-
PLoS Computational Biology Apr 2024Reputations can foster cooperation by indirect reciprocity: if I am good to you then others will be good to me. But this mechanism for cooperation in one-shot...
Reputations can foster cooperation by indirect reciprocity: if I am good to you then others will be good to me. But this mechanism for cooperation in one-shot interactions only works when people agree on who is good and who is bad. Errors in actions or assessments can produce disagreements about reputations, which can unravel the positive feedback loop between social standing and pro-social behaviour. Cooperators can end up punished and defectors rewarded. Public reputation systems and empathy are two possible mechanisms to promote agreement about reputations. Here we suggest an alternative: Bayesian reasoning by observers. By taking into account the probabilities of errors in action and observation and their prior beliefs about the prevalence of good people in the population, observers can use Bayesian reasoning to determine whether or not someone is good. To study this scenario, we develop an evolutionary game theoretical model in which players use Bayesian reasoning to assess reputations, either publicly or privately. We explore this model analytically and numerically for five social norms (Scoring, Shunning, Simple Standing, Staying, and Stern Judging). We systematically compare results to the case when agents do not use reasoning in determining reputations. We find that Bayesian reasoning reduces cooperation relative to non-reasoning, except in the case of the Scoring norm. Under Scoring, Bayesian reasoning can promote coexistence of three strategic types. Additionally, we study the effects of optimistic or pessimistic biases in individual beliefs about the degree of cooperation in the population. We find that optimism generally undermines cooperation whereas pessimism can, in some cases, promote cooperation.
Topics: Bayes Theorem; Humans; Cooperative Behavior; Game Theory; Computational Biology; Bias
PubMed: 38662682
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011979 -
Clinical Psychopharmacology and... May 2024: Environmental deprivation, a type of childhood maltreatment, has been reported to constrain the cognitive developmental processes such as associative learning and...
OBJECTIVE
: Environmental deprivation, a type of childhood maltreatment, has been reported to constrain the cognitive developmental processes such as associative learning and implicit learning, which may lead to functional and morphological changes in the ventral pallidum (VP) and pessimism, a well-known cognitive feature of major depression. We examined whether neonatal isolation (NI) could influence the incidence of learned helplessness (LH) in a rat model mimicking the pessimism, and the number of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2)-expressing VP cells and Penk-expressing VP cells.
METHODS
: The number of escape failures from foot-shocks in the LH test was measured to examine stress-induced depression-like behavior in rats. The number of VGLUT2-expressing VP cells and Penk-expressing VP cells was measured by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
: In NI rats compared with Sham rats, the incidence of LH in adulthood was increased and VGLUT2-expressing VP cells but not Penk-expressing VP cells in adulthood were decreased. VGLUT2-expressing VP cells were decreased only in the LH group of NI rats and significantly correlated with the escape latency in the LH test.
CONCLUSION
: These findings suggest that the aberrant VP neuronal activity due to environmental deprivation early in life leads to pessimistic associative and implicit learning. Modulating VP neuronal activity could be a novel therapeutic and preventive strategy for the patients with this specific pathophysiology.
PubMed: 38627082
DOI: 10.9758/cpn.23.1140 -
Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria Apr 2024Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients may experience pessimism, and even despair, due to long-term nature of the condition, which increases the risk of depression....
Mental Health and Quality of Life in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Depression: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy.
BACKGROUND
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients may experience pessimism, and even despair, due to long-term nature of the condition, which increases the risk of depression. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) can relieve depression. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the effects of MBSR on mental health and quality of life in CKD patients with mild-to-moderate depression, so as to provide guidance for clinical nursing programs.
METHODS
The clinical data of 100 CKD patients with mild-to-moderate depression who were treated in Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences from January 2021 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on nursing method received, the patients were divided into the conventional group (conventional management) and the MBSR group (MBSR therapy was implemented in addition to conventional management). After matching, there were 35 cases in each group. The scores for the self-rating depression scale (SDS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Five-factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
After management, the SDS and PSQI scores of the MBSR group were lower than those of the conventional group, and the CD-RISC, FFMQ and SF-36 scores were higher than those of the conventional group (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
MBSR can improve the mental health, sleep quality, and quality of life of CKD patients with mild-to-moderate depression, and improve psychological resilience and mindfulness.
Topics: Humans; Mental Health; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Stress, Psychological; Mindfulness; Depression; China; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Psychological Tests; Resilience, Psychological
PubMed: 38622007
DOI: 10.62641/aep.v52i2.1600 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024
PubMed: 38590790
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1383492 -
BJPsych Open Mar 2024Alcohol or drug (AOD) problems are a significant health burden in the UK population, and understanding pathways to remission is important.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol or drug (AOD) problems are a significant health burden in the UK population, and understanding pathways to remission is important.
AIMS
To determine the UK population prevalence of overcoming an AOD problem and the prevalence and correlates of 'assisted' pathways to problem resolution.
METHOD
Stage 1: a screening question was administered in a national telephone survey to provide (a) an estimate of the UK prevalence of AOD problem resolution; and (b) a demographic profile of those reporting problem resolution. Stage 2: social surveying organisation YouGov used the demographic data from stage 1 to guide the administration of the UK National Recovery Survey to a representative subsample from its online panel.
RESULTS
In stage 1 ( = 2061), 102 (5%) reported lifetime AOD problem resolution. In the weighted sample ( = 1373) who completed the survey in stage 2, 49.9% reported 'assisted' pathway use via formal treatment (35.0%), mutual help (29.7%) and/or recovery support services (22.6%). Use of an assisted pathway was strongly correlated with lifetime AOD diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.54) and arrest in the past year (AOR = 7.88) and inversely correlated with absence of lifetime psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 0.17). Those with cocaine (AOR = 2.44) or opioid problems (AOR = 3.21) were more likely to use assisted pathways compared with those with primary alcohol problems.
CONCLUSION
Nearly three million people have resolved an AOD problem in the UK. Findings challenge the therapeutic pessimism sometimes associated with these problems and suggest a need to learn from community-based self-change that can supplement and enhance existing treatment modalities.
PubMed: 38482691
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2023.654 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is associated with therapeutic pessimism among health professionals. Several variables are associated with obstacles in... (Review)
Review
Antisocial personality disorder and therapeutic pessimism - how can mentalization-based treatment contribute to an increased therapeutic optimism among health professionals?
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is associated with therapeutic pessimism among health professionals. Several variables are associated with obstacles in therapist's willingness to treat ASPD. Variables that are relevant are (i) confusion associated with the term ASPD, (ii) characteristics of the disorder, (iii) attitudes, experiences, and knowledge clinicians possess, and (iv) insufficient management of countertransference. We assume that therapeutic pessimism is related to the lack of evidence-based, effective treatment for individuals with ASPD. This is problematic because ASPD is associated with large socio-economic costs and considerable suffering for the individual and the society. Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) was developed in treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) and is now considered an effective treatment for this group. Mentalization is defined as the process by which individuals make sense of themselves and others in terms of subjective states and mental processes. This ability affects an individual's psychological functioning, mental health, self-organization, and interpersonal relationships. The overall goal of MBT is to strengthen the individual's mentalizing abilities and facilitate more adaptive handling of problematic, internal states. Recently, a version of MBT tailored for individuals with ASPD (MBT-ASPD) has been developed. The purpose of this review is to investigate how MBT-ASPD relates to the major obstacles that contribute to the therapeutic pessimism toward this group. Despite a limited evidence base, preliminary studies indicate promising results for MBT-ASPD. More research is still required, this review suggests MBT-ASPD can contribute to increased therapeutic optimism and demonstrate specific characteristics of MBT-ASPD that contribute to management of therapeutic pessimism.
PubMed: 38449745
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1320405 -
Behavioural Neurology 2024Low vision (LV) has a significant negative impact on the activities of daily life as well as on the psychological health of patients.
BACKGROUND
Low vision (LV) has a significant negative impact on the activities of daily life as well as on the psychological health of patients.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study is to investigate psychological, clinical, and demographic factors that may impact the daily functionality of patients with LV.
METHODS
A convenience sample of 53 patients, meeting the WHO criteria for LV, was recruited. Questionnaires on daily functionality, depression, and life orientation (in terms of optimism/pessimism) were administered along with a semistructured personal interview. . The main results revealed a significant negative correlation between daily functionality and depression ( = -0.423, < 0.001). Conversely, there is a positive correlation between daily functionality and visual acuity ( = 0.415, < 0.001), while years since diagnosis were negatively correlated with depression ( = -0.345, < 0.001). Depression seems to be a moderate predictor of a person's daily functionality ( = -0.389, < 0.002), followed by visual acuity ( = -0.344, = 0.006), explaining the 31.1% of the total variance.
CONCLUSIONS
The study supports a correlation between daily functionality and both depression and visual acuity. Optimism as a personality characteristic did not factor into the prediction model for daily functionality, but it showed a strong correlation with lower levels of depressive symptoms. This highlights the potential for developing coping strategies for chronic disease management. . The study could serve as a useful guide and may urge clinicians to pay attention to the psychological evaluation of these patients, supporting their unique emotional needs. Mental health professionals can use patients' positive resources to provide appropriate counseling and embrace the coping skills that encourage their engagement in activities of daily life.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Vision, Low; Depression; Research Design; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 38440066
DOI: 10.1155/2024/4366572 -
BMC Public Health Mar 2024Adhering to varenicline has been shown to significantly improve the chances of successfully quitting smoking, with studies indicating a twofold increase in 6-month quit... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Adhering to varenicline has been shown to significantly improve the chances of successfully quitting smoking, with studies indicating a twofold increase in 6-month quit rates. However, despite its potential benefits, many individuals struggle with maintaining good adherence to varenicline; thus there is a need to develop scalable strategies to help people adhere. As a first step to inform the development of an intervention to improve adherence to varenicline, we conducted a rapid literature review to identify: 1) modifiable barriers and facilitators to varenicline adherence, and 2) behaviour change techniques associated with increased adherence to varenicline.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant studies published between 2006 and 2022. Search terms included "varenicline," "smoking cessation," and "adherence," and their respective subject headings and synonyms. We screened and included studies reporting modifiable determinants of adherence to varenicline and then assessed quality, extracted modifiable determinants and mapped them to the Theoretical Domains Framework version 2 and the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy version 1.
RESULTS
A total of 1,221 titles were identified through the database searches; 61 met the eligibility criteria. Most of the studies were randomized controlled trials and predominantly focused on barriers to varenicline. Only nine studies explicitly mentioned behaviour change techniques used to help varenicline adherence. Eight domains were identified as barriers to varenicline adherence (behavioural regulation, memory, goals, intentions, beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences, optimism/pessimism, and environmental context) and five as facilitators (knowledge, behavioural regulation, beliefs about capabilities, social influences, and environmental context).
CONCLUSIONS
This study identifies barriers and facilitators that should be addressed when developing a complex adherence intervention tailored to patients' needs based on modifiable determinants of medication adherence, some of which are under- used by existing adherence interventions. The findings from this review will inform the design of a theory-based healthbot planned to improve varenicline adherence in people undergoing smoking cessation treatment.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
This study was registered with PROSPERO (# CRD42022321838).
Topics: Humans; Behavior Therapy; Intention; Varenicline; Medication Adherence
PubMed: 38438884
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18139-z -
Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a... Apr 2024Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary heart disease lowers the disease burden and risk of recurrent...
BACKGROUND
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary heart disease lowers the disease burden and risk of recurrent cardiac events. Examining psychological factors may improve post-PCI health behavior adherence.
PURPOSE
To determine whether psychological factors are associated with post-PCI health behavior adherence, and the role of CR participation.
METHODS
Data from 1,682 patients (22.1% female, Mage = 64.0, SDage = 10.5 years) from the THORESCI cohort were included. Adjusted mixed models were used to examine associations between psychological factors and the 1-year course of health behaviors, using interactions to test for moderation by CR participation.
RESULTS
Psychological factors were associated with the trajectories of adherence to medical advice, exercise, and diet. The strongest association found was between optimism and the trajectory of dietary adherence (B: = -0.09, p = .026). Patients with high optimism levels had a worse trajectory of dietary adherence compared to patients with low to middle optimism levels. Participation in CR buffered the associations of high anxiety, pessimism, and low to middle resilience, but strengthened the associations of high stress in the past year with the probability of smoking.
CONCLUSIONS
Psychological factors are associated with post-PCI health behavior adherence, but the pattern of associations is complex. Patients with high levels of anxiety, pessimism, and low to middle resilience levels may disproportionately benefit from CR. Cardiac rehabilitation programs could consider this to improve post-PCI health behavior adherence.
CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION #
NCT02621216.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Health Behavior; Coronary Disease; Exercise
PubMed: 38431284
DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaae008 -
Human Brain Mapping Feb 2024Internalizing symptoms such as elevated stress and sustained negative affect can be important warning signs for developing mental disorders. A recent theoretical...
Internalizing symptoms such as elevated stress and sustained negative affect can be important warning signs for developing mental disorders. A recent theoretical framework suggests a complex interplay of empathy, theory of mind (ToM), and negative thinking processes as a crucial risk combination for internalizing symptoms. To disentangle these relationships, this study utilizes neural, behavioral, and self-report data to examine how the interplay between empathy, ToM, and negative thinking processes relates to stress and negative affect. We reanalyzed the baseline data of N = 302 healthy participants (57% female, M = 40.52, SD = 9.30) who participated in a large-scale mental training study, the ReSource project. Empathy and ToM were assessed using a validated fMRI paradigm featuring naturalistic video stimuli and via self-report. Additional self-report scales were employed to measure internalizing symptoms (perceived stress, negative affect) and negative thinking processes (rumination and self-blame). Our results revealed linear associations of self-reported ToM and empathic distress with stress and negative affect. Also, both lower and higher, compared to average, activation in the anterior insula during empathic processing and in the middle temporal gyrus during ToM performance was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms. These associations were dependent on rumination and self-blame. Our findings indicate specific risk constellations for internalizing symptoms. Especially people with lower self-reported ToM and higher empathic distress may be at risk for more internalizing symptoms. Quadratic associations of empathy- and ToM-related brain activation with internalizing symptoms depended on negative thinking processes, suggesting differential effects of cognitive and affective functioning on internalizing symptoms. Using a multi-method approach, these findings advance current research by shedding light on which complex risk combinations of cognitive and affective functioning are relevant for internalizing symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Child; Male; Empathy; Theory of Mind; Pessimism; Brain; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38401139
DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26576