Non-clinical Populations Research Articles

Latent Profile Analysis of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) Subscales in a Naturalistic Sample of Patients with Past or Present Major Depression: A Replication and Extension Study

ObjectivesMindfulness is a multifaceted concept which might be best captured by person-centered profiles rather than by variable-centered assessment of its subcomponents. Patients with different mindfulness profiles may vary in mental health status and might experience differential clinical outcomes of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). We therefore aimed to assess the relationship between mindfulness profiles and mental health in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and to examine whether mindfulness profiles are predictive for MBCT-induced changes in mental health.MethodLatent profile analysis (LPA), a method used to identify hidden subgroups of individuals within a population, was performed on pre-MBCT subscale scores of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in patients with current or remitted MDD (n=754). Equality of means of pre-MBCT, post-MBCT, and residualized change scores of several mental health measures across the latent profiles was tested.ResultsLPA identified four distinct mindfulness profiles. Three profiles were similar to previously identified profiles in another MDD sample (“very low mindfulness,” “high mindfulness,” “non-judgmentally aware”) and one profile was similar to that identified in non-clinical populations (“judgmentally observing”). The “high mindfulness” subgroup scored best, the “very low mindfulness” worst, and the other subgroups intermediate on mental health in terms of depressive symptoms, worry, overall functional impairment, and self-compassion. Mindfulness profiles were not predictive of MBCT-induced changes in mental health.ConclusionsMindfulness profiles were differentially related to mental health, but were not predictive of treatment outcome. Future research would benefit from longitudinal assessment of latent mindfulness profiles to examine whether a patient’s profile changes after MBCT and whether hypothesized change in profile would be related to treatment outcome.PreregistrationThis study was not preregistered.

The effects of high intensity interval training on quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Aim This study aimed to ascertain the impact of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on physical, mental, and overall quality of life (QoL) through a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Subject and methods A systematic search for relevant trials was performed via PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Web of science as well as the manual screening of prior meta-analyses and their respective reference lists (PROSPERO reference: CRD42022326576). Adult controlled trials investigating the effects of a >2-week HIIT intervention with an eligible non-intervention control group were considered. As the primary outcome, studies were required to include at least one measure of physical and/or mental and/or overall QoL, on any validated QoL domain, pre and post intervention. Results Twenty-two studies with twenty-four effect sizes were included; seventeen comparing HIIT and overall QoL, fourteen comparing HIIT and physical QoL and thirteen studies comparing HIIT and mental QoL. There was a statistically significant improvement in physical (SMD= 0.405, 95% CI: 0.110- 0.700, p= 0.007), mental (SMD= 0.473, 95% CI: 0.043 –0.902, p=0.031) and overall QoL (SMD= 0.554, 95% CI 0.210-0.898, p=0.002) following a program of HIIT. Secondary analysis of 5 studies comparing HIIT against moderate intensity continuous training demonstrated no significant difference in improvement between the two modes (SMD= -0.094, CI= -0.506-0.318, p=0.655). Conclusion Engaging in HIIT produces statistically significant improvements in physical, mental, and overall quality of life in clinical and non-clinical populations at a small to moderate effect size. Furthermore, HIIT appears as effective as MICT in improving overall QoL, offering a more time-efficient exercise option.

Temporal self-appraisals associated with suicide-related thoughts and behaviors

BackgroundTemporal self-appraisal (TSA) is the trajectory of self-appraisal over time, including how a person views their past and future selves in relation to their present self. In this study, we examined the TSA of individuals with and without a history of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs). MethodsUsing Amazon Mechanical Turk for recruitment, we studied 397 participants on validated measures of TSA, STBs, and mood. ResultsThe non-STB group (n = 291) had a TSA trajectory similar to that previously found for nonclinical populations, with perceived self-improvement over time. In contrast, the TSA of the STB group (n = 106) had two distinct qualities: their TSA profiles were more negative at all time points (past, present, and future) than the non-STB group, and they displayed similar anticipated present-to-future growth as the non-STB group but perceived minimal past-to-present change. These differences persisted when controlling for depression, anxiety, and stress, suggesting a distinct STB-related TSA profile independent of comorbid affective states. LimitationsThis study is limited by the use of self-report measures and cross-sectional design. ConclusionsBy investigating TSA, this study provides insights into the unique aspects of self-appraisal associated with having a history of STBs and emphasizes the need for therapeutic interventions that foster self-continuity and positive self-appraisal across time. Future research should focus on clarifying the mechanisms underlying this distinct self-appraisal pattern in the STB group and the effects of interventions that enhance temporal self-appraisal.

Self-Compassion-Based Interventions in Oncology: A Review of Current Practices

Self-compassion consists of an attitude of self-support and self-benevolence. In the general population, increased self-compassion has been associated with well-being and decreased psychopathology. In oncology, higher self-compassion has also been linked with various benefits, such as lower emotional distress, fatigue, body-image disturbances, and sleep difficulties. Self-compassion also seems to foster treatment adherence. Various interventions based on self-compassion have recently been designed and tested in different clinical and non-clinical populations. They are particularly relevant in oncology, as patients are increasingly interested in complementary approaches to help them manage their symptoms and difficulties benevolently and without judgment. In this review, we described various self-compassion-based interventions that have been or will be proposed to patients with cancer, as well as their first results. The main interventions that have been tested are compassion-focused therapy, the combination of self-hypnosis and self-compassion learning, mindful self-compassion training, cognitively-based compassion training, and loving-kindness meditation. Other interventions include a self-compassion-focused writing activity, a mobile self-compassion application, and a self-compassion group therapy focused on the fear of cancer recurrence. Many of these studies were quasi-experimental or protocols. However, existing results tend to suggest the benefits of these interventions to improve different symptoms often endured by patients with cancer. Further research is needed to conduct rigorous studies on these approaches and to determine how and for whom they are efficient.

Sign-tracking and goal-tracking in humans: Utilising eye-tracking in clinical and non-clinical populations

BackgroundIn Pavlovian conditioning, learned behaviour varies according to the perceived value of environmental cues. For goal-trackers (GT), the cue merely predicts a reward, whilst for sign-trackers (ST), the cue holds incentive value. The sign-tracking/goal-tracking model is well-validated in animals, but translational work is lacking. Despite the model’s relevance to several conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we are unaware of any studies that have examined the model in clinical populations. MethodsThe current study used an eye-tracking Pavlovian conditioning paradigm to identify ST and GT in non-clinical (N = 54) and ADHD (N = 57) participants. Eye movements were recorded whilst performing the task. Dwell time was measured for two areas of interest: sign (i.e., cue) and goal (i.e., reward), and an eye-gaze index (EGI) was computed based on the dwell time sign-to-goal ratio. Higher EGI values indicate sign-tracking behaviour. ST and GT were determined using median and tertiary split approaches in both samples. ResultsDespite greater propensity for sign-tracking in those with ADHD, there was no significant difference between groups. The oculomotor conditioned response was reward-specific (CS+) and present, at least partly, from the start of the task indicating dispositional and learned components. There were no differences in externalising behaviours between ST and GT for either sample. ConclusionsSign-tracking is associated with CS+ trials only. There may be both dispositional and learned components to sign-tracking, potentially more common in those with ADHD. This holds translational potential for understanding individual differences in reward-learning.

Enhancing resiliency and optimizing readiness in military personnel through psychological flexibility training: design and methodology of a randomized controlled trial.

Enhancing resiliency and optimizing readiness in military personnel is a high priority for the U.S. Department of Defense. Most military resiliency-enhancement programs are evidence-informed interventions. However, few randomized studies have demonstrated efficacy of any intervention or training program to enhance resiliency and prevent the development of psychological health symptoms in military personnel when exposed to operational stressors. This manuscript provides an overview of the theoretical foundation, research design, and research methods of a preventive intervention trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of a training program to enhance resiliency and prevent psychological health symptoms in military personnel. The resiliency training intervention is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based intervention with broad empirical support for improving functioning in those living with psychological and medical conditions. This study will evaluate the efficacy of a two-day training program based on ACT for fostering psychological flexibility, the central target in ACT, for enhancing resiliency, and for preventing the development of psychological health symptoms. The research participants will be a non-clinical population of active duty military personnel (N = 600). The ACT-based training program (n = 300) will be compared to a military resiliency training as usual, known as Master Resilience Training (n = 300). Assessment measures will be administered at the baseline assessment, after training, prior to a military deployment, and after returning from a deployment. Qualitative interviews will be conducted to provide feedback on the training program.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05094115.

Risky eating behavior and non-suicidal self-harm in a community population: narrative review/Conducta alimentaria de riesgo y autolesión no suicida en población comunitaria: revisión narrativa

Given the increase in the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and non-suicidal self-injury in the non-clinical population, the objective of this narrative review was to identify some of the main findings and lines of research, to consider them in future studies. Through the search in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Dialnet databases, 1984 articles were found that explored the relationship between self-injurious behaviors and disordered eating behaviors, with the application of selection criteria such as language and review of abstracts, 16 studies were chosen to analyze. The articles address three general themes: transdiagnostic factors of DEB and self-injury, the association of both as a form of coping, and the relationship of both with increased suicidal risk. It is necessary to develop preventive work given the high levels of psychopathology presented in community samples

Participation in an Online Prenatal Mindfulness- Relationship-Based (PMRB) Program: Outcomes for Maternal Mindfulness, Mental Health, Interoception, and Mother-Infant Relationship during Pregnancy and Post-Partum

This feasibility study sought to investigate the impact of an online 9-session Prenatal Mindfulness Relationship-Based (PMRB) group treatment program upon maternal mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress), interoception, and mother-infant relationship during pregnancy and post-partum. The study was designed in two parts 1) a quantitative examination of pre, post-treatment and 10-12 weeks post-partum measures targeting 13 pregnant women from a non-clinical population and 2) a qualitative exploration of the same pregnant women’s experiences of the PMRB program reported during the sessions, including their birth stories. Responses to an open-ended question about how the program had supported them during pregnancy, labor/birth and the first post-partum trimester were summarised using thematic analysis. Women (N = 36) were recruited to the non-randomised feasibility study and 13 were allocated to the PMRB program. Women were excluded due to the online recruitment timeframe, missing baseline gestational age and unavailability for the proposed time. All the allocated women completed the program during pregnancy and the baseline and post-treatment surveys. There were 12 women who completed the post-partum follow-up. Only one participant was lost to the follow up for unknown reasons. Results revealed an improvement in mindfulness, depression, interoception and mother-infant relationship post-treatment and at postpartum follow-up. The qualitative analysis led to the identification of 16 themes, which were organized in four categories describing the experience of participants.<em> </em>Findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility of the PMRB program to improve maternal mindfulness, interoception, mental wellbeing and mother-infant relationship during pregnancy and post-partum. The qualitative evaluation suggested the PMRB program may help women cope with emotional challenges and be more connected to their bodies and infant. The program may also help women become more aware of their unborn infant as a sentient being and the influence of their health and mental wellbeing on the infant development and health. Furthermore, it may be a facilitator of the mother-infant relationship during pregnancy and post-partum, promoting infant’s healthy development.

Networks of depressive symptoms in clinical and student populations: Similarities and differences

Using network analysis, we compared the BDI-II symptom groupings (i.e., communities), the ability of individual symptoms to associate with the others (i.e., centrality), the global strength of these associations, and the bridge symptoms that connect the communities in a sample of 279 depression patients (Mage = 49.9, SDage = 11.2) and in a non-clinical sample of 327 students (BDI-II score less than 19, Mage = 21.05, SDage = 1.82). The network of patients showed higher density, three communities (i.e., cognitive, affective-vegetative, and anhedonia-low energy), with sadness as the central and the strongest bridge symptom. The network of students was less consolidated, had unstable, and uninterpretable communities, with worthlessness as the central symptom, which was the strongest bridge among the communities. This study suggests some qualitative differences between depression symptoms in clinical and non-clinical populations, which manifest in their different places in networks.

Modeling Structural Equations of Thought/Action Fusion, Cognitive Beliefs, Mindfulness, and Experiential Avoidance with Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a Non-Clinical Population

Modeling Structural Equations of Thought/Action Fusion, Cognitive Beliefs, Mindfulness, and Experiential Avoidance with Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a Non-Clinical Population

Psychometric properties of the Mongolian version of shitsu-taikan-sho (alexisomia) in young adults.

Objective: Alexisomia is characterized by difficulty in identifying and describing bodily feelings. Shitsu-taikan-sho scale (STSS) is a self-report tool that assesses alexisomia. This study aimed to validate the Mongolian version of STSS in a nonclinical student sample. Methods: A total of 593 undergraduate students (217 males, 376 females, 18-25 years), who were studying at medical universities, were recruited. Participants completed the Mongolian version of STSS, which was translated from Japanese to Mongolian, back-translated, and finalized by an expert committee. Construct validity was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses for a three-factor structure. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were measured using Cronbach's α and the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively. Results: The mean scores of STSS were 18.6 ± 5.7 for difficulty identifying bodily feelings (DIB), 18.8 ± 4.0 for overadaptation (OA), 23.7 ± 4.1 for lack of health management (LHM), and 61.1 ± 10.5 for the total score (possible range: 7-35 for DIB, OA, LHM, and 21-105 for the total score, respectively). Exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor structure consisting of 21 items that explained 40.3% of the variance (KMO = 0.916, RMSEA = 0.049, χ2 = 372, p < .001). Confirmatory factor analysis provided a good fit to the data (CFI = 0.876, TLI = 0.861, RMSEA = 0.068, χ2 = 703, p < .001). Cronbach's alpha for the STSS was 0.860, indicating good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability analysis demonstrated good reliability (ICC = 0.791). Conclusion: The 21-item Mongolian version of STSS demonstrated evidence of good reliability and validity for assessing alexisomia in a nonclinical population in Mongolia. This suggests that the Mongolian version of the STSS may allow for the comparison of alexisomia among adults in Mongolia with those in other countries.

Cannabis use and its association with psychopathological symptoms in a Swiss adult population: a cross-sectional analysis.

As the most commonly used illicit substance, cannabis is gaining global acceptance through increasing legalization efforts. This shift intensifies the need for research to guide policymakers and healthcare providers in harm reduction and treatment strategies. Nonetheless, the relationship between psychopathological symptoms and cannabis use remains inadequately understood. A sample of regular cannabis consumers completed self-reported assessments for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale V1.1), and psychosis (Early Recognition Inventory based on IRAOS) as well as previous black-market cannabis use patterns. Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test Revised (CUDIT-R) was used to identify cannabis use disorder (CUD). To understand psychopathological symptom load related to cannabis consumption as well as cannabis use motives, multiple regression models were performed to identify psychopathological variables predicting cannabis use frequency and quantity. Linear regression and correlation analyses were conducted, adjusting for relevant covariates (age, gender, education, alcohol, other substance use). Three-hundred-sixty regular cannabis users interested in a study on regulated cannabis access in Basel, Switzerland were examined. In bivariate analysis, cannabis use frequency correlated with depressive (r(358) = 0.16, p = 0.003) and anxiety symptom load (r(358) = 0.11, p = 0.034). Cannabis quantity correlated with depressive (r(358) = 0.15, p = 0.005), ADHD (r(358) = 0.14, p = 0.008), and psychosis symptom load (r(358) = 0.16, p = 0.002). However, in the adjusted regression models only depressive and ADHD symptom loads were significantly associated with cannabis use frequency (p = 0.006 and p = 0.034, respectively) and quantity (p = 0.037 and p = 0.019, respectively). No significant correlations between cannabis consumption and anxiety or psychosis remained after adjustment. ADHD and depressive symptoms correlate with increased cannabis use in a cohort of regular users, suggesting potential self-medication in nonclinical populations. With the rising availability of cannabis worldwide, these results highlight the necessity for longitudinal studies to disentangle the complex dynamics between cannabis consumption and mental health symptoms.

Altered connectivity patterns of medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex underlie the severity of bulimic symptoms

ObjectiveCompared to clinical bulimia nervosa, sub-threshold bulimic symptoms are becoming more prevalent in non-clinical or general population, which is repeatedly linked with the connectivity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), including functionally heterogeneous the medial and lateral OFC (mOFC; lOFC). However, the specific connectivity patterns of the mOFC and lOFC in individuals with severe or mild bulimic symptoms (SB; MB) remain poorly understood. MethodsWe first utilized resting-state functional connectivity (FC) and spectral dynamic causal modeling (spDCM) to investigate abnormal functional and effective connectivity (EC) of OFC subregions in adults with different severity of bulimic. The SB group (n = 21), MB group (n = 114), and healthy controls (HC, n = 91) underwent rs-fMRI scans. A generalized linear model was applied to determine the OFC-seeded whole-brain FC across the three groups. Subsequently, spDCM was used to estimate differences in EC among the three groups based on the FC results. ResultsWe observed a shared neural basis for SB and MB groups (i.e., weaker lOFC-superior parietal lobule connectivity), which may support the role of dysfunctional inhibitory control in general bulimic symptomatology. Whereas, SB group displayed greater lOFC-occipital pole connectivity than MB group, suggesting the specificity of the neural correlates of full-threshold/severe bulimia. The directional links from the mOFC to lOFC and amygdala could further explain the aberrant interactions of reward sensitivity with inhibitory control and homeostatic energy in sub-threshold/mild condition. ConclusionThe current study provides novel evidence that divergent connectivity patterns of the lOFC and mOFC may contribute to different severities of bulimia, which will expands our understanding of the neurobiological substrates underlying bulimia across a spectrum from healthy to unhealthy.

What are the barriers to mental health support for racially-minoritised people within the UK? A systematic review and thematic synthesis

Abstract In the United Kingdom (UK), racially-minoritised (non-White) people are more likely to have poorer health outcomes and greater difficulties with accessing healthcare (Dyer, 2019). People face individual and societal adversity that can affect their physical and mental wellbeing (Gibbons et al., 2012). There are clear mental health needs for racially-minoritised people, and we must go further in understanding the barriers to help to adequately meet the needs of diverse communities. The aim of this systematic review was to understand the barriers to accessing formal mental health support for racially-minoritised people within the UK. Qualitative empirical studies published between January 1970 to December 2020 were searched for using two databases: PsycINFO and Web of Science. Studies were searched for written in English, using a clinical or non-clinical population of adults with qualitative data collection and analysis methods. Database searches and reference mining gave a total of 283 studies, with 31 duplicates removed. Considering inclusion and exclusion criteria there were 15 final studies. A second researcher (S.O’H.) was used throughout, when selecting papers, quality assessment using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist, coding and developing themes using thematic synthesis. The final four themes are ‘internal and external stigma’, ‘understanding of distress and coping’, ‘competence of professionals and services’ and ‘perception and accessibility’. There are various barriers making it harder for racially-minoritised people to access mental health support. Further research is needed with individual communities and action must be taken by commissioners, services, CBT practitioners, and others to eliminate barriers and improve mental health care. Key learning aims (1) To better understand the barriers to accessing mental health services, including Talking Therapies, for racially-minoritised communities. (2) Low and high intensity CBT practitioners to better understand the factors that impact the wellbeing of racially-minoritised communities and how to better support different communities. (3) Consider how to address these barriers to accessing support such as Talking Therapies services, with implications for practice and policy development.

Reduced MMN-indexed auditory change detection in a non-clinical high schizotypy sample.

Schizotypal traits include abnormalities in cognition, behavior, and interpersonal relationships that are similar, yet less severe than psychotic symptomology. It is estimated that approximately 5% of the general population displays psychotic symptoms and experiences that can be considered schizotypal in nature, but there is little research examining the neurological correlates of these traits. The mismatch negativity (MMN) event-related potential is an objective measure of auditory change detection derived from electroencephalography. The current study contributes to the limited body of evidence examining the neurobiological underpinnings of schizotypy in a non-clinical sample using the MMN. Participants were recruited from the general population and divided into high and low-schizotypy groups for comparison. Individuals with high schizotypal traits displayed reduced MMN amplitudes in response to frequency and location deviants, and longer MMN latencies in response to location deviants. Specific sub-traits of schizotypy were uniquely related to frequency and location amplitudes, suggesting the previously reported inconsistencies in the literature may be due to diverse samples and differing deviant tone types. Finally, impulsivity and sensation-seeking likely contributed to the slower processing seen in location deviance detection. Ultimately, the current results provide evidence that the neurobiological abnormalities seen in clinical populations of schizotypal personality disorder and psychosis also extend to non-clinical populations.

The relationship between sleep quantity, sleep quality and weight loss in adults: A scoping review.

Sleep is hypothesized to interact with weight gain and loss; however, modelling this relationship remains elusive. Poor sleep perpetuates a cascade of cardiovascular and metabolic consequences that may not only increase risk of adiposity, but also confound weight loss efforts. We conducted a scoping review to assess the research on sleep and weight loss interventions. We searched six databases for studies of behavioural weight loss interventions that included assessments of sleep in the general, non-clinical adult human population. Our synthesis focused on dimensions of Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes (PICO) to identify research and knowledge gaps. We identified 35 studies that fell into one of four categories: (a) sleep at baseline as a predictor of subsequent weight loss during an intervention, (b) sleep assessments after a history of successful weight loss, (c) concomitant changes in sleep associated with weight loss and (d) experimental manipulation of sleep and resulting weight loss. There was some evidence of improvements in sleep in response to weight-loss interventions; however, randomized controlled trials of weight loss interventions tended not to report improvements in sleep when compared to controls. We conclude that baseline sleep characteristics may predict weight loss in studies of dietary interventions and that sleep does not improve because of weight loss alone. Future studies should enrol large and diverse, normal, overweight and obese short sleepers in trials to assess the efficacy of sleep as a behavioural weight loss treatment.

POSSIBILITIES OF APPLICATION OF MUSICAL INTERVENTIONS

Throughout human history, music has been an important tool contributing to both the expression of feelings and healing. Today, its application is quite wide in both non-clinical and clinical populations. The subject of the paper is a presentation of the history, development, and definitions of music as an intervention, music therapy, and the benefits of its application in children, adolescents, the geriatric population, stress reduction, psychotherapy, the treatment of neurological disorders, and pain therapy. In order to analyze the benefits of applying music as an intervention, a literature review was done. In addition, musical interventions were divided into diagnostic and preventive. It can be concluded that with the established research and clinical paradigms and taking into account the limitations of previous studies, a scientific basis for further academic research is provided. Additional guidelines for more intensive and beneficial incorporation of musical interventions in the previously mentioned areas were provided.

Ayahuasca-induced personal death experiences: prevalence, characteristics, and impact on attitudes toward death, life, and the environment.

Despite an emerging understanding regarding the pivotal mechanistic role of subjective experiences that unfold during acute psychedelic states, very little has been done in the direction of better characterizing such experiences and determining their long-term impact. The present paper utilizes two cross-sectional studies for spotlighting - for the first time in the literature - the characteristics and outcomes of self-reported past experiences related to one's subjective sense of death during ayahuasca ceremonies, termed here Ayahuasca-induced Personal Death (APD) experiences. Study 1 (n = 54) reports the prevalence, demographics, intensity, and impact of APDs on attitudes toward death, explores whether APDs are related with psychopathology, and reveals their impact on environmental concerns. Study 2 is a larger study (n = 306) aiming at generalizing the basic study 1 results regarding APD experience, and in addition, examining whether APDs is associated with self-reported coping strategies and values in life. Our results indicate that APDs occur to more than half of those participating in ayahuasca ceremonies, typically manifest as strong and transformative experiences, and are associated with an increased sense of transcending death (study 1), as well as the certainty in the continuation of consciousness after death (study 2). No associations were found between having undergone APD experiences and participants' demographics, personality type, and psychopathology. However, APDs were associated with increased self-reported environmental concern (study 1). These experiences also impact life in profound ways. APDs were found to be associated with increases in one's self-reported ability to cope with distress-causing life problems and the sense of fulfillment in life (study 2). The study's findings highlight the prevalence, safety and potency of death experiences that occur during ayahuasca ceremonies, marking them as possible mechanisms for psychedelics' long-term salutatory effects in non-clinical populations. Thus, the present results join other efforts of tracking and characterizing the profound subjective experiences that occur during acute psychedelic states.

French version of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-fr): psychometric properties in young adults.

The Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO) is a self-assessment instrument designed to measure the level of personality organization. In the present study, we developed and validated a French version (IPO-fr) of this instrument in a population of young adults. Its validity was established on the basis of two studies examining (1) its internal structure, and (2) its convergent validity with the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). In the first study, we assessed the reliability of the internal structure of the French form of the IPO (IPO-fr) in a nonclinical population. Our sample comprised 602 first- and second-year psychology students, with a mean age of 19.40 years (SD = 1.95). The second study assessed the convergent validity of the questionnaire in nonclinical samples, with regard to the three clusters (A, B, and C) of personality disorders, positive and negative affect, and aggression and depressive symptoms. The sample for this second study consisted of 305 first-, second- and third-year psychology students, with a mean age of 19.83 years (SD = 2.12). The French version of the IPO is shorter than the English: 40 items instead of 57. Its internal clarity and its discriminative capacity make it easier to interpret. This study has established the relevance of the IPO-fr as a reliable and brief instrument for assessing individual personality. It could make a major contribution to the screening of personality pathology in the French population and to the assessment of treatment programs.

Validation of the shortened 24-item multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness, version 2 (Brief MAIA-2)

The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) was translated into many languages and frequently used in the last decade to assess self-reported interoceptive awareness. However, many studies demonstrated weaknesses regarding unstable factor structure and poor reliability of some scales. The 24-item Brief MAIA-2 questionnaire was developed, with only three items demonstrating the highest factor loadings in each of the eight scales of the MAIA-2. The cross-sectional online study used the 37-item MAIA-2 questionnaire in a non-clinical sample of 323 people aged between 16 and 75 (M = 26.17, SD = 9.12), including 177 women (54.80%). The sample comprised 156 athletes (48.30%) and 167 non-athletes (51.70%). The Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed adequate fit indices for a multidimensional model of the Brief MAIA-2, with the original eight scales: Noticing (awareness of subtle bodily sensations, such as the heartbeat, digestive sensations, or the breath), Not Distracting (ability to maintain attention to bodily sensations without being easily distracted by external stimuli), Not Worrying (tendency to not be overly concerned or anxious about bodily sensations or changes in the body), Attention Regulation (ability to regulate attention to bodily sensations and to shift attention between internal and external stimuli), Emotional Awareness (awareness and understanding of how emotions are associated with bodily sensations), Self Regulation (ability to regulate emotional responses and manage distress through an awareness of bodily sensations), Body Listening (tendency to listen to the body for insight and understanding), and Trusting (trust in bodily sensations as a source of information about one's feelings and needs). The hierarchical bi-factor (S·I – 1) model showed even better-fit indices. Therefore, the general factor of interoception was considered in further statistical tests. Confirmatory composite analysis showed high reliability and discriminant and convergent validity for most Brief MAIA-2 scales, except Noticing. Measurement invariance was confirmed across genders (Women, Men) and sports participation (Athletes, Non-athletes). However, group differences were also found for mean scores in particular scales of the Brief MAIA-2. Men scored significantly lower than women in Not Distracting but higher in Not Worrying, Attention Regulation, Self Regulation, Trusting, and the total score of interoceptive awareness. Gender discrepancies may be influenced by linguistic socialization, which tends to categorize shifts in internal states as either physiological or emotional. Athletes scored significantly lower than Non-athletes on the Not Distracting scale, but they showed higher scores in Noticing, Attention Regulation, Emotion Awareness, Self-Regulation, Body Listening, Trusting, and the global score, suggesting that physical training can improve most areas of interoception. Therefore, physical exercises and mindfulness training may be recommended to improve interoception, especially in women and people suffering from somatic and mental problems. The Brief MAIA-2 is a reliable and valid tool to measure multidimensional interoceptive sensibility in a non-clinical population. To improve well-being and athletic performance, Brief MAIA-2 can be used to assess the body's current perception of interoception and to detect its weak areas requiring improvement. However, the study has some limitations, such as a cross-sectional online self-report survey in a conventional non-clinical sample from Poland. Future cross-cultural studies should include representative samples for non-clinical and clinical populations from different countries and geographic regions to compare the Brief MAIA-2 with more objective psychophysiological methods of measuring interoception to reduce the limitations of these studies.