Self-reported Emotion Regulation Difficulties Research Articles

Opponent intrinsic brain network connectivity profiles associated with posttraumatic fear and dysphoria symptoms in trauma-exposed refugees.

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) studies report functional alterations in the connectivity between intrinsic brain networks in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but PTSD heterogeneity is rarely considered. Evidence points to fear (e.g., reexperiencing) and dysphoria (e.g., withdrawal) symptom factors as important in PTSD presentations, including relating to variable emotion dysregulation patterns. This study, therefore, tested how fear and dysphoria posttraumatic symptoms were differentially associated with core network connectivity and emotion dysregulation behaviors in a large group of trauma-exposed refugees. A final sample of 77 trauma-exposed participants completed a rsfMRI scan. Independent component analysis identified active networks and functional network connectivity (FNC) between networks was assessed. Fear and dysphoria posttraumatic symptoms were partially correlated with FNCs, and linear regression models examined relationships with self-reported difficulties in emotion regulation. Twenty-three active networks were identified, eight being in the networks of interest (p < .05 false discovery rate-corrected). Fear and dysphoria symptoms were specifically related to connectivity patterns between two subnetworks of the default mode network (DMN). Fear symptoms were negatively associated with anterior dorsomedial DMN (admDMN) and temporoparietal DMN (tpDMN) connectivity; whereas dysphoria symptoms were positively associated with admDMN-tpDMN connectivity. Additionally, admDMN-tpDMN connectivity was positively predicted by goal-directed emotion dysregulation but negatively predicted by poor emotional clarity. Fear and dysphoria posttraumatic symptoms showed opponent associations with admDMN and tpDMN connectivity, potentially reflecting patterns of under- and overemotion dysregulation associated with these symptom profiles respectively. Findings highlight the importance of considering posttraumatic heterogeneity when constructing neural models of PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Resting heart rate variability and emotion regulation difficulties: Comparing Asian Americans and European Americans

Asian Americans and European Americans differ in emotion regulation (ER), particularly regarding strategies utilized to adaptively engage in ER. Resting heart rate variability (HRV), a biomarker of ER ability, is suggested to differ between Asian Americans and European Americans, but evidence for such differences has been inconsistent. Yet, research has not considered how Asian Americans and European Americans might differ in the well-established link between resting HRV and ER difficulties, which might lend a better understanding of such inconsistencies. In 374 college-aged individuals (66 Asian Americans; 311 European Americans; 190 women; mean age = 19.3 years [Min. 18, Max 38]), we examined if ethnicity moderated the link between resting HRV and self-reported ER difficulties. Resting HRV was obtained during a 5-min resting-baseline period, and ER difficulties were assessed using the Difficulties in ER Scale, which contained six facets of ER difficulties. Adjusting for gender and body mass index, moderation analyses showed a stronger association between resting HRV and ER difficulties in Asian Americans compared to European Americans. When examining facets of ER, ethnicity moderated only the link between resting HRV and difficulties in accessing ER strategies when facing negative emotions. At lower levels of HRV, Asian Americans reported greater difficulties in ER relative to European Americans. This effect diminished and trended in the opposite direction among those with higher HRV. In sum, these results provide novel evidence that higher resting HRV might be particularly important for adaptive ER among Asian Americans – a marginalized ethnic group – in the U.S.

Impact of warm mindfulness on emotion regulation: A randomized controlled effectiveness trial.

To determine the effects of mindfulness training for primary care (MTPC), an integrated warm mindfulness training program, on emotion regulation and its relationship with health behavior change. Interventions that improve self-regulation, particularly emotion regulation, are needed for the self-management of comorbid chronic physical and mental illnesses. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may impact self-regulation and facilitate health behavior change. A randomized controlled comparative effectiveness trial was conducted in a population of adult primary care patients to evaluate the impact of MTPC versus a low-dose mindfulness comparator (LDC) on self-reported difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS) total score and other assays of self-regulation at baseline, Weeks 8 and 24. Self-reported action plan initiation was reported between Weeks 8 and 10. Participants had diagnoses of anxiety, depression, or stress-related disorders. MTPC is an 8-week insurance-reimbursable warm MBI designed to cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion and to catalyze chronic illness self-management related health behavior change. Compared to LDC, MTPC participants had statistically significant reductions in DERS total score at 8 weeks (d = -0.59, β = -12.98, 95% CI [-23.3 to -2.6]; p = .01) and 24 weeks (d = -0.61, β = -13.35, [-24.3, -2.4]; p = .02). Compared to 38% for LDC, 63% of MTPC participants successfully initiated their action plan within 3 weeks (OR = 2.87, [1.1, 7.9]; p = .04). This randomized controlled trial demonstrated MTPC enhanced emotion regulation and facilitated initiation of chronic illness self-management and health behavior change among primary care patients with anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders, replicating previous reports. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Resting Heart Rate Variability, Perceived Emotion Regulation, and Low-Risk Drug Use in College-Aged Adults: Gender as a Moderator.

Identification of individual differences in drug use is warranted, as a history of use is associated with future drug problems. Such drug use is thought to disrupt inhibitory and motivation networks involved in emotion regulation (ER). Higher resting heart rate variability (HRV), a biomarker of effective inhibitory abilities, is associated with less substance (e.g., alcohol, opioid) use. Higher HRV is associated with lower perceived ER difficulties, and this link is stronger in women relative to men. Evidence suggests women might engage in drug use primarily to reduce stress, and men primarily to induce feelings of elation. Research has yet to examine associations among individuals’ difficulties in ER, resting HRV, and a recent history of drug use; the current study explored this, in addition to how these associations might differ as a function of gender. Young and healthy college students (N = 190; 88 women) completed a 5-min baseline to assess resting HRV, followed by the 36-item difficulties in ER Scale and 10-item Drug Abuse Screening Test. Higher difficulties in ER, but not resting HRV, were associated with a greater history of “low-risk” drug use in the full sample and moderation tests confirm this link was stronger in women. Moderated-mediation results confirmed an indirect association between resting HRV and drug use, mediated by self-reported difficulties among women only. A significant association between resting HRV and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) emerged only among women without a history of drug use. These results indicate that difficulties in ER are both associated with a low-risk history of drug use and underlie an indirect link between resting HRV and drug use history in women only. Among these women with a history of drug use relative to women without, there was no link between resting HRV and self-reported difficulties in ER, suggesting a disrupted inhibitory-motivational pathway. Additional work is needed to understand the psychophysiological correlates of a history of low-risk drug use in young men. These data are in line with research suggesting gender differences in the motivation to engage in recreational drug use and ER interventions might be important in women who engage in low-risk recreational drug use.

Managing emotions in psychosis: Evaluation of a brief DBT-informed skills group for individuals with psychosis in routine community services.

ObjectivesIndividuals with psychosis report that emotion regulation (ER) difficulties are treatment priorities, yet little is known about how targeted ER interventions may help. We evaluated a new eight‐session Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)–informed skills group specifically adapted for individuals with psychosis: the Managing Emotions Group (MEG) in diverse, inner‐city community services.MethodA mixed‐method design was utilised to assess the feasibility (acceptability and potential clinical impact) of local delivery of MEG. Uptake, completion (≥50% of sessions), post‐session satisfaction ratings, and thematic analysis of qualitative feedback from 12 completers assessed acceptability. Pre–post‐intervention changes in psychological distress, self‐reported ER difficulties, and adaptive ER skill use assessed potential clinical impact.ResultsForty‐eight individuals (81% of attenders) completed the intervention (M age = 43, 54% female) of whom 39 completed pre‐ and post‐group measures. Participants reported high satisfaction and meaningful improvements in understanding and managing emotions, with positive impact on daily life. Self‐reported psychological distress, ER difficulties, and adaptive ER skill use significantly improved, with medium‐to‐large pre‐post effects (d = 0.5–0.7) except lack of emotional clarity (d = 0.3).ConclusionsMEG was feasible and acceptable, and a future feasibility randomised controlled trial is warranted.Practitioner points Individuals with psychosis report that support with their emotions is a priority.Brief interventions for emotion regulation difficulties are acceptable to individuals with psychosis and can be feasibly delivered in a local outpatient service.Distress and emotion regulation difficulties and skills improved significantly from pre–post treatment for clients completing the managing emotions group.Further implementation and evaluation are needed to support continued refinement to meet the needs and priorities of individuals with psychosis.

Elevated neurotensin levels among obese adolescents may be related to emotion dysregulation and impulsivity: a cross-sectional, case-control study.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the serum neurotensin (NT) levels and their relationships with self-reported anxiety, emotion regulation skills and impulsivity in healthy and obese adolescents. Adolescents who gained weight between 12- 17 years of age and who were above the 95th percentile (p) for body mass index (BMI) > 95p were compared with age- and gender-matched healthy adolescents with a BMI of 3-85 p. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and serum NT levels were analyzed with ELISA method in all participants. Barrat Impulsivity Scale-11 (BIS-11), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) were used for evaluating self-reported impulsivity, anxiety and emotion regulation. MANOVA with follow-up univariate ANOVAs (Bonferroni corrected) were used for group comparisons. P was set at 0.05 (two-tailed). Sixty-five obese and 65 healthy adolescents were included in the study. In the obese group, NT levels were significantly elevated compared to the control group. Self-reported emotion-regulation difficulties, anxiety and impulsivity were significantly elevated among obese adolescents. Serum NT levels among the obese group were positively correlated with emotion dysregulation and impulsivity scores. In this study, we found emotional dysregulation, anxiety, impulsivity, and serum NT levels were significantly elevated among obese adolescents compared to controls. NT levels in the obese group correlated with impulsivity and emotion dysregulation. Further studies should evaluate the potential role of NT in the etiology of psychopathology among adolescents who are obese.

Aggressive script rehearsal in adult offenders: Relationships with emotion regulation difficulties and aggressive behavior.

This study explored relationships between self-reported emotion regulation difficulties, frequency of aggressive script rehearsal and aggressive behavior in 129 adult male inmates. Significant moderate positive correlations were found between the frequency of aggressive script rehearsal and (1) emotion regulation difficulties overall, as well as the following dimensions, (2) difficulties controlling impulses when experiencing negative emotions, and (3) confidence in the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies. Significant weak positive correlations were found between the frequency of aggressive script rehearsal and two emotion regulation difficulty dimensions, (1) a lack of understanding of emotional responses, and (2) difficulties in dealing with goal directed behavior when experiencing uncomfortable emotions. No significant correlations were found between aggressive behavior and emotion regulation difficulties, except for a weak positive correlation between aggressive behavior and difficulties controlling impulses when experiencing negative emotions. Multivariate analyses were used to assess whether the frequency of aggressive script rehearsal moderated the effect of emotion regulation difficulties on aggressive behaviour. Significant improvement in the prediction of aggression resulted from consideration of the interaction between (1) aggressive script rehearsal and difficulties in emotional clarity, and (2) aggressive script rehearsal and awareness of emotional experience, even after accounting for the influence of age and attitudes toward violence. In conclusion, the results suggest that the rehearsal of aggressive scripts may function to regulate emotion, particularly amongst people who are inattentive to their emotions or who have difficulty understanding their emotional experiences.

Self-reported emotion regulation difficulties in psychosis: Psychometric properties of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16).

Individuals with psychosis self-report difficulties in understanding, relating, and responding to emotions as treatment priorities, yet we lack comprehensive, reliable, and valid assessments for routine clinical use. The psychometric properties of a brief version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16) were examined using anonymized data from a sample of 150 outpatients with psychosis. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the five-factor structure of the DERS-16. The model fit was further improved by omitting two items. Measurement invariance was shown with respect to age and gender. The DERS-16 demonstrated good internal consistency, well comparable to the original DERS. Evidence towardconvergent validity is also presented. Findings suggest that the DERS-16 is a reliable and valid measure of self-reported emotion regulation difficulties in individuals with psychosis. Further research on the clinical utility of the DERS-16 is needed, including examination of its test-retest reliability and predictive validity in response to targeted interventions.

Intrapersonal Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Maladaptive Interpersonal Behavior in Adolescence.

Although most research conceptualizes emotion regulation as an internal process (i.e., intrapersonal), emotions are frequently regulated in an interpersonal context. Adolescents may be particularly prone to turn to peers for assistance, given that honing emotion regulation abilities is a key task and peers become increasingly important at this stage. Adolescents each participated with a self-nominated same-gender friend (total N = 186; M age = 15.68years). All participants provided self-reports of their own emotion regulation difficulties and their engagement in interpersonal behaviors (excessive reassurance seeking, negative feedback seeking, conversational self-focus, self-disclosure) as well as their perceptions of their friends' engagement in excessive reassurance seeking and conversational self-focus. Using a cross-lagged panel model design, the current study tested associations between adolescents' intrapersonal emotion regulation difficulties and engagement in self- and friend-reported interpersonal emotion regulation behaviors at 3 time points over 6months. Gender and age group differences were considered. Results evidenced concurrent and longitudinal associations between emotion regulation difficulties and self-reported maladaptive (excessive reassurance seeking, conversational self-focus, negative feedback seeking), but not adaptive (self-disclosure), interpersonal regulatory behaviors. Friends' reports of adolescents' excessive reassurance seeking and conversational self-focus were associated concurrently, but not longitudinally, with self-reported emotion regulation difficulties. Implications for clinical intervention with adolescents struggling to regulate emotions are discussed.

Emotion dysregulation across levels of substance use

Emotion dysregulation has shown to be of importance in the onset and maintenance of psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. How difficulties in emotion regulation differ across levels of substance use, and whether these relations are influenced by co-occurring psychiatric disorders, is less clear. This study aimed to identify difficulties in emotion regulation across the spectrum of substance use and evaluate the influence of co-occurring psychiatric symptoms. Self-reported emotion regulation difficulties, substance use, and other psychiatric symptoms were assessed in one community sample (n = 843) and two inpatient clinics, with substance use disorder populations (n = 415). Data were merged and analyzed with regression models and correlations. Emotion dysregulation was distributed across different levels of substance use, and significantly associated with substance use severity and frequency. High substance use severity and frequency was significantly associated with high scores on the emotion dysregulation facet specifically involving difficulties controlling impulsive behaviors. Psychiatric symptoms did not significantly influence the association between substance use and emotion dysregulation. Results indicate an association between emotion dysregulation and the frequency and severity of substance use, and also suggest that difficulties controlling impulsive behaviors may be a potentially useful treatment target for individuals with substance dependence.

Diurnal variation of heart rate variability as a physiological index of mood and emotion regulation processes in Major Depression and Borderline Personality Disorder

BackgroundHeart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic nervous system activity, has been studied in a number of psychiatric disorders during the resting state but evidence on its circadian patterns in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is scarce. We sought to identify and differentiate HRV circadian patterns in MDD, BPD and healthy controls (HC) while exploring potential physiological mechanisms associated with mood and emotion dysregulation. Methods24-Hour electrocardiographic recordings were obtained from fifty subjects (16 HC, 18 BPD, 16 MDD). HRV was calculated during sleep and wake periods. Associations with mood and affect measures, and with cognitive emotion regulation strategies and self-reported difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS) were examined. Participant’s resilience traits were explored in relation to mood and emotion regulation variables. ResultsLower diurnal measures of HRV (i.e, RMSSD and HF) were observed in MDD subjects compared to HCs. Decreased HF was observed during wake vs. sleep in MDD patients. HAM-D and negative affect scores negatively correlated with HRV in MDD and BPD respectively. MDD and BPD exhibited a positive relationship between the implementation of emotion regulation strategies and HRV compared to HC. Increased resilience was associated with lower HAM-D and DERS scores in BPD and HC. ConclusionHRV alterations characterized by low diurnal cardiac parasympathetic control constitute a potential trait biomarker of major depression and psychiatric vulnerability to depressive episodes in BPD. HRV anomalies in MDD may persist during clinical remission. Diurnal HRV may represent a psychophysiological index of mood and emotion regulation.

Effectiveness of a transdiagnostic group intervention to enhance emotion regulation in young Afghan refugees: A pilot randomized controlled study

There are several challenges to providing mental health care for refugees, including high comorbidity and structural barriers. Targeting transdiagnostic processes in a low-threshold group intervention appears particularly promising to meet these challenges. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a new transdiagnostic intervention, Skills-Training of Affect Regulation–A Culture-sensitive Approach (STARC), focusing on conveying strategies to improve emotional clarity and to regulate emotions. A parallel-group (STARC vs. waitlist) randomized-controlled study with 44 young male Afghan refugees was conducted in a routine clinical setting (NCT03162679). In intention-to-treat analyses, participants of STARC significantly improved in self-reported difficulties in emotion regulation (ΔdSTARC-Waitlist = 1.22), transdiagnostic symptom severity (ΔdSTARC-Waitlist = 1.69), posttraumatic stress symptoms (ΔdSTARC-Waitlist = 1.19), and caregiver-reported emotional competence (ΔdSTARC-Waitlist = −0.90), but not anger reactions (ΔdSTARC-Waitlist = 0.50) compared to waitlist. Effects were maintained over 3 months. STARC is a feasible transdiagnostic intervention in a routine clinical setting and effective for young Afghan refugees. If replicated in large-scale studies with active control groups, it might be promising as an initial low-threshold intervention offered in a phased-based and/or stepped care approach.

Lower Cardiac Vagal Activity Predicts Self-Reported Difficulties With Emotion Regulation in Adolescents With ADHD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relation between cardiac vagal activity (CVA), a measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) flexibility, and self-reported emotion regulation (ER) difficulties in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and controls.MethodsThe sample comprised 11–17-year-old adolescents with ADHD (n=34) and controls (n = 33). Multiple linear regression analyses investigated the relation between CVA, as indexed by high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), and ER difficulties as assessed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Supplemental analyses were performed in ADHD and control groups separately. Analyses assessed effects of body mass index (BMI), physical activity levels, and HF peak as a surrogate of respiration on CVA.ResultsLower CVA was associated with ER difficulties, and specifically with limited access to effective ER strategies. When investigating the relation between CVA and ER in the ADHD and control groups separately, there was a tendency of lower CVA predicting limited access to effective ER strategies in the ADHD group, and not in the control group.ConclusionThe results suggest that lower CVA, i.e., reduced ANS flexibility, in adolescents with ADHD and controls is associated with self-reported ER difficulties, and specifically with limited access to effective ER strategies. There was a tendency for lower CVA to predict limited ER strategies only in the adolescents with ADHD and not controls.

The association between current maternal psychological control, anxiety symptoms, and emotional regulatory processes in emerging adults

Background and objectivesHigh levels of psychological control (PC), the (intentional or unintentional) attempt by parents to control their child's emotional experience, have been associated with increased risk for anxiety in youth. However, little is known regarding the association between PC and anxiety in emerging adulthood, a developmental period marked by various life transitions and high risk for the onset of internalizing symptoms, or about the relation between current parental PC and emotional regulatory processes during this stage. The current study examined whether perceived maternal PC was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms and both objective (psychophysiological; respiratory sinus arrhythmia) and subjective (self-reported) emotion regulatory processes. MethodsParticipants (N = 125; ages 18 to 25) completed self-reports on their anxiety symptoms, emotion regulation abilities, and perceptions of their mother’ behavior, and participated in a laboratory stressor, the Trier-Social Stress Test, while psychophysiological data were acquired. ResultsEmerging adults who reported higher maternal PC also reported higher anxiety symptoms and evidenced greater emotion regulation difficulties on both objective and subjective indices than those who reported lower maternal PC. Moreover, the association between PC and anxiety levels was statistically mediated by self-reported emotion regulation difficulties. LimitationsResults of this study should be interpreted in light of its limitations, which include it being cross-sectional in nature with a primarily female sample. Further, perceptions of maternal, but not paternal, parenting were examined. ConclusionsFindings might have implications for targeting both psychological control and emotion regulation difficulties in personalized anxiety interventions during this high-risk developmental period.

Sex moderates the relationship between resting heart rate variability and self-reported difficulties in emotion regulation.

Lower resting vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV) is thought to reflect poorer function of the neurophysiological pathways underlying emotion regulation (ER) and thus, poorer ER abilities. Sex differences in resting HRV exists such that women typically exhibit higher resting HRV than men. It is proposed that greater HRV in women reflects compensation for greater negative affect such as anxiety and depression. However, research has not yet investigated how the association between resting HRV and every day perceived difficulties in ER may be moderated by sex. The current study sought to test this in a sample of 362 young participants (207 females, mean age of 19). Resting HRV was assessed during a 5-min baseline period using an electrocardiogram. Participants then completed the 36-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) designed to evaluate participant's daily difficulties in ER. Controlling for several covariates, sex significantly moderated the relationship between resting HRV and ER difficulties, such that women showed a much stronger relationship compared with men. Specifically, women with lower HRV reported greater difficulties in ER compared with men with lower HRV, whereas women with higher HRV reported slightly lesser difficulties in ER compared with all men. Overall, this study supports a deeper understanding of how neurophysiological differences in ER between men and women-as indexed by resting HRV-may contribute to how effectively individuals regulate their emotions on a day-to-day basis, with implications for well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

A multimodal MRI study of the neural mechanisms of emotion regulation impairment in women with obesity

Maladaptive emotion regulation contributes to overeating and impedes weight loss. Our study aimed to compare the voluntary downregulation of negative emotions by means of cognitive reappraisal in adult women with obesity (OB) and female healthy controls (HC) using a data-driven, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach. Women with OB (n = 24) and HC (n = 25) carried out an emotion regulation task during functional MRI scanning. Seed-to-voxel resting-state connectivity patterns derived from activation peaks identified by this task were compared between groups. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to examine white matter microstructure integrity between regions exhibiting group differences in resting-state functional connectivity. Participants in the OB group presented reduced activation in the ventromedial prefrontal (vmPFC) cortex in comparison to the HC group when downregulating negative emotions, along with heightened activation in the extrastriate visual cortex (p < 0.05, AlphaSim-corrected). Moreover, vmPFC peak activity levels during cognitive reappraisal were negatively correlated with self-reported difficulties in emotion regulation. OB patients exhibited decreased functional connectivity between the vmPFC and the temporal pole during rest (peak-pFWE = 0.039). Decreased fractional white-matter track volume in the uncinate fasciculus, which links these two regions, was also found in participants with OB. Taken together, our findings are indicative of emotion regulation deficits in OB being underpinned by dysfunctional hypoactivity in the vmPFC and hyperactivity in the extrastriate visual cortex. Our results provide a potential target circuit for neuromodulatory interventions to improve emotion regulation skills and weight-loss intervention outcomes.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Emotion Regulation Difficulties: A Systematic Review

AbstractWhile dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) appears efficacious in reducing suicidal and self-harming behaviour, it is unclear whether DBT reduces emotion regulation (ER) difficulties, a purported mechanism of change of treatment. This review aims to investigate and evaluate the current evidence to understand the effectiveness of DBT in improving ER difficulties. A qualitative synthesis of studies investigating the effectiveness of DBT on self-reported ER difficulties as measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) was performed, identifying eligible studies using PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Fourteen studies were identified. Current evidence indicates that DBT does not show consistent benefits relative to existing psychological treatments in improving ER difficulties. The literature is compromised by significant methodological limitations increasing risk of bias across study outcomes. Furthermore, high variability across DBT programs and a lack of investigation regarding adherence and participant engagement within interventions was observed. Further research is needed in order to conclude regarding the effectiveness of DBT in improving ER difficulties. Consistent use of active treatment conditions, greater standardisation of DBT-based interventions, in addition to further examination of participant engagement level in DBT-based interventions in the long term may assist understanding as to whether DBT improves ER difficulties.

Supplemental Material for Sex Moderates the Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Self-Reported Difficulties in Emotion Regulation

Supplemental Material for Sex Moderates the Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Self-Reported Difficulties in Emotion Regulation

Does development moderate the effect of early life assaultive violence on resting-state networks? An exploratory study

Current neurocircuitry models of PTSD do not account for developmental effects, despite that early life assaultive violence is a potent risk factor for PTSD. Here, we preliminarily evaluated developmental stage as a moderator of the effect of early life assaultive violence on resting-state connectivity amongst regions associated with emotion generation and regulation using fMRI. Participants were adult women (n = 25) and adolescent girls (n = 36) who had or had not experienced early life assaultive violence. We found significant interactions between developmental stage and trauma exposure on resting-state functional connectivity (FC). Left amygdala connectivity with the left ventral anterior cingulate gyrus (BA 32) was reduced among trauma-exposed compared to control adolescents, but increased among trauma-exposed compared to control adults. A corresponding pattern of results was identified for FC between rostral anterior cingulate gyrus seed region and a similar right ventral anterior superior frontal gyrus cluster. Increased FC in both regions for assaulted adult women scaled positively with self-reported emotion regulation difficulties. Our results should be viewed tentatively due to sample limitations, but provide impetus to examine whether neurocircuitry models of PTSD may be strengthened by accounting for developmental stage.

Emotion regulation, mindfulness, and alexithymia: Specific or general impairments in sexual, violent, and homicide offenders?

PurposeProblems in emotional functioning have been identified as a risk factor for both sexual and violent offending, yet the precise pattern of impairment in emotional functioning that is experienced by sexual and violent offenders remains unclear. MethodsIn this study, we examined self-reported difficulties in emotion regulation, the use of different strategies for regulating emotions, levels of trait alexithymia, and dispositional mindfulness in men with a history of sexual offending, non-sexual violent offending, homicide, and community controls. ResultsA comparison between these groups showed that while sexual offenders had some circumscribed difficulties in emotional nonacceptance, violent offenders showed more generalized problems in emotional nonacceptance, alexithymia, and mindfulness. In contrast, homicide offenders reported few difficulties compared with other offender groups. ConclusionsOur results have implications for the allocation of individuals to treatment modules aimed at improving emotion regulation to reduce negative affect and offending behavior.