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Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges, particularly depression among college students. Detecting at-risk students early is crucial but remains...
INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges, particularly depression among college students. Detecting at-risk students early is crucial but remains challenging, particularly in developing countries. Utilizing data-driven predictive models presents a viable solution to address this pressing need.
AIMS
1) To develop and compare machine learning (ML) models for predicting depression in Argentinean students during the pandemic. 2) To assess the performance of classification and regression models using appropriate metrics. 3) To identify key features driving depression prediction.
METHODS
A longitudinal dataset (N = 1492 college students) captured T1 and T2 measurements during the Argentinean COVID-19 quarantine. ML models, including linear logistic regression classifiers/ridge regression (LogReg/RR), random forest classifiers/regressors, and support vector machines/regressors (SVM/SVR), are employed. Assessed features encompass depression and anxiety scores (at T1), mental disorder/suicidal behavior history, quarantine sub-period information, sex, and age. For classification, models' performance on test data is evaluated using Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve (AUPRC), Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve, Balanced Accuracy, F1 score, and Brier loss. For regression, R-squared (R2), Mean Absolute Error, and Mean Squared Error are assessed. Univariate analyses are conducted to assess the predictive strength of each individual feature with respect to the target variable. The performance of multi- vs univariate models is compared using the mean AUPRC score for classifiers and the R2 score for regressors.
RESULTS
The highest performance is achieved by SVM and LogReg (e.g., AUPRC: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.81) and SVR and RR models (e.g., R2 for SVR and RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.64 and 0.45, 0.63, respectively). Univariate models, particularly LogReg and SVM using depression (AUPRC: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.79) or anxiety scores (AUPRC: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.78) and RR using depression scores (R2: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.57) exhibit performance levels close to those of the multivariate models, which include all features.
DISCUSSION
These findings highlight the relevance of pre-existing depression and anxiety conditions in predicting depression during quarantine, underscoring their comorbidity. ML models, particularly SVM/SVR and LogReg/RR, demonstrate potential in the timely detection of at-risk students. However, further studies are needed before clinical implementation.
PubMed: 38690202
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1376784 -
BMC Medicine Apr 2024Early pregnancy is a critical window for neural system programming; however, the association of first-trimester fetal size with children's neurodevelopment remains to be...
BACKGROUND
Early pregnancy is a critical window for neural system programming; however, the association of first-trimester fetal size with children's neurodevelopment remains to be assessed. This study aimed to explore the association between first-trimester fetal size and children's neurodevelopment and to examine whether intrauterine accelerated growth could compensate for the detrimental effects of first-trimester restricted growth on childhood neurodevelopment.
METHODS
The participants were from a birth cohort enrolled from March 2014 to March 2019 in Wuhan, China. A total of 2058 fetuses with crown to rump length (CRL) (a proxy of first-trimester fetal size) measurements in the first trimester and neurodevelopmental assessment at age 2 years were included. We measured the first-trimester CRL and defined three fetal growth patterns based on the growth rate of estimated fetal weight from mid to late pregnancy. The neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development of China Revision at 2 years.
RESULTS
Each unit (a Z score) increase of first-trimester CRL was associated with increased scores in mental developmental index (MDI) (adjusted beta estimate = 1.19, (95% CI: 0.42, 1.95), P = 0.03) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) (adjusted beta estimate = 1.36, (95% CI: 0.46, 2.26), P < 0.01) at age 2 years, respectively. No significant association was observed between fetal growth rate and PDI. For children with restricted first-trimester fetal size (the lowest tertile of first-trimester CRL), those with "intrauterine accelerated growth" pattern (higher growth rates) had significantly higher MDI (adjusted beta estimate = 6.14, (95% CI: 3.80, 8.49), P < 0.001) but indistinguishable PDI compared to those with "intrauterine faltering growth" pattern (lower growth rates). Main limitations of this study included potential misclassification of gestational age due to recall bias of the last menstrual period and residual confounding.
CONCLUSIONS
The current study suggests that restricted first-trimester fetal size is associated with mental and psychomotor developmental delay in childhood. However, in children with restricted first-trimester fetal size, intrauterine accelerated growth was associated with improved mental development but had little effect on psychomotor development. Additional studies are needed to validate the results in diverse populations.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Fetal Development; Child, Preschool; Child Development; China; Male; Cohort Studies; Adult; Crown-Rump Length
PubMed: 38685041
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03390-3 -
Brain and Behavior May 2024Word finding difficulty is a frequent complaint in older age and disease states, but treatment options are lacking for such verbal retrieval deficits. Better... (Review)
Review
Word finding difficulty is a frequent complaint in older age and disease states, but treatment options are lacking for such verbal retrieval deficits. Better understanding of the neurophysiological and neuroanatomical basis of verbal retrieval function may inform effective interventions. In this article, we review the current evidence of a neural retrieval circuit central to verbal production, including words and semantic memory, that involves the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA), striatum (particularly caudate nucleus), and thalamus. We aim to offer a modified neural circuit framework expanded upon a memory retrieval model proposed in 2013 by Hart et al., as evidence from electrophysiological, functional brain imaging, and noninvasive electrical brain stimulation studies have provided additional pieces of information that converge on a shared neural circuit for retrieval of memory and words. We propose that both the left inferior frontal gyrus and fronto-polar regions should be included in the expanded circuit. All these regions have their respective functional roles during verbal retrieval, such as selection and inhibition during search, initiation and termination of search, maintenance of co-activation across cortical regions, as well as final activation of the retrieved information. We will also highlight the structural connectivity from and to the pre-SMA (e.g., frontal aslant tract and fronto-striatal tract) that facilitates communication between the regions within this circuit. Finally, we will discuss how this circuit and its correlated activity may be affected by disease states and how this circuit may serve as a novel target engagement for neuromodulatory treatment of verbal retrieval deficits.
Topics: Humans; Brain; Memory Disorders; Mental Recall; Nerve Net; Neural Pathways; Semantics; Thalamus
PubMed: 38680077
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3490 -
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Apr 2024A traumatic childbirth experience can have both short- and long-term health and well-being consequences for the woman and her family. If a woman experiences traumatic...
BACKGROUND
A traumatic childbirth experience can have both short- and long-term health and well-being consequences for the woman and her family. If a woman experiences traumatic childbirth and retains negative memories for a long time, this may impact her future childbirth experience, mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding problems, and her relationship with other family members.
AIM
The research was conducted to evaluate the relationship between women's traumatic birth perception and birth memory and recall.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
This descriptive study was conducted at Erzurum Research Hospital between August 16 and October 2021. Two hundred sixty women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study sample. The personal information protocol, "Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale," and "Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire" were used to collect data.
RESULTS
The participants' mean age was 30.13 ± 5.85, and 43.4% had their first birth. Of the participants, 45% had one living child, 72.9% had a planned pregnancy, and 62.8% had a normal birth. Whereas more than a third of women in the study perceived childbirth and childbirth processes as moderately traumatic, another third had a high and very high perception. The birth memories and recall mean scores of the mothers within the scope of the study were 81.09 ± 22.69. According to the study results, it was determined that women's birth memories and recall were negatively affected as their traumatic childbirth perceptions increased.
CONCLUSION
It is possible to reduce traumatic childbirth perception with the continuous care and support provided by midwives during childbirth. Improving women's traumatic childbirth perception will also positively impact women's long-term memories of childbirth experience.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Parturition; Pregnancy; Mental Recall; Surveys and Questionnaires; Mothers; Perception; Young Adult; Delivery, Obstetric
PubMed: 38679762
DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_163_23 -
Brain Sciences Apr 2024Being able to represent and remember verbally-encoded information about spatial environments from different perspectives is important for numerous daily activities. The...
Being able to represent and remember verbally-encoded information about spatial environments from different perspectives is important for numerous daily activities. The present study examined how frequently individuals spontaneously engage in visual mental imagery and verbal rehearsal strategies in memory recall of spatial descriptions, and whether using certain strategies is associated with better recall performance. Memory recall for route (person-centred) and survey (object-centred) spatial descriptions was examined in a sample of 105 neurotypical individuals, who also reported to what extent they used route- and survey-based mental imagery and verbal rehearsal strategies in each description. Results showed that participants favoured a path visualisation strategy to recall the route description and a map visualisation strategy to recall the survey description. Regression models further showed that employing both imagery and verbal strategies was associated with better recall for both route and survey descriptions, although imagery strategies held a higher predictive power. The present findings highlight the fact that the spontaneous use of internal strategies in the form of visual imagery and verbal rehearsal is ubiquitous when recalling spatial descriptions and a core part of efficient spatial memory functioning.
PubMed: 38672053
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040403 -
Cognition Jul 2024The Hebb effect refers to the improvement in immediate memory performance on a repeated list compared to unrepeated lists. That is, participants create a long-term...
The Hebb effect refers to the improvement in immediate memory performance on a repeated list compared to unrepeated lists. That is, participants create a long-term memory representation over repetitions, on which they can draw in working memory tests. These long-term memory representations are likely formed by chunk acquisition: The whole list becomes integrated into a single unified representation. Previous research suggests that the formation of such chunks is rather inflexible and only occurs when at least the beginning of the list repeats across trials. However, recent work has shown that repetition learning strongly depends on participants recognizing the repeated information. Hence, successful chunk formation may depend on the recognizability of the repeated part of a list, and not on its position in the list. Across six experiments, we compared these two alternatives. We tested immediate serial recall of eight-letter lists, some of which partially repeated across trials. We used different partial-repetition structures, such as repeating only the first half of a list, or only every second item. We manipulated the salience of the repeating structure by spatially grouping and coloring the lists according to the repetition structure. We found that chunk formation is more flexible than previously assumed: Participants learned contiguous repeated sequences regardless of their position within the list, as long as they were able to recognize the repeated structure. Even when the repeated sequence occurred at varying positions over repetitions, learning was preserved when the repeated sequence was made salient by the spatial grouping. These findings suggest that chunk formation requires recognition of which items constitute a repeating group, and demonstrate a close link between grouping of information in working memory, and chunk formation in long-term memory.
Topics: Humans; Memory, Short-Term; Memory, Long-Term; Young Adult; Adult; Male; Female; Mental Recall; Serial Learning
PubMed: 38669793
DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105795 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on people of all ages, especially children. This is a cross-sectional study in Thailand to explore the emotional and...
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on people of all ages, especially children. This is a cross-sectional study in Thailand to explore the emotional and behavioral problems of school-aged children and associated factors during the lockdown. An online survey was conducted with 942 parents of school-age children. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores showed that total difficulties and all subscale difficulties (hyperactivity, conduct problems, peer problems, and emotional problems) were increased, whereas prosocial behaviors were decreased in the pandemic period. The factors significantly associated with higher parental stress were higher emotional and peer problems after the COVID-19 outbreak, high family difficulty, and sleep problems. Sleep problems were associated with all children's difficulties, except prosocial behavior. High score in family difficulty subscale was associated with increased emotional problems, whereas poor family communication was associated with increased hyperactivity. Appetite change was negatively associated with parental stress and some children's difficulties. Higher household income, family time, physical activities, and recreational activities were associated with a decreased level of some difficulties and family functioning problems, but positively with an increase in the prosocial behavior of children. Additionally, higher screen time was associated with a higher level of hyperactivity, conduct problems, and poor family communication. This study demonstrated that Thai children were at high risk of developing mental health problems during the pandemic lockdown. We suggest that intervention to promote physical activities and reduce screen time is needed. Moreover, efficient monetary policy is urgently required. The limitations here include a recall bias with no baseline to compare and a potential selection bias due to parental selection and a webpage announcement.
PubMed: 38667066
DOI: 10.3390/bs14040270 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Suicide is a leading cause of death for perinatal women. It is estimated that up to 50% of women with mental health issues during pregnancy and/or after birth are not...
BACKGROUND
Suicide is a leading cause of death for perinatal women. It is estimated that up to 50% of women with mental health issues during pregnancy and/or after birth are not identified, despite regular contact with healthcare services. Screening items are one way in which perinatal women needing support could be identified. However, research examining the content validity and acceptability of suicide-related screening items with perinatal women is limited.
AIMS
This study sought to: (i) assess the acceptability and content validity of 16 suicide-related items that have been administered and/or validated in perinatal populations; and (ii) explore the potential barriers and facilitators that may affect how women respond to these items when administered during pregnancy and after birth.
METHODS
Twenty-one cognitive and semi-structured interviews were conducted with pregnant and postnatal women in the UK. The sample included women who had experienced self-reported mental health problems and/or suicidality during the perinatal period, and those who had not. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a coding framework based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability was applied to explore the data using deductive and inductive approaches.
RESULTS
Findings indicated that the acceptability and content validity of suicide-related items were largely unacceptable to perinatal women in their current form. Women found terms such as 'better off dead' or 'killing myself' uncomfortable. Most women preferred the phrase 'ending your life' as this felt less confronting. Comprehensibility was also problematic. Many women did not interpret 'harming myself' to include suicidality, nor did they feel that abstract language such as 'leave this world' was direct enough in relation to suicide. Stigma, fear, and shame was central to non-disclosure. Response options and recall periods further affected the content validity of items, which created additional barriers for identifying those needing support.
CONCLUSIONS
Existing suicide-related screening items may not be acceptable to perinatal women. Maternity practitioners and researchers should consider the phrasing, clarity, context, and framing of screening items when discussing suicidality with perinatal women to ensure potential barriers are not being reinforced. The development of specific suicidality screening measures that are acceptable, appropriate, and relevant to perinatal women are warranted.
PubMed: 38666087
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1359076 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B,... Jul 2024Age deficits in memory are widespread, this affects individuals at a personal level, and investigating memory has been a key focus in cognitive aging research. Age...
OBJECTIVES
Age deficits in memory are widespread, this affects individuals at a personal level, and investigating memory has been a key focus in cognitive aging research. Age deficits occur in memory for an episode, where information from the environment is integrated through the senses into an episodic event via associative memory. Associating items in memory has been shown to be particularly difficult for older adults but can often be alleviated by providing support from the external environment. The current investigation explored the potential for increased sensory input (multimodal stimuli) to alleviate age deficits in associative memory. Here, we present compelling evidence, supported by Bayesian analysis, for a null age-by-modality interaction.
METHODS
Across three preregistered studies, young and older adults (n = 860) completed associative memory tasks either in single modalities or in multimodal formats. Study 1 used either visual text (unimodal) or video introductions (multimodal) to test memory for name-face associations. Studies 2 and 3 tested memory for paired associates. Study 2 used unimodal visual presentation or cross-modal visual-auditory word pairs in a cued recall paradigm. Study 3 presented word pairs as visual only, auditory only, or audiovisual and tested memory separately for items (individual words) or associations (word pairings).
RESULTS
Typical age deficits in associative memory emerged, but these were not alleviated by multimodal presentation.
DISCUSSION
The lack of multimodal support for associative memory indicates that perceptual manipulations are less effective than other forms of environmental support at alleviating age deficits in associative memory.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Female; Male; Adult; Association Learning; Bayes Theorem; Young Adult; Mental Recall; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cues; Aging; Visual Perception; Auditory Perception; Memory Disorders; Adolescent
PubMed: 38661446
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae063 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2024Selective retrieval of context-relevant memories is critical for animal survival. A behavioral index that captures its dynamic nature in real time is necessary to...
Selective retrieval of context-relevant memories is critical for animal survival. A behavioral index that captures its dynamic nature in real time is necessary to investigate this retrieval process. Here, we found a bias in eye gaze towards the locations previously associated with individual objects during retrieval. Participants learned two locations associated with each visual object and recalled one of them indicated by a contextual cue in the following days. Before the contextual cue presentation, participants often gazed at both locations associated with the given object on the background screen (look-at-both), and the frequency of look-at-both gaze pattern increased as learning progressed. Following the cue presentation, their gaze shifted toward the context-appropriate location. Interestingly, participants showed a higher accuracy of memory retrieval in trials where they gazed at both object-associated locations, implying functional advantage of the look-at-both gaze patterns. Our findings indicate that naturalistic eye movements reflect the dynamic process of memory retrieval and selection, highlighting the potential of eye gaze as an indicator for studying these cognitive processes.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Mental Recall; Young Adult; Fixation, Ocular; Adult; Eye Movements; Cues; Memory; Learning
PubMed: 38658592
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59815-9