Symptoms In Non-clinical Population Research Articles

Connectome-based prediction of eating disorder-associated symptomatology.

Despite increasing knowledge on the neuroimaging patterns of eating disorder (ED) symptoms in non-clinical populations, studies using whole-brain machine learning to identify connectome-based neuromarkers of ED symptomatology are absent. This study examined the association of connectivity within and between large-scale functional networks with specific symptomatic behaviors and cognitions using connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM). CPM with ten-fold cross-validation was carried out to probe functional networks that were predictive of ED-associated symptomatology, including body image concerns, binge eating, and compensatory behaviors, within the discovery sample of 660 participants. The predictive ability of the identified networks was validated using an independent sample of 821 participants. The connectivity predictive of body image concerns was identified within and between networks implicated in cognitive control (frontoparietal and medial frontal), reward sensitivity (subcortical), and visual perception (visual). Crucially, the set of connections in the positive network related to body image concerns identified in one sample was generalized to predict body image concerns in an independent sample, suggesting the replicability of this effect. These findings point to the feasibility of using the functional connectome to predict ED symptomatology in the general population and provide the first evidence that functional interplay among distributed networks predicts body shape/weight concerns.

The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences-Positive scale (CAPE-P15) accurately classifies and differentiates psychotic experience levels in adolescents from the general population.

There is increasing interest in studying psychotic symptoms in non-clinical populations, with the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences-Positive scale (CAPE-P15) being one of the self-screening questionnaires used most commonly for this purpose. Further research is needed to evaluate the ability of the scale to accurately identify and classify positive psychotic experiences (PE) in the general population. To provide psychometric evidence about the accuracy of the CAPE-P15 for detecting PE in a sample of Chilean adolescents from the general population and classifying them according to their PE severity levels. We administered the CAPE-P15 to a general sample of 1594 students aged 12 to 19. Based on Item Response Theory (IRT), we tested the accuracy of the instrument using two main parameters: difficulty and discrimination power of the 15 items. We found that the scale provides very accurate information about PE, particularly for high PE levels. The items with the highest capability to determine the presence of the latent trait were those assessing perceptual anomalies (auditory and visual hallucinations), bizarre experiences (a double has taken the place of others; being controlled by external forces), and persecutory ideation (conspiracy against me). The CAPE-P15 is an accurate and suitable tool to screen PE and to accurately classify and differentiate PE levels in adolescents from the general population. Further research is needed to better understand how maladaptive psychological mechanisms influence relationships between PE and suicidal ideation (SI) in the general population.

Temporal trends in psychotic symptoms: Repeated cross-sectional surveys of the population in England 2000–14

BackgroundThe number of antipsychotic prescriptions dispensed annually in England has increased substantially over the past decade. It is not known whether this is due to changes in prescribing practices, or an increase in the prevalence of psychosis. To our knowledge, no previous studies have investigated temporal trends in prevalence of psychotic symptoms in non-clinical populations. MethodsWe used data from the nationally representative Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys 2000, 2007 and 2014 to (1) test whether the prevalence of psychotic symptoms increased between 2000 and 2014; (2) compare prevalence of psychotic symptoms to the prevalence of being prescribed antipsychotic medication; and (3) identify correlates of experiencing psychotic symptoms. ResultsThere was a small increase in the prevalence of psychotic symptoms in 2014 compared to 2000 (prevalence in 2000 5.6%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 5.1% to 6.2%; prevalence in 2014 6.8%, 95% CI 6.1% - 7.6%). This corresponded to an adjusted odds ratio of 1.2 (95% CI 1.02–1.40, p=0.026) for experiencing psychotic symptoms in 2014 compared to 2007. By comparison, antipsychotic medication use doubled over this period (prevalence in 2000 0.6%, 95% CI 0.4%–0.7%; prevalence in 2014 1.2% 95% CI 0.9%–1.5%; aOR 2.22 (1.52–3.25) p<0.001). Correlates of reporting psychotic symptoms included ethnic minority identity, younger age, lower social class, alcohol and cannabis use, and any psychiatric diagnosis. ConclusionsWhile the rates of antipsychotic prescription doubled between 2000 and 2014, the odds of having psychotic symptoms rose only slightly. The reasons for this warrant further investigation.

Mental Well-Being During Pandemic: The Role of Cognitive Biases and Emotion Regulation Strategies in Risk Perception and Affective Response to COVID-19.

Both cognitive appraisals of risks associated with the specific disease and affective response to crisis situations have been shown to shape an individual response to pandemics. COVID-19 pandemic and measures introduced to contain it present an unparalleled challenge to mental well-being worldwide. Here, we examine the relationship between self-reported cognitive biases (CB) and emotion regulation skills (ER), COVID-19 risk perception and affective response, and mental well-being (MWB). Five Hundred and Eleven individuals completed General Health Questionnaire, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale (DACOBS) as well as scales measuring COVID-19 risk perception and affective response during the initial days of the epidemic in Poland. We used path and bootstrapping analyses to examine the hypothesis that CB may shape MWB during COVID-19 pandemic both directly and indirectly by (i) decreasing ER capacity and (ii) by increasing COVID-19 risk perception and affective response. Negative effect of CB and positive effect of ER via cognitive reappraisal on MWB were observed in participants. Furthermore, in line with our hypothesis, we observed indirect effects of CB via increased COVID-19 risk perception and affective response and decreased use of reappraisal strategy, which all, in turn, were related to MWB. Finally, we found an indirect effect of CB on MWB through double mediation of suppression strategies and COVID-19 affective response. Results of the current study suggest that CB, which have been shown to be linked to a variety of mental health symptoms in non-clinical populations, may exacerbate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes.

Persistent postural perceptual dizziness is on a spectrum in the general population.

ObjectiveTo examine the idea that symptoms of persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) are more common than previously assumed and lie on a spectrum in the general population, thus challenging current theories that PPPD is only a consequence of a vestibular insult.MethodsWe collected 2 common clinical questionnaires of PPPD (Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale [VVAS] and Situational Characteristics Questionnaire [SCQ]) in 4 cohorts: community research volunteers (n = 1941 for VVAS, n = 1,474 for SCQ); paid online participants (n = 190 for VVAS, n = 125 for SCQ); students (n = 204, VVAS only); and patients diagnosed with PPPD (n = 25).ResultsWe found that around 9%, 4%, and 11%, respectively, of the 3 nonclinical cohorts scored above the 25th percentile patient score on 1 PPPD measure (VVAS) and 49% and 54% scored above the 25th percentile patient score on the other measure (SCQ). Scores correlated negatively with age (counter to expectation). As expected, scores correlated with migraine in 2 populations, but this only explained a small part of the variance, suggesting that migraine is not the major factor underlying the spectrum of PPPD symptoms in the general population.ConclusionWe found high levels of PPPD symptoms in nonclinical populations, suggesting that PPPD is a spectrum that preexists in the population, rather than only being a consequence of vestibular insult. Atypical visuo-vestibular processing predisposes some individuals to visually induced dizziness, which is then exacerbated should vestibular insult (or more generalized insult) occur.

Reciprocal Relationship Between Reduced Autobiographical Memory Specificity and Depressive Symptoms in Nonclinical Populations

Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with major depression have reduced autobiographical memory specificity (AMS), and reduced AMS predicts a worse course of depression. However, in nonclinical populations, the relationship between depressive symptoms and reduced AMS is unclear, as well as whether reduced AMS predicts high levels of depressive symptoms. A 6-month prospective study of 150 undergraduate students was conducted. Participants completed the Autobiographical Memory Test Optional Instructions, which is suitable for detecting reduced AMS in nonclinical populations. A cross-lagged panel design showed a significant reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and reduced AMS. Additional analysis revealed that reduced AMS at time 1 predicted depressive symptoms at time 2 for individuals with high levels of depressive symptoms at time 1. These results suggest that reduced AMS in nonclinical populations with some degree of depressive symptoms is a potential target for interventions to prevent the onset of depression.

Do Individual Differences in Emotion Regulation Mediate the Relationship Between Mental Toughness and Symptoms of Depression?

Abstract. Mental Toughness (MT) provides crucial psychological capacities for achievement in sports, education, and work settings. Previous research examined the role of MT in the domain of mental health and showed that MT is negatively associated with and predictive of fewer depressive symptoms in nonclinical populations. The present study aimed at (1) investigating to what extent mentally tough individuals use two emotion regulation strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression; (2) exploring whether individual differences in emotion regulation strategy use mediate the relationship between MT and depressive symptoms. Three hundred sixty-four participants (M = 24.31 years, SD = 9.16) provided self-reports of their levels of MT, depressive symptoms, and their habitual use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. The results showed a statistically significant correlation between MT and two commonly used measures of depressive symptoms. A small statistically significant positive correlation between MT and the habitual use of cognitive reappraisal was also observed. The correlation between MT and the habitual use of expressive suppression was statistically significant, but the size of the effect was small. A statistical mediation model indicated that individual differences in the habitual use of expressive suppression mediate the relationship between MT and depressive symptoms. No such effect was found for the habitual use of cognitive reappraisal. Implications of these findings and possible avenues for future research are discussed.

Cannabis Associated Elation of Manic Symptoms in a University Cohort (Non- Clinical)

Cannabis is the most frequently used drug worldwide and is a wide spread problem among the young adults. The use of cannabis in some countries such as Pakistan is a traditional habit for the elation of mood and the users are not aware of the link between cannabis use and manic symptoms. The present study aims to investigate the presence of manic symptoms in non-clinical population particularly adolescents and young adults, who use cannabis in a social context and did not report psychiatric illness/ or have no previous psychiatric history. For this purpose a cross sectional design study sample which comprised of non-clinical 100 participants from a general population ,which include 50 individuals using Cannabis for social purpose and with no psychiatric diagnosis, and an equal number of non-cannabis users without cannabis use history and no psychiatric diagnosis were considered for this study. Our results indicated a positive correlation (p<.01) between cannabis use and the presence of manic symptoms and subsequently demonstrate association between cannabis use and manic symptoms. Furthermore our results indicated a significant difference (p<.01) between cannabis users and non-cannabis users on the basis of manic symptoms and impulsiveness. To conclude our findings highlighted the prevalence of manic symptoms in individuals who ingest cannabis in the social context but did not report other psychiatric disorders.

Osobine ličnosti, životni događaji i anksioznost adolescenata

Osnovni cilj ovog istraživanja jeste utvrđivanje doprinosa dimenzija ličnosti i životnih događaja predikciji simptoma anksioznosti kod adolescenata. Istraživanje je sprovedeno na uzorku od 300 adolescenta koji pripadaju nekliničkoj populaciji. U analizu su bili uključeni pokazatelji pet velikih dimenzija ličnosti- Neuroticizma, Ekstraverzije, Otvorenosti, Prijatnosti i Savesnosti, broj, vrsta i vremenski period javljanja životnih događaja i stresnih iskustava, i stepen manifestovanja simptoma anksioznosti kod adolescenata, u toku prethodnih nedelju dana. Kao konceptualni okvir poslužili su leksički model ličnosti ‘’Velikih pet’’, teorije životnih događaja, i teorijska razmatranja pojave negativnih afektivnih reakcija u adolescenciji. Životni događaji su se pokazali kao najbolji prediktori simptoma anksioznosti kod nekliničke populacije adolescenata. Najznačajniji doprinos pojavi ispitivanih emocionalnih reakcija daje ukupan broj događaja (b=.892; p=.000). Pored toga, hronični stresori su se pokazali kao nepovoljni po afektivno funkcionisanje mladih (b=.258; p=.001). Uz stresore koji se odnose na porodični kontekst (b=.375; p=.010), predikciji simptoma anksioznosti značajno doprinose i školski problemi (b=.191; p=.001). Od osobina ličnosti posebno se izdvojila dimenzija Prijatnosti (b=.247; p=.000). Pokazalo se da viši skorovi na ovoj dimenziji predviđaju nešto češću pojavu simptoma anksioznosti.

Prospective Study of Peer Victimization in Childhood and Psychotic Symptoms in a Nonclinical Population at Age 12 Years

Psychotic symptoms are commonly experienced in nonclinical populations of adolescents and adults and have been shown to be predictive of later schizophreniform disorders. Associations between adverse experiences in childhood and psychotic symptoms in adulthood have been demonstrated. To examine whether peer victimization is associated with psychotic symptoms in a population-based sample of 12-year-olds. Prospective cohort study. Assessment clinic for 12-year-old members of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort in Bristol, England, where parents had participated since pregnancy and their children completed a range of physical and psychological annual assessments since age 7 years. A total of 6437 respondents with complete interviews (mean age, 12.9 years). The Psychosis-like Symptoms Interview developed for the study using stem questions, glossary definitions, and rating rules, adapted from the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV and the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. The interview, carried out by trained psychology graduates, investigated respondents' experience of psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders) over the previous 6 months. The risk of psychotic symptoms was increased about 2-fold (odds ratio = 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-2.44) among victims of bullying at ages 8 and/or 10 years, independent of other prior psychopathology, family adversity, or child's IQ. Similar results were found using mother and teacher reports of victimization. Associations were stronger (up to odds ratio = 4.60; 95% confidence interval, 3.24-6.50) when victimization was chronic or severe (ie, experience of relational as well as overt victimization reported). Peer victimization in childhood, especially if it is chronic or severe, is associated with psychotic symptoms in early adolescence. These results lend further support to the relevance of psychosocial factors in the etiology of psychotic symptoms in nonclinical populations, which may increase the risk of adult-onset psychotic disorders.

The structure of obsessionality among young adults.

Although the phenomenology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is well understood, less is known about the structure of obsessive symptoms in non-clinical populations. The present study examines the factorial structure of the Leyton Obsessional Inventory short form (LOI-SF) in a sample of 1,015 undergraduate college students. Four factors were extracted describing concerns about contamination (labeled the Contamination factor); repeating behaviors or uncomfortable thoughts or doubts (labeled the Doubts/Repeating factor); checking behaviors, too much attention to detail, honesty concerns, strict conscience and strict routine (labeled the Checking/Detail factor); and taking a long time to dress and to hang up and put away clothing, as well as belief in extremely unlucky numbers (labeled Worries/Just Right factor). Self-report measures of anxiety and ADHD symptoms were correlated positively with these factors, particularly with the checking/detail factor. The prevalence, symptom structure, and patterns of comorbidity seen in this sample of unselected college students are similar to the patterns seen in adolescents with OCD, suggesting that obsessional symptoms and OCD may exist along a continuum.

Psychotic symptoms in non-clinical populations and the continuum of psychosis

A growing body of evidence suggests that delusional or hallucinatory experiences are much more frequent in subjects from the general population than the prevalence of cases of psychotic disorders, thereby suggesting the existence of a symptomatic continuum between subjects from the general population and clinical cases of psychosis. Exploring the risk factors modulating the expression of psychosis-like signs in non-clinical populations may better contribute to elucidate the etiology of psychosis than research restricted to subjects at the endpoint of the distribution of the psychotic dimension. The aim of this paper is to briefly review research investigating the distribution of psychotic symptoms in non-clinical populations, the developmental aspects of psychosis proneness, and the outcome characteristics of psychosis-prone subjects.

Nonclinical populations in research on obsessive-compulsive disorder: A critical review

This article provides a review of the literature on nonclinical obsessive-compulsives (NCOCs). The main areas of focus include: (a) prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in nonclinical populations, (b) symptom profile, (c) associated psychopathology, (d) personality and psychological characteristics, (e) cognitive dysfunction, and (f) coping styles. For all six areas, findings on NCOCs are compared with research on clinical samples. Results suggest that: (a) lowlevel obsessive compulsive symptoms, as well as OCD, occur frequently in the general population; (b) a comparison of the symptom profile of NCOCs and OCD patients reveals both similarities and differences; (c) levels of associated anxiety, depression, and personality traits are consistent across studies and indicate that the scores of NCOCs fall between those of normal controls and OCD patients; (d) basic research on personality and psychological aspects of NCOCs has identified potential etiological factors in the development of OCD, including inflated responsibility and guilt, obsessive-compulsive personality traits, excessive need for control over the environment, and exaggerated responsiveness to emotional provocation; (e) NCOCs perform significantly worse on measures of executive functioning, memory, and information processing in comparison to control subjects, but unlike their OCD counterparts, their scores lie within the normal range; (f) the most common types of strategies employed by NCOCs and OCD patients in an effort to cope with obsessive-compulsive symptoms are qualitatively similar but less effective for OCD patients. The nature of the relationship between nonclinical obsessive-compulsive symptomatology and OCD is discussed with these findings in mind. In addition, critical commentary regarding methodological issues, as well as unanswered research questions which await empirical research, are addressed.