Psychopathological Symptoms Research Articles

Reduction of intracortical inhibition (ICI) correlates with cognitive performance and psychopathology symptoms in schizophrenia

Cognitive impairment is a core symptom of schizophrenia (SZ), with GABAergic dysfunction in the brain potentially serving as a critical pathological mechanism underlying this condition. Intracortical inhibition (ICI), which includes short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI), can be used to assess the inhibitory function of cortical GABAergic neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ICI and cognitive function, as well as psychopathological symptoms, in SZ patients. We recruited 130 SZ patients and 105 healthy controls (HCs). All subjects underwent paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) measurements, which included resting motor threshold (RMT), SICI and LICI. The cognitive function of all subjects was assessed using the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). The psychopathological symptoms of the SZ group were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). We examined group differences in MCCB scores, RMT, SICI, and LICI. Within the SZ group, we assessed the relationship between ICI and cognitive function, as well as psychopathological symptoms. Two-way ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U test, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and partial Spearman correlation analysis were performed. The SZ group showed a worse cognitive score in all 6 cognitive dimensions of the MCCB compared to the HC group (all p < 0.05). The SZ group had lower degree of SICI and LICI compared to the HC group (both p < 0.05). ROC curves analysis showed that SICI and LICI all displayed good performance in differentiating SZ patients and HCs (both p < 0.05), and SICI exhibited a better performance, yielding an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.856 (95% CI 0.807–0.904). Furthermore, in the SZ group, SICI demonstrated a significant negative correlation with PANSS positive score, negative score, general psychopathology score, and total score (all pBonferroni < 0.05), and LICI demonstrated a significant negative correlation with PANSS positive score, general psychopathology score and total score (all pBonferroni < 0.05). Additionally, in the SZ group, SICI demonstrated a significant positive correlation with speed of processing score, working memory score, verbal learning score, visual learning score, and reasoning and problem-solving score of the MCCB (all pBonferroni < 0.05), while LICI was only weakly positive correlated with speed of processing score of the MCCB (r = 0.247, p = 0.005, pBonferroni = 0.03). Our results demonstrate that the reduction of ICI could serve as a trait-dependent in-vivo biomarker of GABAergic deficits for SZ and related cognitive impairments.

Role of self-criticism in postpartum mental health: a network analysis

PurposeA significant percentage of women experience psychopathological symptoms during the postpartum period, which can impact not only their mental health and well-being but also the relationship between mother and baby. However, studies investigating how specific psychological factors, such as self-compassion and self-criticism, contribute to the development and maintenance of these symptoms are scarce.MethodsThis cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship among compassionate self-responding (CSR), uncompassionate self-responding (USR), maternal mental health indicators, mother-infant bonding, and the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected online from 189 Brazilian women with infants aged 0 to 12 months. Participants completed measures of sociodemographic characteristics, Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS-BR-RSF-C), Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), and COVID-19–Impact on Quality of Life (COV19-QoL).ResultsThrough network analysis, our findings highlighted that postpartum depression played a central role in the structuring of variables in this system. Furthermore, USR, instead of CSR, emerged as the variable most strongly associated with levels of postpartum depression, which, in turn, was associated with mother-infant bonding.ConclusionMitigating levels of self-criticism in mothers may represent a pathway to prevent the development of postpartum depression, which, in turn, could impact the quality of the mother-infant relationship. Given the significance of the child’s early years for their emotional development, intervening early in maternal mental health may be a means to prevent mental disorders in the child as well.

A 'Problematic' Pattern of Power-system Functioning and its Association with psychopathological Symptoms.

Following the well-researched two-dimensional model of attachment-system functioning, based on the concepts of hyperactivation and deactivation, a two-dimensional model of the power behavioral system has recently been proposed. The power system is aimed at activating, organizing, and implementing action patterns that protect or restore a sense of power or dominance. Here, we tested predictions derived from the two-dimensional model of power-system functioning regarding the contribution of a 'problematic' high-high pattern, characterized by the coexistence of both hyperactivating and deactivating strategies, to psychopathological symptoms. A non-clinical sample of Italian adults (N = 385) completed the Power Behavioral System Scale together with self-report measures of anxiety and depression symptoms and difficulties in executive control. Multiple regression analyses showed that higher deactivation and hyperactivation scores, characteristic of the 'problematic' pattern, significantly predicted anxiety and depression symptoms as well as executive function difficulties. These results provide initial support for the pathogenic implications of the 'problematic' high-high pattern of power-system functioning.

B - 13 Effects of Individual and Community-Level Adverse Childhood Experiences and Current Psychopathology among Monolingual Spanish-Speaking Adult Neuropsychology Referrals

Abstract Objective The link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and higher rates of psychopathology in adulthood has been well-established, though far less analogue research has examined this relationship among Latinx patients. This study assessed the relationship between ACEs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress among monolingual Spanish-speaking neuropsychology referrals. Method Data were culled from 27 adult neuropsychology referrals (mean age = 61.70; mean education = 8.59) neuropsychological referrals administered the ACE Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Linear regression analyses examined the effect of exposure to individual (e.g., emotional, physical, sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence) and community-level ACEs on depression, anxiety, and perceived stress symptom endorsement. Results Endorsement of more individual ACEs predicted higher levels of anxiety (R2 = 0.281; p = 0.009) and depression (R2 = 0.127; p = 0.075) symptoms, but not perceived stress levels (R2 = 0.037; p = 0.365. By contrast, endorsement of more community-level ACEs marginally predicted higher anxiety symptoms (R2 = 0.124; p = 0.071), but not depression symptoms (R2 = 0.020; p = 0.568) or perceived stress levels (R2 = 0.045; p = 0.319). Conclusions Experiencing more individual-level ACEs predicted greater anxiety and, to a lesser extent, depressive symptoms, whereas community-level ACEs did not predict similar levels of endorsement of active psychopathology among monolingual Spanish-speaking adults referred for neuropsychological evaluation. Findings emphasize the need of neuropsychologists to consider routinely assessing patient’s childhood trauma history and current psychopathology symptoms during evaluation to improve diagnostic accuracy and recommendations for Latinx patients.

A network approach to emotion regulation and symptom activation in depression and anxiety.

Emotions can be regulated through several regulatory strategies that are involved in the development of psychopathological symptoms. Despite the well-established association between psychopathology and emotion dysregulation, little is known about the relationship between individual symptoms of depression and anxiety and emotion regulation strategies (ERS), as well as between ERS themselves. We conducted a cross-sectional study and examined the interactions between six ERS (reappraisal, engagement, rumination, suppression, arousal control, and distraction) and assessed their distinctive association with the activation of specific symptoms of depression and anxiety in a community sample of 376 adults (80.4% female; Mage = 32.70; SDage = 11.80). The Regulation Emotion Systems Survey (RESS) was used to measure ERS. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) were used to assess psychological symptoms. An exploratory graph analysis was performed to examine the structural properties of the network of interactions between these behaviors. Additionally, to test the association of ERS with the activation of the depression symptoms network, an expected symptoms activity (ESA) was conducted. Six communities were found that correspond to the six ERS. Rumination and suppression have a significant association with symptom activation (particularly low self-esteem), whereas reappraisal reduces symptomatic activation. The effect of arousal control, engagement, and distraction appears to depend on the remaining ERS rather than having much influence on their own. This study provides insight into how ERS interact with each other and with individual symptoms of depression and anxiety. Understanding the effects of these interactions on symptom activation and comorbidity can improve our understanding of psychopathology.

Social Anxiety Profiles and Psychopathological Symptom Differences in Spanish Adolescents.

Research on social anxiety (SA) over the years has revealed its associations with different psychopathological symptoms. This study aims to characterize SA profiles in a sample of Spanish adolescents and explore their differences in psychopathological symptoms. Data from 1,288 Spanish students in the 15 to 18 age range (M = 16.30, SD = 0.97, 47.5% female) were collected using random cluster sampling. The Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) and the Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire (SA-45) were employed. Four SA profiles were revealed by the Latent Profile Analysis (LPA): extreme SA, high SA, moderate SA, and low SA. Statistically significant differences in psychopathological symptoms were revealed by the MANOVA (effect sizes from d = -2.13 to d = -0.37). The extreme SA profile exhibited the most severe psychopathological symptoms, whereas the low SA profile displayed the mildest manifestations. Proposed interventions aim to support adolescents with SA risk profiles.

Psychopathology in asthma patients: analysis of demographic and clinical associations.

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airways, significantly impacts both respiratory function and quality of life. Recent studies have highlighted the psychological dimensions of chronic diseases like asthma. Despite growing evidence linking asthma with various psychopathological conditions, comprehensive data remains scarce. This study aims to explore the psychopathological status of asthma patients and identify demographic and clinical factors associated with higher levels of psychopathological symptoms. Data were collected from 42 asthma patients attending the Asthma Outpatient Clinic at the University of Thessaly, Greece. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire on demographics and clinical parameters, along with the Symptoms Checklist-90 (SCL-90) to assess psychological symptoms. The sample included patients with varying asthma severity: 38% with severe asthma and 62% with mild-moderate asthma, with a mean age of 60.8 ± 15.6 years. Results indicated that 23.8% exhibited somatization symptoms, 23.8% showed compulsive behaviors, 33.8% reported interpersonal sensitivity, and 38.1% experienced depression and 38.1% aggressiveness. Additionally, 45.2% struggled with fearful anxiety, 4.8% showed paranoid ideation, and 11.9% had traits of psychoticism. Women had significantly higher psychopathology scores than men. Factors such as longer disease duration, uncontrolled asthma, severe asthma, and comorbid conditions like atopy and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were linked to higher psychopathological scores. The study found a high prevalence of psychopathological symptoms among asthma patients. Female gender, prolonged asthma duration, persistent symptoms, comorbid diseases (GERD, atopy) and greater disease severity were significantly associated with higher psychopathology, underscoring the need for integrated mental health care in asthma management.

Investigating the network ties between affect, attachment, and psychopathology

ObjectivesRecent years have seen an increased interest regarding theoretical and empirical associations of adult attachment security and primary affective traits concerning psychiatric disorders. In this study, network analysis technique is applied to dissect the links between both psychodynamic personality constructs and an array of psychopathological symptoms. MethodsA total sample of 921 (69.9 % female) participants from the general population was investigated. A regularized cross-sectional partial correlation network between attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised [ECR-RD8]), primary affective traits (Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales [BANPS-GL]) and psychopathological symptoms (ICD-10-Symptom-Rating Questionnaire [ISR]) was estimated via the EBICglasso algorithm. Node centrality, predictability and bridge centrality were analyzed. To evaluate the stability of the network and evaluate the significance of differences, we employed bootstrap techniques. ResultsThe network was found to be stable, allowing reliable interpretations. We observed SADNESS, as well as depressive, PTSD and anxiety symptoms as the most influential nodes within the investigated network. Attachment AV and SADNESS were observed as nodes with the highest bridge centrality. ConclusionsThe results provide a data-driven in-depth look into the complex dynamics between psychopathological symptoms, attachment security and basic affective traits. Results underscore the critical interconnections between affect, attachment, and psychopathology, advocating for a psychodynamically informed systems approach in psychological research that considers the affective dimensions underlying human mental health.

Information search under uncertainty across transdiagnostic psychopathology and healthy ageing

When making decisions in everyday life, we often rely on an internally generated sense of confidence to help us revise and direct future behaviours. For instance, confidence directly informs whether further information should be sought prior to commitment to a final decision. Many studies have shown that aging and both clinical and sub-clinical symptoms of psychopathology are associated with systematic alterations in confidence. However, it remains unknown whether these confidence distortions influence information-seeking behaviour. We investigated this question in a large general population sample (N = 908). Participants completed a battery of psychiatric symptom questionnaires and performed a perceptual decision-making task with confidence ratings in which they were offered the option to seek helpful information (at a cost) before committing to a final decision. Replicating previous findings, an ‘anxious-depression’ (AD) symptom dimension was associated with systematically low confidence, despite no detriment in objective task accuracy. Conversely, a ‘compulsive behaviour and intrusive thoughts’ (CIT) dimension was associated with impaired task accuracy but paradoxical over-confidence. However, neither symptom dimension was significantly associated with an increased or decreased tendency to seek information. Hence, participants scoring highly for AD or CIT did not use the option to information seek any more than average to either increase their confidence (AD) or improve the accuracy of their decisions (CIT). In contrast, older age was associated with impaired accuracy and decreased confidence initially, but increased information seeking behaviour mediated increases in both accuracy and confidence for final decisions. Hence, older adults used the information seeking option to overcome initial deficits in objective performance and to increase their confidence accordingly. The results show an appropriate use of information seeking to overcome perceptual deficits and low confidence in healthy aging which was not present in transdiagnostic psychopathology.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women: new possibilities to ensure better understanding, diagnosis, and response to treatment.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is a frequent sex-related problem in women; however, a specific tool to characterize HSDD subtypes based on sexual inhibitory and excitatory factors is still lacking. (1) To find a cutoff value in Sexual Inhibition Scale (SIS)/Sexual Excitation Scale (SES) scores predicting a diagnosis of HSDD in women consulting for sexual symptoms, (2) to explore the sexual inhibitory and excitatory profiles in women referred to a clinic for female sexual dysfunction by stratifying the sample according to the newfound cutoffs, and (3) to identify biopsychosocial factors significantly associated with the 2 profiles. An overall 133 women consulting for sexual symptoms were retrospectively evaluated for clinical, biochemical, and psychosexologic data collected at the first visit. A subgroup of 55 women treated with transdermal testosterone was retrospectively analyzed at baseline and the 6-month visit. Patients underwent physical and laboratory examinations and completed the SIS/SES, Female Sexual Function Index, Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised, Emotional Eating Scale, and Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire. Specific cutoffs for SIS1 (≥32.5; indicating threat of performance failure) andSES (≤46.5) predicted HSDD diagnosis with an accuracy of 66.4% (P = .002) and 68.7% (P < .0001), respectively. Patients with impaired SIS1 scores showed higher distress and psychopathologic symptoms, while those with impaired SES scores demonstrated lower desire and arousal and a negative association with some metabolic and hormonal parameters. SES score also showed a significant predictive value on testosterone treatment efficacy for HSDD. A better characterization of HSDD would enable individualized treatment based on the main underlying etiologies. Limitations of the study include the small sample size and cross-sectional retrospective design, with the choice of treatment for HSDD limited to transdermal testosterone. Strengths comprise the thorough and multifactorial evaluation of every aspect potentially affecting inhibitory and excitatory components of sexual desire. Validated cutoffs of SIS/SES scores could allow deep characterization of women diagnosed with HSDD, thus ensuring better tailoring of therapy and prediction of the probability of response to specific treatments.

Maternal prenatal social disadvantage and neonatal functional connectivity: Associations with psychopathology symptoms at age 12 months.

Recent research has reported effects of socioeconomic status on neurobehavioral development as early as infancy, including positive associations between income and brain structure, functional connectivity, and behavior later in childhood (Ramphal, Whalen, et al., 2020; Triplett et al., 2022). This study extends this literature by investigating the relation of maternal prenatal social disadvantage (PSD) to neonatal amygdala and hippocampus functional connectivity and whether socioeconomic-related alterations in functional connectivity subsequently predict behavior at age 12 months in a large, socioeconomically diverse sample (N = 261 mother-infant dyads). PSD was assessed across gestation; neonatal magnetic resonance imaging was completed within the first weeks of life; and infant internalizing and externalizing symptoms were evaluated using the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment at age 12 months. The results showed that PSD was significantly related to neonatal right amygdala and left hippocampus functional connectivity with prefrontal and motor-related regions. Social disadvantage-related right amygdala and left hippocampus functional connectivity with these regions was subsequently related to infant externalizing and internalizing symptoms at age 12 months. Building off an emerging literature exploring prenatal impacts on neonatal functional connectivity, this study further emphasizes the important role of the maternal environment during gestation on infant brain function and its relationship with externalizing and internalizing behavior in the first years of life. The results suggest that the prenatal socioeconomic environment may be a promising target for interventions aimed at improving infant neurobehavioral outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Positive psychological functioning, resilience and styles of coping as buffers against suicidal behaviours. A case-control study

BackgroundStudies in the literature mainly focus on understanding the risk factors for suicide, giving little relevance to protective variables. This study aimed at exploring the specific contribution of protective variables (resilience, coping and psychological well-being) in hospitalized suicide attempt (SA) makers. MethodsWe recruited 50 inpatients who made a SA before admission and 50 inpatients with no history of SA matched for DSM-5 diagnosis, gender and age. Protective variables were evaluated with: Brief COPE questionnaire, Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS-15), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB-18). Psychopathological features and symptom severity were assessed with: Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Rapid Dimensional Assessment Scale (SVARAD), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impressions (CGI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17). ResultsThe DRS-15 total score was significantly lower in SA makers. SA makers displayed significantly lower scores on the Engagement and Cognitive Restructuring subscales of the Brief COPE. On the PWB-18, the Self-Acceptance subscale score was lower in SA makers. LimitationsThe small sample size suggests the need for caution in interpreting the results. Matching was carried out by excluding diagnoses of personality disorders. ConclusionsPatients hospitalized following a SA are more often diagnosed with personality disorders, have deficit areas concerning resilience and coping, and lower psychological well-being compared to patients without a SA. When approaching a patient who has committed a SA, it may be useful to evaluate protective variables as well as risk factors, and encourage the development of adaptive coping mechanisms and positive self-evaluation through more dynamic therapeutic paths.

Association of OPRD1 Gene Variants with Changes in Body Weight and Psychometric Indicators in Patients with Eating Disorders.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether genetic variations in the OPRD1 gene affect psychopathological symptoms and personality dimensions in eating disorders (ED) patients and/or contribute to ED risk. Methods: The study involved 221 female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), 88 with bulimia nervosa (BN), and 396 controls. Sixteen tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in OPRD1 were identified. Psychometric evaluations were conducted using the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90R) and the Eating Disorders Inventory Test-2 (EDI-2). p-values obtained by regression models were corrected for multiple testing by the False Discovery Rate (FDR) method. Results: In AN patients, genotypes rs204077TT and rs169450TT were linked to lower body-mass index (BMI) values (FDR-q = 0.035 and 0.017, respectively), as was rs2234918 in a log-additive model (BMI: 18.0 ± 0.28, 17.22 ± 0.18 and 16.59 ± 0.39 for TT, TC and CC carriers, FDR-q = 0.012). Additionally, AN patients carrying the rs72665504AA genotype had higher scores in interpersonal distrust (FDR-q = 0.030), whilst BN carriers of rs513269TT and rs2873795TT showed lower scores in ineffectiveness (FDR-q = 0.041 and FDR-q = 0.021). In the AN group, BMI correlated with variability in a distal haplotype (rs508448/rs204077/rs223491, FDR-q = 0.028), which was also associated with the global positive symptom total (PST) index of SCL-90R (FDR-q = 0.048). Associations were more noticeable in BN patients; again, the distal region of the gene was linked to EDI-2 total scores (FDR-q = 0.004-0.048 for the four last haplotypes) and two global SCL-90R indices (GSI: FDR-q = 0.011 and positive symptom distress index (PSDI): FDR-q = 0.003 for the last s204077/rs2234918/rs169450 combination). No associations with ED risk were observed. Conclusions: Genetic variation in the OPRD1 gene, particularly in its distal region, is associated with BMI and psychopathological comorbidities in ED patients.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Comorbid With or Without Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Conceptual Implications, Clinical Correlates, and Brain Morphometries

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often comorbid with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). The relationship between OCD and OCPD is complex, and the impact of comorbid OCPD on OCD remains underexplored, necessitating further research. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical correlates and brain morphometries associated with comorbid OCPD in a large sample of unmedicated patients with OCD. MethodsA total of 248 unmedicated patients diagnosed with OCD (45 comorbid with OCPD) were included in this study. All participants were assessed for OCD symptoms, OCPD traits, obsessive beliefs, depression, and anxiety. Among them, 145 patients (23 comorbid with OCPD) volunteered to receive magnetic resonance imaging brain scans. ResultsApproximately 18% (45/248) of patients with OCD were comorbid for OCPD. OCD comorbid with OCPD (OCD+OCPD) exhibited more severe OCD symptoms, obsessive beliefs, depression, and anxiety than OCD comorbid without OCPD. Additionally, the severity of OCPD was positively correlated with OCD symptoms and obsessive beliefs. Furthermore, patients with OCD+OCPD exhibited increased cortical complexity in the left superior parietal lobule and left precuneus, which mediated the relationship between OCPD and OCD symptoms only in OCD patients comorbid without OCPD. ConclusionsThe co-occurrence of OCPD may contribute to the heightened severity of psychopathological symptoms and associated brain morphological alterations in patients with OCD, indicating distinct but interrelated constructs between these 2 disorders.

Long-term psychological implication of the COVID-19 pandemic: a network analysis among the Italian population

The enduring psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is a subject of growing concern. Despite existing research highlighting immediate challenges, there is a lack of comprehensive studies elucidating specific pathways through which psychological variables contribute to the pandemic’s long-lasting implications. Through a network analysis approach, we aimed to investigate the mutual relationships and associations between eating disorder symptoms, guilt- and shame-proneness, psychopathological symptoms, self-esteem, defence mechanisms, and mentalization and understand how they might interact two years after the pandemic's outbreak. From March to August 2022, 651 Italian young adults (females = 593, 91.1%) aged between 18 and 38 (Mage = 23.84, SD = 3.74) were recruited online and completed a digital booklet of self-report questionnaires. A weighted, undirected graphical LASSO network was performed to investigate the structure of the nodes. A stable and accurate network structure showed that the most interconnected nodes were psychoticism, interpersonal sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety, paranoid ideation, and immature defences, suggesting their central role in the network functioning. Findings emphasized the enduring psychological impact of the pandemic, elucidating the complex interplay and dynamic impact of key psychopathological symptoms and defence mechanisms. The network tested also provides valuable insights for developing targeted interventions and effective strategies to address post-pandemic mental health challenges.

The Relationship Between Body Image Dissatisfaction, Psychopathological Symptoms, Social Comparisons With Peers and Celebrities, and Self-Compassion in Men.

This study aimed to further understand body image among men by examining differences in body dissatisfaction and physical appearance-related comparisons with peers and celebrities, self-compassion, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and explore the relationship between male body image dissatisfaction, self-compassion, and depressive symptoms. The sample comprised 220 Portuguese men aged 18-66 years old, mostly single (78.2%) and with a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.81. Participants completed online measures assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms, male body dissatisfaction, self-compassion, and social comparison disseminated through social media and online forums. No significant differences were found between the BMI groups regarding anxiety, depression, and self-compassion. Underweight and typical weight groups revealed significantly less male body dissatisfaction (body fat dimension). Participants in the obesity group revealed less positive social comparisons with peers and celebrities. Regression results showed that age, years of education, the muscularity dimension of the male body dissatisfaction, and self-compassion were significant predictors, accounting for 26% of depressive symptoms. Cultivating self-compassionate skills may be helpful for dealing with muscularity dissatisfaction, thus leading to less depressive symptoms.

Immunoinflammatory features and cognitive function in treatment-resistant schizophrenia: unraveling distinct patterns in clozapine-resistant patients.

Patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), particularly those resistant to clozapine (CTRS), pose a clinical challenge due to limited response to standard antipsychotic treatments. Inflammatory factors like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are implicated in schizophrenia's pathophysiology. Our study examines cognitive function, psychopathological symptoms and inflammatory factors in TRS patients, focusing on differences between CTRS and non-CTRS individuals, as well as healthy controls. A cohort of 115 TRS patients and 84 healthy controls were recruited, assessing IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was applied to assess psychopathological symptoms, while the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was applied to assess cognitive functioning. CTRS patients showed lower visuospatial constructional score (p = 0.015), higher PANSS scores, higher levels of IL-2 and reduced TNF-α than non-CTRS patients (p < 0.05). Notably, IL-2 was independently associated with psychopathology symptoms in CTRS patients (Beta = 0.268, t = 2.075, p = 0.042), while IL-6 was associated with psychopathology symptoms in non-CTRS patients (Beta = - 0.327, t = - 2.109, p = 0.042). Sex-specific analysis in CTRS patients revealed IL-2 associations with PANSS total and positive symptoms in females, and TNF-α associations with PANSS positive symptoms in males. Furthermore, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α displayed potential diagnostic value in TRS patients and CTRS patients (p < 0.05). Clozapine‑resistant symptoms represent an independent endophenotype in schizophrenia with distinctive immunoinflammatory characteristics, potentially influenced by sex.

Environmental sensitivity moderates the longitudinal effect of fathers' positive parenting on mental disorders in Chinese adolescents

BackgroundExposure to fathers' positive parenting has been associated reducing mental disorder symptoms during adolescence, evidence on the mechanisms underlying this association is lacking. One potential mechanism linking fathers' positive parenting and mental disorders is environmental sensitivity (ES). Here we studied whether the increased positive behaviors of both parents (1) separately, (2) relatively, (3) and jointly predict reduced depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, suicidal ideation (SI), and increased well-being in Chinese adolescents. Additionally we investigated (4) whether ES moderates these relationships. MethodsThis study involving 7010 Chinese adolescents (55.6 % girls) aged 15 to 18 from six junior high schools in Shaanxi, China was conducted at four timepoints. ES was assessed using the Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) scale at ages 15 and 16, parental positive behaviors using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) at ages 16 and 17, and psychopathology symptoms using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) Inventory at ages 17 and 18. Results(1) Multilevel analyses revealed that increased positive parenting predicted reduced psychiatric disorder symptoms and improved well-being; (2) trend interaction indicated that the compensatory effect of fathers' positive parenting was stronger in alleviating mental problems in adolescents than that of mothers'; (3) Simple slope analyses suggested that both high levels of fathers' and mothers' positive parenting predicted fewer subsequent psychiatric disorder symptoms, particularly for sensitive adolescents. LimitationsThis study was limited to its generalizability to the Western Chinese adolescents. ConclusionsSubstantial differences in the effects of positive paternal and maternal parenting highlight the important role of fathers' positive parenting in mental development, especially for highly sensitive adolescents.

One-year predictors of PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression in SARS-CoV-2 survivors: psychological flexibility and major life events as main predictive factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic held considerable health-related outcomes worldwide, including mental health challenges, with elevated risk of psychiatric sequelae. This study aimed to test the longitudinal (1 year) predictive role of psychosocial factors on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 survivors (N = 209 at T1; N = 61; attrition rate 70.83%), through Pearson's correlation analyses and longitudinal multiple regression analyses. Participants (age M = 35.4, SD = 10.1) completed online self-report questionnaires of psychosocial variables, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Depression and anxiety symptoms were increased, and 42% of survivors presented clinically meaningful PTSD symptoms. PTSD symptoms were longitudinally predicted by having children (β = 0.32, p < 0.01), number of recent major life events (β = 0.34, p < 0.01), and psychological flexibility (β = -0.36, p < 0.01). Number of major life events (β = 0.29, p < 0.05) and psychological flexibility (β = -0.29, p < 0.05) predicted anxiety. Number of recent major life events (β = 0.32, p < 0.01) was the sole predictor of depressive symptoms. Psychosocial variables contribute to the long-term harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychopathological symptoms. These results suggest that, during the pandemic, mental health was impacted by both socio-contextual factors and individual self-regulatory skills, namely the ability to respond flexibily to contextual cues and guide behavior according to the direct experience. Specifically, results point out the importance of societal incentives to reduce parental burden and socioeconomic losses, as well as to promote adaptive psychological skills such as psychological flexibility.

Preadolescent externalizing and internalizing symptoms are differentially related to drift-diffusion model parameters and neural activation during a go/no-go task

BackgroundMental health disorders are among the leading causes of disability in childhood and adolescence. Notably, mental health disorders commonly co-occur, indicating that critical mechanisms may relate to multiple forms of psychopathology. One potential transdiagnostic mechanism that has been examined in youth is inhibitory control. However, previous neuroimaging research on inhibitory control in youth has typically not examined transdiagnostic symptom dimensions or used computational modeling to quantify subcomponent processes that affect inhibition. MethodsIn the present study, a diverse sample of preadolescents who were oversampled for psychopathology risk (N = 86, ages 8–12) completed a Go/No-Go task during an fMRI scan. Parents completed a series of questionnaires that were used to capture externalizing and internalizing symptom dimensions. Drift-diffusion modeling (DDM) was applied to preadolescents’ task behavior, and model parameters were linked with neural activation using two contrasts: successful inhibition and failed inhibition. ResultsDuring successful inhibition, bilateral inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) activation was related to non-decision time, and ITG activation was associated with externalizing and internalizing symptoms. During failed inhibition, insula and putamen activation were associated with drift rates, as well as with internalizing symptoms, independent of externalizing symptoms. ConclusionsResults indicate that distinct cognitive processes are related to broader psychopathology symptom dimensions in preadolescents. Future studies should assess relations among computational parameters and clinical risk in youth, which may reveal important prevention and/or intervention targets.