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Association between cognitive dysfunction and nocturnal peaks of blood pressure estimated from pulse transit time in obstructive sleep apnoea

- Alomri, Ridwan, Kennedy, Gerard, Wali, Siraj, Alhejaili, Faris, Zelko, Matthew, Robinson, Stephen

  • Authors: Alomri, Ridwan , Kennedy, Gerard , Wali, Siraj , Alhejaili, Faris , Zelko, Matthew , Robinson, Stephen
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Sleep Medicine Vol. 90, no. (2022), p. 185-191
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  • Description: Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is characterised by recurrent episodes of partial or complete cessation of breathing during sleep and an increased effort to breathe. Patients with untreated OSA exhibit cognitive impairment that is only partly accounted for by hypoxia and sleep disruption, suggesting that other factors remain to be identified. OSA can involve repeated spikes of nocturnal blood pressure because of increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system during sleep. While high resting blood pressure is associated with cognitive dysfunction, it is not yet known whether peaks in nocturnal blood pressure are associated with cognitive impairment in OSA. Methods: A cohort of patients participated in overnight polysomnographic studies at a major sleep laboratory to investigate whether nocturnal elevations in blood pressure are associated with cognitive dysfunction in OSA. Nocturnal pulse transit time was measured as a surrogate for arterial blood pressure during sleep. Results: Of the 75 patients, 12 had no obstructive sleep apnoea, 26 had mild OSA, 18 moderate, and 19 severe OSA. The results revealed that systolic blood pressure peaks were associated with OSA severity, while diastolic blood pressure peaks were not. Peaks of nocturnal systolic blood pressure were independently associated with poorer performance on a test of visuospatial function, but not with impairments on tests of sustained attention, reaction time or autobiographical memory. Conclusion: The present findings indicate nocturnal peaks of systolic blood pressure that are substantially higher than normal daytime values may contribute to visuospatial dysfunction in OSA. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

The role of internet gaming in the association between anxiety and depression : a preliminary cross-sectional study

- Stavropoulos, Vasileios, Vassallo, Jeremy, Burleigh, Tyrone, Gomez, Rapson, Colder Carras, Michelle

  • Authors: Stavropoulos, Vasileios , Vassallo, Jeremy , Burleigh, Tyrone , Gomez, Rapson , Colder Carras, Michelle
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Asia-Pacific Psychiatry Vol. 14, no. 2 (2022), p.
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  • Description: Background: Disordered Internet gaming is thought to be perpetuated by one's need to escape their real-life distress or mental health symptoms, which may in turn generate depressive feelings. Nevertheless, moderate engagement with Internet games has also been suggested to provide relief, thus improving one's mood. This study aspires to clarify the contribution of Internet gaming and gender in the association between anxiety and depression. Methods: A large sample of Internet gamers (N = 964) were recruited online. Disordered Internet gaming was assessed with the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, 9 Items Short Form (IGD9S-SF). Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, 21 items (DASS-21). Results: Regression, moderation and moderated moderation analyses accounting for the effects of gender on the relationship between disordered gaming, anxiety, and depression found a significant effect for anxiety symptoms on depression symptoms and a significant interaction between anxiety and Internet gaming disorder on depression symptoms. Findings support the theory that although anxious gamers bear a higher depression risk, this is buffered with lower and exacerbated with higher disordered gaming symptoms. Conclusion: Findings suggest a dual role of Internet gaming in the association between anxiety and depression, depending on the intensity of one's disordered gaming symptoms. Depression prevention and intervention protocols should be optimized by considering the effects of Internet gaming among anxious gamers by focusing on the intensity of a gamer's involvement and any gaming disorder symptoms. Further research should include clinical samples to better understand this interaction. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Network analyses of internet gaming disorder symptoms and their links with different types of motivation

- Gomez, Rapson, Stavropoulos, Vasileios, Tullett-Prado, Deon, Schivinski, Bruno, Chen, Wai

  • Authors: Gomez, Rapson , Stavropoulos, Vasileios , Tullett-Prado, Deon , Schivinski, Bruno , Chen, Wai
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: BMC Psychiatry Vol. 22, no. 1 (2022), p.
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  • Description: The study used regularized partial correlation network analysis (EBICglasso) to examine the structure of DSM-5 internet gaming disorder (IGD) symptoms (network 1); and the associations of the IGD symptoms in the network with different types of motivation as defined in the self-determination theory i.e., intrinsic motivation (engaging in an activity for something unrelated to the activity), identified regulation (engaging in the activity because it aligns with one’s values and/or goals), external regulation (engagement in activity being driven by external rewards and/or approval), and amotivation (engaging in an activity without often understanding why) (network 2). Participants were 968 adults from the general community. They completed self-rating questionnaires covering IGD symptoms and different types of motivation. The findings for network 1 showed mostly positive connections between the symptoms within the IGD network. The most central symptom was loss of control, followed by continuation, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance. In general, these symptoms were more strongly connected with each other than with the rest of the IGD symptoms. The findings for network 2 showed that the different types of motivation were connected differently with the different IGD symptoms. For instance, the likeliest motivation for the preoccupation and escape symptoms is intrinsic motivation, and for negative consequences, it is low identified regulation. Overall, the findings showed a novel understanding of the structure of the IGD symptoms, and the motivations underlying them. The clinical implications of the findings for assessment and treatment of IGD are discussed. © 2022, The Author(s).

Pediatric emergency asthma presentations in Southwest Victoria : a retrospective cross-sectional study 2017 to 2020

- Terry, Daniel, Peck, Blake, Kloot, Kloot, Hutchins, Toinette

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Peck, Blake , Kloot, Kloot , Hutchins, Toinette
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Asthma Vol. 59, no. 2 (2022), p. 264-272
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  • Description: Objectives: Australia has one of the highest prevalence of asthma globally, and accessible emergency asthma presentation data remains vital, however, is currently underreported in regional and rural areas. Utilizing the Rural Acute Hospital Data Register (RAHDaR) which includes previously non-reported data, the aim of the study is to provide a more accurate understanding of asthma emergency presentation events, while investigating the factors associated with these presentations. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study collected de-identified emergency asthma presentation data from nine health services in regional Victoria for children aged 0 to 14 years between 2017 and 2020. Demographic and presentation data were collated along with government datasets. Asthma emergency presentations incidence rates and predictor variables were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression after adjusting for smoking and sex. Significance was determined at p < 0.05. Results: Of the 1090 emergency asthma presentations, n = 369 occurred at health services who did not previously report data. This represents a 33.86% increase in our understanding of emergency asthma presentations and demonstrating a rate of 16.06 presentations per 1000 children per year. Key factors such as age, population density, and private health insurance were associated with asthma emergency presentation events among both sexes, while socioeconomic status and rurality were not predictive. Conclusions: Although some findings are consistent with current research, the study highlights previously unrecognized specific factors that are predictive of asthma among 0–14-year-old children. These findings provide more accurate insights for healthcare workers and policymakers as they seek to support people with asthma and accurately address health inequities. © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Prevalence and correlates of diabetes distress and depressive symptoms among individuals with type-2 diabetes mellitus during Ramadan fasting : a cross-sectional study in Bangladesh amid the COVID-19

- Sultana, Mst Sadiaa, Islam, Md Saiful, Sayeed, Abu, Potenza, Marc, Sikder, Md Tajuddin, Rahman, Muhammad Aziz, Koly, Kamrun

  • Authors: Sultana, Mst Sadiaa , Islam, Md Saiful , Sayeed, Abu , Potenza, Marc , Sikder, Md Tajuddin , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz , Koly, Kamrun
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Vol. 185, no. (2022), p.
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  • Description: Aims: Psychological concerns relating to “diabetes distress” (DD) and depressive symptoms (DS) in individuals with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may negatively impact adherence to medical treatments and overall mental health. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate DS and DD in relation to fasting during the month of Ramadan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 735 patients with T2DM in 2021. DD and DS were measured by the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Logistic regression and correlation analyses were executed. Results: More than one-third of the participants (41.2%) had DD and DS (36.9%). DS was significantly higher in participants who did not fast (p = 0.027). Participants who had higher dietary diversity were less likely to have DD (p = 0.004) and DS (p = 0.001). Females (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.25–2.85) and those who lived alone (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.25–2.85) were more likely to have DS. Participants with diabetes-related complications were more likely to experience DS (AOR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.5–3.13) and DD (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI: 2.42–4.95). DD was also associated with being younger (p = 0.003), having hypertension (p = 0.030), having heart disease (p = 0.012), and taking insulin (p = 0.010). Conclusions: Individuals with T2DM who were not fasting experienced more mental health concerns. Psychosocial support and other interventions from health professionals should be examined and empirical interventions should be implemented to promote the mental health and well-being of individuals with T2DM. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Challenging child behaviours positively predict symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in parents of children with Autism spectrum disorder and rare diseases

- Stewart, Michelle, Schnabel, Alexandra, Hallford, David, McGillivray, Jane, Forbes, David, Foster, Madeline, Shandley, Kerrie, Gardam, Madeleine, Austin, David

  • Authors: Stewart, Michelle , Schnabel, Alexandra , Hallford, David , McGillivray, Jane , Forbes, David , Foster, Madeline , Shandley, Kerrie , Gardam, Madeleine , Austin, David
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders Vol. 69, no. (2020), p.
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  • Description: Background: This study investigated the validity of conceptualising elevated stress in parents of children who exhibit challenging behaviour within the framework of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was hypothesised that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and parents of children with a rare disease would endorse greater PTSD symptomatology than parents of typically developing (TD) children, and that challenging child behaviours would positively predict PTSD symptomatology. Method: The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, Developmental Behaviour Checklist (Parent) and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 were administered to 395 parents. Results: Significantly more PTSD symptomatology was reported by parents of children with ASD and parents of children with a rare disease than parents of TD children, and challenging child behaviours positively predicted PTSD symptomatology in both groups. Conclusion: A PTSD framework may validly explain elevated stress among some parents of children with ASD and parents of children with a rare disease, and has important implications for support delivered to parents by healthcare providers. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Dark Triad traits as predictors of adherence to traditional masculine norms in men

- van Doorn, George, Dye, Jacob

  • Authors: van Doorn, George , Dye, Jacob
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Primenjena Psihologija Vol. 14, no. 4 (2021), p. 539-569
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  • Description: The present study examined whether Dark Triad traits explain variance in men's adherence to traditional masculine norms (Playboy, Self-Reliance, Emotional Control, Winning, Violence, Heterosexual Self-Presentation, Risk-Taking, and Power over Women). Two-hundred and thirty-seven English speaking men (aged 18 to 62 years) completed online versions of the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the Mach-IV, and the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-29. Results from regression analyses showed that the psychopathic trait Callous Affect positively predicted men's Need to Win, Emotional Control, Violence, and Power Over Women; Erratic Lifestyle was a positive predictor of Risk-Taking; and Antisocial Behaviour was a positive predictor of Playboy. Machiavellianism predicted only Violence. The Narcissistic sub-trait Leadership positively predicted Risk-Taking; Manipulativeness predicted Risk-Taking and Violence; Superiority predicted Risk-Taking and Power over Women; Vanity predicted Self-Reliance; and Exhibitionism predicted Emotional Control. We conclude that whilst Callous Affect appears to hold the highest predictive validity, the Dark Triad traits differentially predict adherence to specific masculine norms. © 2021 The Author(s).

The relations between the positive and negative components of self-compassion and depressive symptoms among sexual minority women and men

- Shakeshaft, Rhianydd, McLaren, Suzanne

  • Authors: Shakeshaft, Rhianydd , McLaren, Suzanne
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Mindfulness Vol. 13, no. 1 (2022), p. 57-65
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  • Description: Objectives: The experience of depression among sexual minority adults is a cause for concern. Research into protective factors is lacking. Self-compassion is considered to promote adaptive coping strategies and is associated with fewer depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether self-compassion and its components were associated with depressive symptoms among sexual minority adults and whether these relations were moderated by gender. Methods: A sample of 499 sexual minority women aged 18 to 77 years (M = 29.45, SD = 9.97) and 457 sexual minority men aged 18 to 79 years (M = 27.05, SD = 9.12) completed the Center for Epidemiology-Depression Scale and the Self-Compassion Scale. Results: Higher levels of self-compassion, self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness and lower levels of self-judgement, isolation, and over-identification were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. When all six components were entered simultaneously into a regression model, only the negative components predicted levels of depressive symptoms. Gender moderated the common humanity-depressive symptoms relation, with this relation being stronger for women than men. Conclusions: Results indicate that the negative components of self-compassion are associated with depressive symptoms among sexual minority adults and that the strength of the relations are not conditional on gender. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Usability evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral app-based intervention for binge eating and related psychopathology : a qualitative study

- Linardon, Jake, King, Teagan, Shatte, Adrian, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew

  • Authors: Linardon, Jake , King, Teagan , Shatte, Adrian , Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Behavior Modification Vol. 46, no. 5 (2022), p. 1002-1020
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  • Description: Despite their promise as a scalable intervention modality for binge eating and related problems, reviews show that engagement of app-based interventions is variable. Issues with usability may account for this. App developers should undertake usability testing so that any problems can be identified and fixed prior to dissemination. We conducted a qualitative usability evaluation of a newly-developed app for binge eating in 14 individuals with a diagnostic- or subthreshold-level binge eating symptoms. Participants completed a semi-structured interview and self-report measures. Qualitative data were organized into six themes: usability, visual design, user engagement, content, therapeutic persuasiveness, and therapeutic alliance. Qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the app demonstrated good usability. Key advantages reported were its flexible content-delivery formats, level of interactivity, easy-to-understand information, and ability to track progress. Concerns with visual aesthetics and lack of professional feedback were raised. Findings will inform the optimal design of app-based interventions for eating disorder symptoms. © The Author(s) 2021.

Intrinsic functional connectomes characterize neuroticism in major depressive disorder and predict antidepressant treatment outcomes

- Braund, Taylor, Breukelaar, Isabella, Griffiths, Kristi, Tillman, Gabriel, Palmer, Donna, Bryant, Richard, Phillips, Mary, Harris, Anthony, Korgaonkar, Mayuresh

  • Authors: Braund, Taylor , Breukelaar, Isabella , Griffiths, Kristi , Tillman, Gabriel , Palmer, Donna , Bryant, Richard , Phillips, Mary , Harris, Anthony , Korgaonkar, Mayuresh
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Vol. 7, no. 3 (2022), p. 276-284
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  • Description: Background: Antidepressant efficacy in people with major depressive disorder remains modest, yet identifying treatment-predictive neurobiological markers may improve outcomes. While disruptions in functional connectivity within and between large-scale brain networks predict poorer treatment outcome, it is unclear whether higher trait neuroticism, which has been associated with generally poorer outcomes, contributes to these disruptions and to antidepressant-specific treatment outcomes. Here, we used whole-brain functional connectivity analysis to identify a neural connectomic signature of neuroticism and tested whether this signature predicted antidepressant treatment outcome. Methods: Participants were 226 adults with major depressive disorder and 68 healthy control subjects who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging and were assessed on clinical features at baseline. Participants with major depressive disorder were then randomized to 1 of 3 commonly prescribed antidepressants and after 8 weeks completed a second functional magnetic resonance imaging and were reassessed for depressive symptom remission/response. Baseline intrinsic functional connectivity between each pair of 436 brain regions was analyzed using network-based statistics to identify connectomic features associated with neuroticism. Features were then assessed on their ability to predict treatment outcome and whether they changed after 8 weeks of treatment. Results: Higher baseline neuroticism was associated with greater connectivity within and between the salience, executive control, and somatomotor brain networks. Greater connectivity across these networks predicted poorer treatment outcome that was not mediated by baseline neuroticism, and connectivity strength decreased after antidepressant treatment. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that neuroticism is associated with organization of intrinsic neural networks that predict treatment outcome, elucidating its biological underpinnings and opportunity for better treatment personalization. © 2021 Society of Biological Psychiatry

Unique associations of revised-reinforcement sensitivity theory constructs with social anxiety

- Gomez, Rapson, Stavropoulos, Vasileios, Watson, Shaun, Brown, Taylor, Corr, Philip

  • Authors: Gomez, Rapson , Stavropoulos, Vasileios , Watson, Shaun , Brown, Taylor , Corr, Philip
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Vol. 20, no. 5 (2022), p. 2838-2850
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  • Description: Revised reinforcement sensitivity theory (r-RST) is a major neuropsychological theory of motivation, emotion, and personality. We report the results of a study that examined the unique relationships of the r-RST constructs with two forms of anxiety: social interaction and social performance. Five hundred and seventy-two adults completed the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ) alongside measures of social interaction anxiety and social performance anxiety. Regression results revealed that, as predicted, both social interaction anxiety and social performance anxiety were linked uniquely and positively with the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) scale score. In addition, social performance anxiety was associated uniquely and positively with the fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS) scale score. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings for social anxiety are discussed. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Adolescent popularity : distinct profiles and associations with excessive internet usage and interpersonal sensitivity

- Stavropoulos, Vasileios, Barber, Emily, de Sena Collier, Gabriel, Snodgrass, Jeffrey, Gomez, Rapson

  • Authors: Stavropoulos, Vasileios , Barber, Emily , de Sena Collier, Gabriel , Snodgrass, Jeffrey , Gomez, Rapson
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Child Psychiatry and Human Development Vol. 53, no. 6 (2022), p. 1097-1109
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  • Description: Peer popularity constitutes a pivotal developmental task to adolescents’ current and future adaptation. This study identified distinct adolescent popularity profiles and explored their links with excessive Internet usage and interpersonal sensitivity. The sample included 2090 students attending Greek high schools (Mage = 16.16, SD = 0.91). Their popularity was measured via self-report and peer sociometric means. They also responded to the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Interpersonal Sensitivity subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). A sequence of latent profile analysis, ANOVAs and linear regression models were performed. Three distinct popularity profiles were revealed: the “Average Confident” (68.4%), the “Socially Vulnerable” (26.8%), and the “Insecure Bi-Strategic” (4.8%). These profiles did not significantly vary regarding their Internet usage and interpersonal sensitivity behaviours. Interestingly, lower self-perceived popularity predicted higher interpersonal sensitivity, whereas higher actual popularity predicted excessive Internet use. Findings have important implications for student-tailored mental health prevention and intervention practices. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Gambling disorder in the UK : key research priorities and the urgent need for independent research funding

- Bowden-Jones, Henrietta, Hook, Roxanne, Grant, Jon, Ioannidis, Konstantinos, Corazza, Ornella, Fineberg, Naomi, Singer, Bryan, Roberts, Amanda, Bethlehem, Richard, Dymond, Simon, Romero-Garcia, Rafa, Robbins, Trevor, Cortese, Samuele, Thomas, Shane, Sahakian, Barbara, Dowling, Nicki, Chamberlain, Samuel

  • Authors: Bowden-Jones, Henrietta , Hook, Roxanne , Grant, Jon , Ioannidis, Konstantinos , Corazza, Ornella , Fineberg, Naomi , Singer, Bryan , Roberts, Amanda , Bethlehem, Richard , Dymond, Simon , Romero-Garcia, Rafa , Robbins, Trevor , Cortese, Samuele , Thomas, Shane , Sahakian, Barbara , Dowling, Nicki , Chamberlain, Samuel
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: The Lancet Psychiatry Vol. 9, no. 4 (2022), p. 321-329
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  • Description: Gambling in the modern era is pervasive owing to the variety of gambling opportunities available, including those that use technology (eg, online applications on smartphones). Although many people gamble recreationally without undue negative effects, a sizeable subset of individuals develop disordered gambling, which is associated with marked functional impairment including other mental health problems, relationship problems, bankruptcy, suicidality, and criminality. The National UK Research Network for Behavioural Addictions (NUK-BA) was established to promote understanding of, research into, and treatments for behavioural addictions including gambling disorder, which is the only formally recognised behavioural addiction. In this Health Policy paper, we outline the status of research and treatment for disordered gambling in the UK (including funding issues) and key research that should be conducted to establish the magnitude of the problem, vulnerability and resilience factors, the underlying neurobiology, long-term consequences, and treatment opportunities. In particular, we emphasise the need to: (1) conduct independent longitudinal research into the prevalence of disordered gambling (including gambling disorder and at-risk gambling), and gambling harms, including in vulnerable and minoritised groups; (2) select and refine the most suitable pragmatic measurement tools; (3) identify predictors (eg, vulnerability and resilience markers) of disordered gambling in people who gamble recreationally, including in vulnerable and minoritised groups; (4) conduct randomised controlled trials on psychological interventions and pharmacotherapy for gambling disorder; (5) improve understanding of the neurobiological basis of gambling disorder, including impulsivity and compulsivity, genetics, and biomarkers; and (6) develop clinical guidelines based on the best contemporary research evidence to guide effective clinical interventions. We also highlight the need to consider what can be learnt from approaches towards mitigating gambling-related harm in other countries. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Factor structure of ten psychoactive substance addictions and behavioural addictions : common psychoactive substance and behavioural addictions

- Gomez, Rapson, Stavropoulos, Vasileios, Brown, Taylor, Griffiths, Mark

  • Authors: Gomez, Rapson , Stavropoulos, Vasileios , Brown, Taylor , Griffiths, Mark
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Psychiatry Research Vol. 313, no. (2022), p.
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  • Description: Over the past two decades, many problematic/excessive behaviours have increasingly been conceptualized as addictions due to their similarity with more traditional psychoactive substance addictions. The primary aim of the present study was to simultaneously examine the factor structure of three psychoactive substance addictions (alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and substance use) and seven behavioural addictions (sex, social media use, shopping, exercise, online gambling, internet gaming, and internet use), using exploratory factor analysis (EFA; N = 481) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; N = 487). A total of 968 participants completed an online survey including ten psychometric scales assessing the ten different potentially addictive behaviours. EFA supported a two-factor solution, with different factors for the psychoactive substance and behavioural addictions (excluding exercise addiction). CFA supported the two-factor model in a separate sample. There was good support for the concurrent and discriminant validities of the CFA latent factors and the reliability of the behavioural latent factor in the two-factor CFA model. While there was support for the concurrent and discriminant validities of the psychoactive substance latent factor, there was insufficient support for its reliability. The taxonomic, theoretical, and clinical implications of the findings are discussed. © 2022

Adolescent substance use and high school noncompletion : exploring the nature of the relationship using a discordant twin design

- Davis, Christal, Gizer, Ian, Lynskey, Michael, Statham, Dixie, Heath, Andrew, Martin, Nicholas, Slutske, Wendy

  • Authors: Davis, Christal , Gizer, Ian , Lynskey, Michael , Statham, Dixie , Heath, Andrew , Martin, Nicholas , Slutske, Wendy
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Addiction Vol. 118, no. 1 (2023), p. 167-176
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  • Description: Background and Aims: Previous studies have demonstrated associations between substance use and reduced educational attainment; however, many were unable to account for potential confounding factors like genetics and the rearing environment. In the few studies that controlled for these factors, the substances assessed were limited to alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco. To address these limitations, we examined the relationship between adolescent use of seven kinds of substances, the number of additional substances used, and high school noncompletion within a large sample of Australian twins. Design: A series of two-level generalized mixed effects logistic regressions were conducted to examine associations between adolescent substance use and high school noncompletion. Setting: Australia. Participants: A total of 9579 adult Australian twins from two cohorts of the Australian Twin Registry. Measurements: Assessments of high school completion, childhood major depression, conduct disorder symptoms, substance use initiation, demographics, and parental educational attainment using the Australian version of the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism. Findings: There were unique within-twin-pair effects of use of sedatives (odds ratio [OR] = 22.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18–423.48]) and inhalants/solvents (OR = 10.46 [95% CI = 1.30–84.16]) on high school noncompletion. The number of substances used in adolescence was strongly associated with high school noncompletion across all discordant twin models (ORs from 1.50–2.32, Ps < 0.03). Conclusions: In Australia, adolescent substance use appears to be associated with early school dropout, with the effects of any given substance largely because of the confounding factors of parental education, childhood conduct disorder symptoms, and use of other substances. Sedatives and inhalants/solvents have effects on high school noncompletion that cannot be explained by polysubstance use or familial factors. © 2022 Society for the Study of Addiction.

Does a disaster worsen anxiety when you are already anxious? Psychological consequences following exposure to a M7.1 earthquake in an outpatient anxiety disorder population

- Kannis-Dymand, Lee, Colhoun, Helen, Huntley, Monique, Woolcock, Colette, Chambers, Ron, Compte, Dianne Le, Macleod, Juliet, Gilbert, Claire, Statham, Dixie, Jones, Monique, Sullivan, Clare, Alexander, Jane, Love, Steven, Bell, Caroline

  • Authors: Kannis-Dymand, Lee , Colhoun, Helen , Huntley, Monique , Woolcock, Colette , Chambers, Ron , Compte, Dianne Le , Macleod, Juliet , Gilbert, Claire , Statham, Dixie , Jones, Monique , Sullivan, Clare , Alexander, Jane , Love, Steven , Bell, Caroline
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australasian journal of disaster and trauma studies Vol. 26, no. 1 (2022), p. 3
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  • Description: Research of clinical patients with a pre-existing psychological disorder involved in a disaster is limited. This study investigated relationships between pre-and post-earthquake psychopathology (i.e., anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress), peritraumatic distress, work and social impairment, perceived support post-earthquake, and personality dimensions in an outpatient, anxiety disorder population. Thirty-seven patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders completed standard clinical assessments pre-earthquake. They then completed a second set of questionnaires 3 months after exposure to the 2010 Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, earthquake. Bivariate correlations on the variables determined what relationships were present, and paired samples t-tests assessed differences in pre- and post-earthquake anxiety, depression, and alcohol and drug consumption as well as relationships with peritraumatic distress, posttraumatic stress, and personality variables. Significant relationships were found between pre-earthquake psychopathology, peritraumatic distress, post-earthquake psychopathology, and impairment. Paired samples t-tests demonstrated anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower post-earthquake. However, prior anxiety and depression, as well as peritraumatic distress, were significantly associated with post-earthquake psychopathology, including posttraumatic stress and impaired work and social functioning. There were no differences between pre- and post-event alcohol and drug consumption. The personality dimensions of harm avoidance, self-directedness, and persistence significantly associated with post-disaster anxiety and depression. Promisingly, post-earthquake perceived support was significantly negatively correlated with depression and posttraumatic stress. Keywords: Anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, peritraumatic distress, personality temperament, earthquake

Exploring the therapeutic effectiveness of genograms in family therapy : a literature review

- Joseph, Bindu, Dickenson, Sarah, McCall, Allira, Roga, Erin

  • Authors: Joseph, Bindu , Dickenson, Sarah , McCall, Allira , Roga, Erin
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Family Journal Vol. 31, no. 1 (2023), p. 21-30
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  • Description: The primary aim of the literature review is to explore the relevant literature on the use and effectiveness of genograms in family therapy. The literature is predominantly related to the use of genograms in various settings and adaptations. There are minimal studies on the effectiveness of genograms as a therapeutic tool in family therapy. Searches were conducted of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS and PsycINFO electronic databases. The international review includes all studies, irrespective of study methodology. This review will inform clinicians working in family therapy and other relevant disciplines on the usefulness of genograms as a therapeutic tool, examples of adaptations to the traditional genogram for specific populations and purposes, and, to a lesser extent, the therapeutic effectiveness of genograms in family therapy. The results and discussion will provide insights on the utilisation of genograms, the range of population, gaps in the existing literature and the need for further research. © The Author(s) 2022.

Buffering the fear of COVID-19 : social connectedness mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing

- Humphrey, Ashley, March, Evita, Lavender, Andrew, Miller, Kyle, Alvarenga, Marlies, Mesagno, Christopher

  • Authors: Humphrey, Ashley , March, Evita , Lavender, Andrew , Miller, Kyle , Alvarenga, Marlies , Mesagno, Christopher
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Behavioral Sciences Vol. 12, no. 3 (2022), p.
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  • Description: Social connections are crucial for an individual’s health, wellbeing, and overall effective functioning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one major preventative effort for reducing the spread of COVID-19 involved restricting people’s typical social interactions through physical distancing and isolation. The current cross-sectional study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, explored the relationship among fear of COVID-19, social connectedness, resilience, depressive symptomologies, and self-perceived stress. Participants (N = 174) completed an anonymous, online questionnaire, and results indicated that social connectedness mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing. In contrast, the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing was not mediated by resilience. These findings highlight the important role that social connections and resilience play in buffering against negative psychological wellbeing outcomes, especially during a pandemic. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Methods and applications of social media monitoring of mental health during disasters : scoping review

- Teague, Samantha, Shatte, Adrian, Weller, Emmelyn, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew, Hutchinson, Delyse

  • Authors: Teague, Samantha , Shatte, Adrian , Weller, Emmelyn , Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew , Hutchinson, Delyse
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: JMIR Mental Health Vol. 9, no. 2 (2022), p.
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  • Description: Background: With the increasing frequency and magnitude of disasters internationally, there is growing research and clinical interest in the application of social media sites for disaster mental health surveillance. However, important questions remain regarding the extent to which unstructured social media data can be harnessed for clinically meaningful decision-making. Objective: This comprehensive scoping review synthesizes interdisciplinary literature with a particular focus on research methods and applications. Methods: A total of 6 health and computer science databases were searched for studies published before April 20, 2021, resulting in the identification of 47 studies. Included studies were published in peer-reviewed outlets and examined mental health during disasters or crises by using social media data. Results: Applications across 31 mental health issues were identified, which were grouped into the following three broader themes: estimating mental health burden, planning or evaluating interventions and policies, and knowledge discovery. Mental health assessments were completed by primarily using lexical dictionaries and human annotations. The analyses included a range of supervised and unsupervised machine learning, statistical modeling, and qualitative techniques. The overall reporting quality was poor, with key details such as the total number of users and data features often not being reported. Further, biases in sample selection and related limitations in generalizability were often overlooked. Conclusions: The application of social media monitoring has considerable potential for measuring mental health impacts on populations during disasters. Studies have primarily conceptualized mental health in broad terms, such as distress or negative affect, but greater focus is required on validating mental health assessments. There was little evidence for the clinical integration of social media-based disaster mental health monitoring, such as combining surveillance with social media-based interventions or developing and testing real-world disaster management tools. To address issues with study quality, a structured set of reporting guidelines is recommended to improve the methodological quality, replicability, and clinical relevance of future research on the social media monitoring of mental health during disasters. © 2022 Samantha J Teague, Adrian B R Shatte, Emmelyn Weller, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Delyse M Hutchinson.

Psychological, physical, and sexual violence against children in Australian community sport : frequency, perpetrator, and victim characteristics

- Pankowiak, Aurelie, Woessner, Mary, Parent, Sylvie, Vertommen, Tine, Eime, Rochelle, Spaaij, Ramon, Harvey, Jack, Parker, Alexandra

  • Authors: Pankowiak, Aurelie , Woessner, Mary , Parent, Sylvie , Vertommen, Tine , Eime, Rochelle , Spaaij, Ramon , Harvey, Jack , Parker, Alexandra
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Vol. 38, no. 3-4 (2023), p. 4338-4365
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  • Description: Childhood sport participation is associated with physical, social, and mental health benefits, which are more likely to be realized if the sport environment is safe. However, our understanding of children’s experience of psychological, physical, and sexual violence in community sport in Australia is limited. The aims of this study were to provide preliminary evidence on the extent of experiences of violence during childhood participation in Australian community sport and to identify common perpetrators of and risk factors for violence. The Violence Towards Athletes Questionnaire (VTAQ) was administered online to a convenience sample of Australian adults (>18 years), retrospectively reporting experiences of violence during childhood community sport. Frequencies of experience of violence were calculated and Chi-square tests were conducted to determine differences between genders. In total, there were 886 respondents included in the analysis. Most survey respondents were women (63%) and about a third were men (35%). About 82% of respondents experienced violence in sport as a child. Psychological violence was most prevalent (76%), followed by physical (66%) and sexual (38%) violence. Peers perpetrated the highest rates of psychological violence (69%), and the rates of physical and psychological violence by coaches (both >50%) were also high. Age, sexual orientation, disability, and hours of weekly sport participation as a child were all associated with childhood experience of violence in sport. The rates of interpersonal violence against children in sport were high. This novel data on perpetrators of the violence and the risk factors for experiencing violence provides further context to inform safeguarding strategies in sport. A national prevalence study is recommended to advance our understanding of the childhood experiences of violence in Australian sport. © The Author(s) 2022.