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Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024
PubMed: 38813107
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1426351 -
Science Advances May 2024Learning causal relationships relies on understanding how often one event precedes another. To investigate how dopamine neuron activity and neurotransmitter release...
Learning causal relationships relies on understanding how often one event precedes another. To investigate how dopamine neuron activity and neurotransmitter release change when a retrospective relationship is degraded for a specific pair of events, we used outcome-selective Pavlovian contingency degradation in rats. Conditioned responding was attenuated for the cue-reward contingency that was degraded, as was dopamine neuron activity in the midbrain and dopamine release in the ventral striatum in response to the cue and subsequent reward. Contingency degradation also abolished the trial-by-trial history dependence of the dopamine responses at the time of trial outcome. This profile of changes in cue- and reward-evoked responding is not easily explained by a standard reinforcement learning model. An alternative model based on learning causal relationships was better able to capture dopamine responses during contingency degradation, as well as conditioned behavior following optogenetic manipulations of dopamine during noncontingent rewards. Our results suggest that mesostriatal dopamine encodes the contingencies between meaningful events during learning.
Topics: Animals; Reward; Dopamine; Cues; Rats; Male; Dopaminergic Neurons; Conditioning, Classical; Ventral Striatum; Learning; Mesencephalon; Reinforcement, Psychology
PubMed: 38809978
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn4203 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024This investigation aimed to clarify the intricate relationship among depression, cognitive function, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and their combined influence...
AIMS
This investigation aimed to clarify the intricate relationship among depression, cognitive function, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and their combined influence on methamphetamine use disorder (MUD).
METHODS
Utilizing a battery of psychological tests, this study ascertained the impact of ACEs on the condition of 76 people with MUD who meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, aged 42.17 on average. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Conners' Continuous Performance-II (CPT-II), the self-report Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used for these evaluations. Individuals involved in the study were categorized into two discrete cohorts, mild (ME) and severe (SE), based on the extent of their ACEs exposure. This study employed the PROCESS regression, the independent t-test andχ2 tests for the analysis.
RESULTS
The findings revealed notable discrepancies in the psychological consequences between the two groups with different degrees of ACEs; however, no substantial differences were observed in the demographic parameters. The SE group exhibited elevated BDI-II scores, more evident indications of MUD, and a higher degree of CPT-II cognitive perseveration. The PROCESS model revealed that cognitive perseveration moderated the impact of depression on ACEs and subjective MUD severity, explaining 20.2% of the variance. The ACEs and depression predicted 28.6% of the variance in MUD symptoms. However, no statistically significant differences were detected between the two groups regarding the parameters in the IGT-2 assessment.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the interaction between cognitive and depressive factors mediates the effect of ACEs on subjective MUD severity but not on MUD symptoms. The ACEs significant impact on mental health severity perception is explained by cognitive and depressive factors. This implies that MUD treatment and rehabilitation should address cognitive dysfunction and developmental trauma.
PubMed: 38807693
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1382646 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Given the scarcity of studies linking exercise addiction to intimate partner violence, the present study aims to analyze the relationship between these variables and...
Given the scarcity of studies linking exercise addiction to intimate partner violence, the present study aims to analyze the relationship between these variables and examine the potential mediating roles of emotional dependence, impulsivity, and self-esteem. This is a non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational design study. The sample comprised 887 university students (86% women, mean age 20.82 years, SD = 3.63). Elevated levels of exercise addiction were associated with increased impulsivity, emotional dependence, and exerted violence, as well as decreased self-esteem and perceived violence. Mediation models were tested, explaining 7% of the variance in received violence, 13% of the variance in exerted violence, and 6% of the variance in perceived violence. Higher levels of exercise addiction were linked to increased received and exerted violence and decreased perceived violence, attributed to the positive impact of exercise addiction on emotional dependence. This study highlights the mediating roles of self-esteem and impulsivity in the relationship between exercise addiction and partner violence. Identifying risk or vulnerability factors such as emotional dependence, impulsivity, and self-esteem related to exercise addiction and interpersonal partner violence is especially relevant for designing and implementing preventive interventions in the general young population.
PubMed: 38785911
DOI: 10.3390/bs14050420 -
Wellcome Open Research 2024The COVID-19 pandemic both relied and placed significant burdens on the experts involved from research and public health sectors. The sustained high pressure of a...
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic both relied and placed significant burdens on the experts involved from research and public health sectors. The sustained high pressure of a pandemic on responders, such as healthcare workers, can lead to lasting psychological impacts including acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout, and moral injury, which can impact individual wellbeing and productivity.
METHODS
As members of the infectious disease modelling community, we convened a reflective workshop to understand the professional and personal impacts of response work on our community and to propose recommendations for future epidemic responses. The attendees represented a range of career stages, institutions, and disciplines. This piece was collectively produced by those present at the session based on our collective experiences.
RESULTS
Key issues we identified at the workshop were lack of institutional support, insecure contracts, unequal credit and recognition, and mental health impacts. Our recommendations include rewarding impactful work, fostering academia-public health collaboration, decreasing dependence on key individuals by developing teams, increasing transparency in decision-making, and implementing sustainable work practices.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite limitations in representation, this workshop provided valuable insights into the UK COVID-19 modelling experience and guidance for future public health crises. Recognising and addressing the issues highlighted is crucial, in our view, for ensuring the effectiveness of epidemic response work in the future.
PubMed: 38784437
DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19601.1 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Substance Use Disorder (SUD) persists as a significant public health challenge worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 10-15% across the global...
Evaluating the effectiveness of a mobile app-based self-guided psychological interventions to reduce relapse in substance use disorder: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) persists as a significant public health challenge worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 10-15% across the global populace. This condition is characterized by a notably high risk of lapses and relapses, even subsequent to treatment interventions. Mobile health interventions, owing to their widespread accessibility, emerge as a promising approach to diminish the risk of relapse post-treatment and to broaden the scope of care, especially in regions with a scarcity of trained medical professionals.
METHOD
This study is designed to assess the effectiveness of mobile interventions in mitigating cravings and preventing lapses among individuals diagnosed with SUD. Employing a two-armed, randomized controlled trial framework, the study will evaluate a self-administered psychological intervention delivered through a mobile application, Nałogometr 2.0. Over a period of three months, participants will engage with intervention modules that primarily incorporate mindfulness techniques and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) will be utilized to gather longitudinal data on a range of variables that are indicative of craving intensity and the risk of lapse. In addition to this, a monthly-administered battery of questionnaires will be employed to gauge the severity of substance dependence, as well as to measure levels of anxiety, depression, and overall life satisfaction.
RESULTS
Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier [NCT05730504].
PubMed: 38784165
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1335105 -
Computational Psychiatry (Cambridge,... 2024The Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT) is widely used to investigate the impact of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) on reinforcement learning (RL), and recent studies have...
The Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT) is widely used to investigate the impact of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) on reinforcement learning (RL), and recent studies have used it to provide insight into decision-making mechanisms affected by MDD. The current project used PRT data from unmedicated, treatment-seeking adults with MDD to extend these efforts by: (1) providing a more detailed analysis of standard PRT metrics-response bias and discriminability-to better understand how the task is performed; (2) analyzing the data with two computational models and providing psychometric analyses of both; and (3) determining whether response bias, discriminability, or model parameters predicted responses to treatment with placebo or the atypical antidepressant bupropion. Analysis of standard metrics replicated recent work by demonstrating a dependency between response bias and response time (RT), and by showing that reward totals in the PRT are governed by discriminability. Behavior was well-captured by the Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Model (HDDM), which models decision-making processes; the HDDM showed excellent internal consistency and acceptable retest reliability. A separate "belief" model reproduced the evolution of response bias over time better than the HDDM, but its psychometric properties were weaker. Finally, the predictive utility of the PRT was limited by small samples; nevertheless, depressed adults who responded to bupropion showed larger pre-treatment starting point biases in the HDDM than non-responders, indicating greater sensitivity to the PRT's asymmetric reinforcement contingencies. Together, these findings enhance our understanding of reward and decision-making mechanisms that are implicated in MDD and probed by the PRT.
PubMed: 38774430
DOI: 10.5334/cpsy.108 -
Pediatrics and Neonatology May 2024More than 100 million children in the world have at least one type of disability. Among disabled children, approximately 25% of chronic disabilities are of neurological...
BACKGROUND
More than 100 million children in the world have at least one type of disability. Among disabled children, approximately 25% of chronic disabilities are of neurological origin. Cerebral Palsy is the leading cause of chronic disability in children, making them not only physically and mentally handicapped but also socially aloof.
METHODS
This study was conducted among 200 eligible participants from three centers with Child Guidance or Cerebral Palsy clinics in the outpatient department. All the participants were included in the analysis of the epidemiological profile and the role of early markers. Of these, 70 participants were assessed for quality of life according to the age criteria of a pre-tested Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life questionnaire (CP-QOL).
RESULTS
Mean ± S.D. age in years was 3.7 ± 2.8. Birth history included 182 (39%) neonatal etiopathology, followed by 173 (38%) perinatal, and 106 (23%) antenatal causes. Mean ± S.D. birth weight was 2.3 ± 1.2 kg. The positive predictors of various domains of Quality of Life were an absence of any associated sensory, neurological, communication, or psychological disorder or disability. While, the negative predictors were decreasing functional capacity, involvement of number of limbs in increasing order, high therapeutic requirements, and dependency.
CONCLUSION
The association between early diagnosis of cerebral palsy and improved functional capacity, involvement of a lesser number of limbs, better quality of life, and absence of associated disabilities is established from the findings of our study.
PubMed: 38772791
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.04.003 -
BMC Psychology May 2024The present research was conducted aiming at predicting the resilience based on parenting and coping strategies in patients with psychosomatic disorders. The statistical...
The present research was conducted aiming at predicting the resilience based on parenting and coping strategies in patients with psychosomatic disorders. The statistical population of the present research consisted of all patients suffering from psychosomatic disorders who had visited medical clinics related to Medical Sciences (University) of Arak County in 2019-20. The statistical sample includes 347 women, aged 18 to 55 years-old, who were selected by available sampling. Data collection tool included Young parenting, Moss and Billings coping strategies questionnaire and Connor and Davidson resilience questionnaire. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that parenting (dependency, preoccupied/untransformed self) have a negative and significant relationship with resilience. Coping strategies focused on emotion, coping focused on physical restraint or physicalization of problems have a negative and significant relationship with resilience and have a positive and significant relationship with coping strategies focused on problem-solving and coping focused on cognitive evaluation. According to the findings, it can be concluded that it is possible to pave the way for increasing resilience and preventing the development of psychosomatic disorders by creating suitable conditions during the childhood, improving parent-child relationships, and by strengthening coping strategies focused on problem-solving and coping focused on cognitive evaluation.
Topics: Humans; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Female; Adaptation, Psychological; Resilience, Psychological; Adult; Middle Aged; Parenting; Adolescent; Young Adult; Surveys and Questionnaires; Coping Skills
PubMed: 38764081
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01784-9 -
Spanish Journal of Psychiatry and... May 2024Obesity is a global pandemic associated with various cardio-metabolic and psychiatric disorders. Neurocognitive and functional deficits have been associated with several...
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a global pandemic associated with various cardio-metabolic and psychiatric disorders. Neurocognitive and functional deficits have been associated with several somatic and psychiatric disorders. Adiposity-related inflammation has recently emerged as a key risk factor for neurocognitive and functional impairments. This prospective transdiagnostic study aimed to investigate the role of adiposity-related inflammatory markers in neurocognitive and functional outcomes associated with weight changes.
METHODS
Peripheral blood inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and neurocognitive and functional performance were assessed twice over 1 year in 165 individuals, including 30 with schizophrenia, 42 with bipolar disorder, 35 with major depressive disorder, 30 with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and 28 healthy controls. Participants were stratified by body mass index into categories of type 2 obesity (T2OB; n=30), type 1 obesity (T1OB; n=42), overweight (OW; n=53), and average weight (NW; n=40). Mixed one-way analysis of covariance and linear and binary logistic regression analyses were performed.
RESULTS
Compared with NW, T2OB and T1OB were significantly associated with impaired neurocognitive and functional performance (p<0.01; ηp=0.06-0.12) and higher levels of C-reactive protein and platelets (PLT) (p<0.01; ηp=0.08-0.16), with small-to-moderate effect sizes. IL-6, IL-10, and PLT were key factors for detecting significant weight changes in T1OB and T2OB over time. Regression models revealed that inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and cellular adhesion molecules were significantly associated with neurocognitive and functional performance (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION
Obesity is characterized by neurocognitive and functional impairments alongside low-grade systemic inflammation. Adiposity-related inflammatory biomarkers may contribute to neurocognitive and functional decline in individuals with T2DM and psychiatric disorders. Our data suggest that these biomarkers facilitate the identification of specific subgroups of individuals at higher risk of developing obesity.
PubMed: 38740330
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjpmh.2024.05.001