lower secondary education: a multilevel perspective

The role of epistemic beliefs in science (EBS) and socio-economic status (SES) on mathematics and science test results on both student- and school-level data was investigated via a secondary analysis of Estonian Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 survey data. The effective sample comprised 3991 students (52% girls, 48% boys) from 81 schools. Complementing bivariate correlation analysis, two-level regression models were computed where mathematics and science test scores were predicted from student- and school-level EBS as well as SES. Mathematics and science test scores had a medium-sized correlation with both EBS as well as SES on the student-level data. These correlations were larger on the school-level data. Multilevel analyses showed that both higher mathematics and science scores were predicted by male gender, higher student-level SES and EBS, and higher school-level SES. Higher school-level EBS significantly predicted better science test scores, but this was not the case with mathematics.

The Adaptive Test of Emotion Knowledge for 3-to 9-Year-Olds: Psychometric Properties and Validity.

Children with an advanced knowledge of emotions are generally more socially competent, less likely to suffer from psychopathology, and more likely to succeed in school, both socially and academically. The assessment of children's emotion knowledge has thus gained importance in recent decades - both in psychiatric practice and in developmental and educational psychology. However, there is still a lack of appropriate instruments for assessing children's emotion knowledge in a performance test reliably, and for a broad age range. The Adaptive Test of Emotion Knowledge (ATEM 3–9) is a newly developed measure which encompasses seven components of emotion knowledge in 3–9-year-olds. The ATEM 3–9 is an adaptive test which uses skip and dropout rules to adjust for children's varying levels of knowledge. In addition to German, the ATEM has been translated into English and Hebrew. The German norming sample of the ATEM 3–9 comprises N = 882 (54% female, 21% bilingual) children between the ages of 3 and 9 years, who were divided into seven age groups. Test items, which are ordered according to the item response theory, showed a good fit to a seven-dimensional model reflecting the seven components. The internal consistencies of the dimensions are acceptable to good. Construct validity was examined by means of correlations with other measures of emotion knowledge, as well as measures on language skills and executive functions in a subsample. This resulted in medium size correlations in the expected directions. In addition, children with externalizing and internalizing disorders who were recruited in psychiatric in- and outpatient clinics showed deficits in various components of emotion knowledge when compared to their agemates in the norming sample. Overall, the ATEM 3–9 is well suited to measure individual components of emotion knowledge in children and to obtain a differentiated picture of the various aspects of emotion knowledge. The ATEM 3–9 thus supports the investigation of the development of social-emotional competencies in normative development (e.g., school readiness) and in social-emotional-learning interventions. Furthermore, it is suitable as an instrument for the differentiated assessment of (progress of) children's emotion knowledge in clinical child psychology and psychiatry.

Emotion network density in burnout

BackgroundHealth care workers are often affected by burnout, resulting in reduced personal well-being and professional functioning. Although emotional exhaustion is considered a core component of burnout, little is known about the dynamics of emotions and their relation to burnout. We used network analysis to investigate the correlation between the density of a negative emotion network, a marker for emotional rigidity in person-specific networks, and burnout severity.MethodsUsing an ecological momentary assessment design, the intensity of negative emotions of forty-three health care workers and medical students was assessed five times per day (between 6 am and 8 pm) for 17 days. Burnout symptoms were assessed at the end of the study period with the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Multilevel vector autoregressive models were computed to calculate network density of subject-specific temporal networks. The one-sided correlation between network density and burnout severity was assessed. The study protocol and analytic plan were registered prior to the data collection.ResultsWe found a medium-sized correlation between the negative emotion network density and burnout severity at the end of the study period r(45) = .32, 95% CI = .09–1.0, p = .014).ConclusionsThe strength of the temporal interplay of negative emotions is associated with burnout, highlighting the importance of emotions and emotional exhaustion in reaction to occupational-related distress in health care workers. Moreover, our findings align with previous investigations of emotion network density and impaired psychological functioning, demonstrating the utility of conceptualizing the dynamics of emotions as a network.

Cardiac response in aversive and appetitive olfactory conditioning: Evidence for a valence-independent CS-elicited bradycardia.

While the examination of conditioned cardiac responses is well established in human fear conditioning research, comparable studies using less-aversive or rather appetitive unconditioned stimuli (UCS) are sparse and results are mixed. Therefore, the aim of this study was a systematic analysis of cardiac reactions in aversive and appetitive conditioning. Olfactory stimuli were used as unconditioned stimuli as they are suitable reinforcers in both an aversive and an appetitive conditioning offering the opportunity for a comparison between conditioned responses. In total, n=86 participants took part in both an aversive and an appetitive differential conditioning task with a counterbalanced order across participants. Aversive or appetitive odors, respectively, served as UCS and neutral geometrical figures as CS. Subjective ratings, skin conductance response (SCRs), and evoked cardiac reactions were analyzed and compared between tasks. Conditioned responses in subjective ratings could be observed in both aversive conditioning and appetitive conditioning, while SCRs discriminated between CS+ and CS- in aversive conditioning only. Regarding conditioned cardiac responses, the deceleration for the CS+ was longer than for the CS- in both tasks. In addition, a higher deceleration magnitude and a shorter acceleration for the CS+ as compared to the CS- were found in aversive but not in appetitive conditioning. There were medium-size correlations between aversive and appetitive CRs for subjective ratings and none for physiological responses. The results suggest similarities between cardiac response patterns in aversive and appetitive conditioning, which implies that bradycardia in conditioning might not be fear-specific but presents a valence-independent CS-elicited bradycardia.

Is dealing with errors in the classroom specific for school subjects? A study of the error climate in mathematics, German, and English

A frequent observation in the school context is that opportunities to learn from errors are often missed. However, a positive error climate may support learning from errors. For the school subject of mathematics, some findings about characteristics of the error climate already exist. But, a comparison of the error climate between different school subjects is still pending. In the present study, it is analyzed whether the error climate differs in different school subjects and whether the same interrelations between the ways in which individuals deal with errors can be found in these different school subjects. In a study with 937 students from 48 classrooms from grades 5 to 7, in different secondary schools in Germany and Austria, we assessed the error climate and individual reactions following errors in mathematics, German, and English. Small mean differences between mathematics and the two language subjects were yielded. In addition, we found medium-sized correlations between the error climate measures in the three school subjects. However, the same pattern of interrelations between error climate and the way individuals deal with errors for all three school subjects could be shown. The results suggest that the perception of the error climate is rather similar in different school subjects. This has implications, for instance, for interventions that aim at fostering the error climate.

The Good, the Bad, and the Clever: Faking Ability as a Socio-Emotional Ability?

Socio-emotional abilities have been proposed as an extension to models of intelligence, but earlier measurement approaches have either not fulfilled criteria of ability measurement or have covered only predominantly receptive abilities. We argue that faking ability—the ability to adjust responses on questionnaires to present oneself in a desired manner—is a socio-emotional ability that can broaden our understanding of these abilities and intelligence in general. To test this theory, we developed new instruments to measure the ability to fake bad (malingering) and administered them jointly with established tests of faking good ability in a general sample of n = 134. Participants also completed multiple tests of emotion perception along with tests of emotion expression posing, pain expression regulation, and working memory capacity. We found that individual differences in faking ability tests are best explained by a general factor that had a large correlation with receptive socio-emotional abilities and had a zero to medium-sized correlation with different productive socio-emotional abilities. All correlations were still small after controlling these effects for shared variance with general mental ability as indicated by tests of working memory capacity. We conclude that faking ability is indeed correlated meaningfully with other socio-emotional abilities and discuss the implications for intelligence research and applied ability assessment.

Validation of a Laser Ranged Scanner-Based Detection of Spatio-Temporal Gait Parameters Using the aTUG Chair.

This article covers the suitability to measure gait-parameters via a Laser Range Scanner (LRS) that was placed below a chair during the walking phase of the Timed Up&Go Test in a cohort of 92 older adults (mean age 73.5). The results of our study demonstrated a high concordance of gait measurements using a LRS in comparison to the reference GAITRite walkway. Most of aTUG’s gait parameters demonstrate a strong correlation coefficient with the GAITRite, indicating high measurement accuracy for the spatial gait parameters. Measurements of velocity had a correlation coefficient of 99%, which can be interpreted as an excellent measurement accuracy. Cadence showed a slightly lower correlation coefficient of 96%, which is still an exceptionally good result, while step length demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 98% per leg and stride length with an accuracy of 99% per leg. In addition to confirming the technical validation of the aTUG regarding its ability to measure gait parameters, we compared results from the GAITRite and the aTUG for several parameters (cadence, velocity, and step length) with results from the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence-(ABC)-Scale assessments. With confidence coefficients for BBS and velocity, cadence and step length ranging from 0.595 to 0.798 and for ABC ranging from 0.395 to 0.541, both scales demonstrated only a medium-sized correlation. Thus, we found an association of better walking ability (represented by the measured gait parameters) with better balance (BBC) and balance confidence (ABC) overall scores via linear regression. This results from the fact that the BBS incorporates both static and dynamic balance measures and thus, only partly reflects functional requirements for walking. For the ABC score, this effect was even more pronounced. As this is to our best knowledge the first evaluation of the association between gait parameters and these balance scores, we will further investigate this phenomenon and aim to integrate further measures into the aTUG to achieve an increased sensitivity for balance ability.

Neuropsychological functioning of individuals at clinical evaluation of adult ADHD

ObjectivesNumerous studies showed that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) suffer from impairments in a range of cognitive functions when compared to healthy controls. However, only little is known about the neuropsychological functions when compared to various clinical control groups and whether a distinct neuropsychological profile can be identified for adult ADHD.MethodThis retrospective study examined data of 199 outpatients referred for clinical evaluation of adult ADHD, allocated either to an ADHD group (n = 78) or to one of two clinical comparison groups, depending on whether they show indications (n = 71) or no indications (n = 50) for the presence of psychiatric disorders other than ADHD. All individuals performed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.ResultsData analysis revealed impairments in a range of cognitive functions in a substantial number of patients of all three groups. However, profiles of neuropsychological impairments were similar between groups. Furthermore, significant small- to medium-sized correlations between basic and higher-order cognitive functions were revealed in the ADHD group and the clinical comparison group with indications for psychiatric disorders other than ADHD.ConclusionNeuropsychological impairments are prominent in psychiatric outpatients seeking a clinical evaluation of adult ADHD but are not specific for ADHD. It is concluded that neuropsychological test performance may have limited incremental value to support the psychiatric differential diagnosis. Furthermore, a clinical trajectory may need to take into account that deficits in a range of higher-order cognitive functions can be substantially explained by deficits in basic cognitive functions.

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Environmental and Health Concern Pathways Toward Meat Consumption.

The dramatic increase of meat production in the last decades has proven to be one of the most impacting causes of negative environmental outcomes (e.g., increase of greenhouse emissions, pollution of land and water, and biodiversity loss). In two studies, we aimed to verify the role of key socio-psychological dimensions on meat intake. Study 1 (N = 198) tested the predictive power of an extended version of the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) model on individual food choices in an online supermarket simulation. In an online survey, participants were directed to a virtual shop and asked to buy food within a set amount of money. Subsequently, they completed measures of behavioral intention, the VBN constructs (values, general pro-environmental beliefs, awareness of consequences, ascription of responsibility, and personal norm), and social norms (injunctive and descriptive). The outcome variable was operationalized in terms of percentage of expenses dedicated to meat and processed meat items, which provided a more robust behavioral measure than the common self-reported ones. Results confirmed the VBN sequential path, showing direct effects of biospheric values and descriptive norm on personal norm. Furthermore, a proof of validity for the new behavioral measure was provided (medium-sized correlation with behavioral intention). Study 2 (N = 218) aimed at verifying whether the meat consumption could be also motivated by a health concern, reflecting individual (cost/benefit) considerations, besides pro-environmental drivers. Results showed the direct impact of health concern and confirmed the indirect role of biospheric values and descriptive norm (via personal norm) on meat intake. This evidence would suggest the use of multiple-frame messages, highlighting both pro-environmental and health consequences, for meat consumption reduction. Nevertheless, the different implications of moral (e.g., environmental concern) vs. non-moral motivators (e.g., health concern) for reducing meat intake need to be stressed: indeed, the first drivers are more central for self-identity and for engaging in environmental citizenship behaviors.

Phosphatidylethanol Reliably and Objectively Quantifies Alcohol Consumption in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Alcohol contributes to numerous annual deaths and various societal problems not just in adult, but also in adolescent, populations. Therefore, it is vital to find methods for reliably detecting alcohol use for early preventative measures. Research has shown phosphatidylethanol (PEth) to be superior to self-report instruments and indirect biomarkers for alcohol consumption in adult populations. However, the transferability onto an adolescent population has not yet been investigated. N=106 adolescents and young adults aged between 13 and 21years were included. PEth analysis using high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed on dried blood spot samples. Self-report questionnaires for alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption, AUDIT-C, and Timeline Followback, TLFB) and drug and alcohol consumption (Detection of Alcohol and Drug Problems in Adolescents, DEP-ADO) were completed by each participant. AUDIT-C scores showed large correlations with PEth 16:0/18:1 (rs =0.732) and PEth 16:0/18:2 (rs =0.661) concentrations. AUDIT-C with a cutoff value ≥3 was largely correlated with PEth 16:0/18:1 (η=0.411) and showed a medium-sized correlation with PEth 16:0/18:2 (η=0.397) concentrations. Using an AUDIT-C cutoff value ≥5 showed large correlations with both PEth 16:0/18:1 (η=0.510) and PEth 16:0/18:2 (η=0.497) concentrations, respectively. ROC curves indicated higher PEth concentrations are a good model for detecting positive AUDIT-C cutoff values (AUROC range: 0.800 to 0.849). PEth concentrations showed medium to large correlations with DEP-ADO and TLFB subscales (range rs =0.469 to 0.746). The results suggest that PEth is a reliable and objective marker for quantifying alcohol consumption in adolescents and young adults. This could be of importance for early preventative measures against hazardous alcohol consumption, which is increasingly common at younger ages.