MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Psychiatry Research' source. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:36:00 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658090&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005750%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In anorexia nervosa (AN), body distortions have been associated with parietal cortex (PC) dysfunction. The PC is also the anatomical substrate of a supramodal reference framework involved in spatial orientation constancy. Given the impaired spatial orientation constancy found in hemineglect, we sought to determine whether similar disturbances could be observed in anorexic patients. We investigated the effect of passive lateral body inclination on the tactile subjective vertical (SV). Fifty participants (25 AN patients and 25 healthy controls) were asked to manually set a rod into the vertical position under three postural conditions. For tilted conditions, we observed a significant deviation of the tactile SV towards the body. This effect was abnormally accentuated in AN patients... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658090 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5658090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658081&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178112000261%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658081 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5658081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455373&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111006743%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The editors of this special section commissioned this commentary to bring together some of the conceptual, empirical and measurement issues arising from this series of articles. This commentary explores metacognition in relation to its neurobiology, and diverse syndromes and clinical phenotypes, including schizophrenia, alexithymia, and personality disorders, as well as its relation to assessment and prospects for the further delineation of mechanisms of change in psychological therapy. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455373 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:08:26 +0100 5455373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455363&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110006852%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study supports the idea that the cognitive component of empathy is less affected in patients with first-episode psychosis relative to patients with more chronic schizophrenia, and the impairments reported in previous reports with more chronic populations should be interpreted in light of a possible deterioration of this cognitive skill. The findings also provide some insight into the relationship between empathy and clinical symptoms such as social anxiety. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455363 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:08:26 +0100 5455363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455361&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111006974%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455361 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:08:26 +0100 5455361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658097&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005087%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Sexual dimorphism in cognitive function has been widely demonstrated in healthy subjects; typically, healthy females outperform males on verbal abilities, whereas males exhibit superiority over females on visuo-spatial tasks (). In contrast, studies have not always revealed these sex differences in cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that the disorders might be characterized by a disturbed cognitive sexual dimorphism (). Overall, investigations of sex differences in cognitive function in schizophrenia have demonstrated marked variability; some studies have found no differences between male and female patients, while others have detected greater cognitive deficits in men with schizophrenia or in women with schizophrenia depending on the nature of the tasks, clinica... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658097 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658096&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005300%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In the past 20years, war and human rights violations have led to high rates of exposure to traumatic events among the Iraqi population. Due to the ongoing violence, many physicians and mental health professionals have left Iraq in recent years. The Internet offers new possibilities for the psychological treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in conflict areas. A therapist-supported cognitive-behavioral treatment manual that has been evaluated in Western countries was translated into Arabic and culturally adapted. The treatment was conducted via the Internet by Arabic-speaking therapists and was evaluated in an uncontrolled pilot study with 15 participants. Main outcome measures were PTSD (Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS)), depression, anxiety (Hopkins Symptom Check... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658096 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658095&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005725%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The present study included a total 261 patients with schizophrenia and 261 healthy controls to replicate the genetic association between the cathechol-o-methyltransferase gene and schizophrenia using a haplotype block-based gene-tagging. The G-G-G haplotype was found to show a highly significant association with schizophrenia. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658095 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658094&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004987%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Determining the exact duration of seizure activity is an important factor for predicting the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In most cases, seizure duration is estimated manually by observing the electroencephalogram (EEG) waveform. In this article, we propose a method based on sample entropy (SampEn) that automatically detects the termination time of an ECT-induced seizure. SampEn decreases during seizure activity and has its smallest value at the boundary of seizure termination. SampEn reflects not only different states of regularity and complexity in the EEG but also changes in EEG amplitude before and after seizure activity. Using SampEn, we can more precisely determine seizure termination time and total seizure duration. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658094 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658093&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005324%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: While schizophrenia has been associated with a slight excess of winter/early spring birth, it is unclear whether there is such an association in relation to schizotypal personality traits. Season of birth has also been reported to relate to temperament and character personality dimensions and cognitive functioning. Moreover, non-clinical schizotypy has been shown to be associated with mild cognitive impairment, although its precise nature is yet to be elucidated. Here we examined the relationships between season of birth, schizotypal traits, temperament and character, and cognitive function. Four hundred and fifty-one healthy adults completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and a neuropsychological test battery consis... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658093 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658092&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100566X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A significant season of birth effect on mood seasonality has been detected in young adults, with higher sensitivity to seasonal changes for people born during spring or summer months (long photoperiod) than those born during autumn or winter months (short photoperiod). The aim of this study was to verify whether the birth season effect on mood seasonality is already present in late childhood and adolescence. To this end, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (SPAQ-CA) was administered to 1523 Italian participants (870 females, 653 males), ranging from 10 to 17years of age. The Global Seasonality Score (GSS) was computed as a measure of mood seasonality. Analysis of covariance showed a significant season of birth effect on GSS; although no comp... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658092 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658091&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005658%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study is the first to demonstrate increased levels of TNF-α and neopterin in patients with somatization syndromes without a diagnosis of depression, which may support a role of immune alterations in somatization syndromes. Neopterin is a reliable indicator for interferon-γ (IFN-γ) which was identified as the only cytokine that induces significant production of neopterin. Considering recent research indicating that IFN-γ can lead to increased neuronal responsiveness and body perceptions by reducing inhibitory tone in the dorsal horn, the observed association between somatization syndromes and neopterin might support the idea of central sensitization in the pathogenesis of somatoform symptoms. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658091 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658089&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005294%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, patients with recurrent depression (currently remitted) received, over a period of 8months, 16 sessions of psychoeducational treatment, in order to prevent relapse. Therapist adherence and competence, and the therapeutic alliance, were investigated as predictors of reducing the recurrence risk in depression. Videotapes of 43 participants in a psychoeducational treatment for depression were analyzed, in order to evaluate therapist adherence and competence. Additionally, the therapeutic alliance was assessed by means of a questionnaire. One year after treatment, no associations were found between therapist adherence or competence and the risk of relapse. The patients' view of the therapeutic alliance was moderately associated with the time to relapse. However, the correlation ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658089 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658088&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005774%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: No prospective studies of first psychotic episodes have explored sex differences in smoking cessation. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sex and substance abuse on smoking cessation during an 8-year follow-up of patients after a first psychotic episode. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with smoking cessation by sex. To examine for sex variable interactions, the following two methods were used: 1) for other clinical variables, mixed analyses were calculated; and 2) for use of other substances, logistic regression models were performed only in the substance users. At baseline, 79% of men and 84% of women were current smokers. Lower smoking cessation after 8years was associated with female sex (odds ratio, OR=0.30; 95% confid... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658088 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658087&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005130%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study investigated the reliability and predictive values of two versions of a new scale for the assessment of psychological stress in psychosis (Psychological Stress Index; PSI). Thirty-seven patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and 30 healthy controls completed a battery of self-report measures at baseline and 4–8weeks for test–retest. Thirty-four patients were followed up at 12months. Both of the 18-item and 9-item PSI demonstrated good levels of reliability and could significantly discriminate patients from healthy controls. Both versions showed moderate convergence with self-report and clinician ratings of depression and anxiety, and superior predictive validity of 12-month follow-up clinical and functional outcomes compared to an existing measure of stress (Pe... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658087 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658086&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100535X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Recovery of social functioning is a largely unattained goal in schizophrenia rehabilitation. In the recent past, new neurocognitive and social cognitive training approaches have been introduced to improve functioning in various domains of patients' social life. These programs have neglected, to some degree, the social environment in which the training takes place. Accordingly, the present study sought to examine if family-assisted social cognitive training could improve quality of life, social functioning and social cognition in schizophrenia patients as compared to a social stimulation approach. In a randomized, controlled, parallel group trial design with two groups, one receiving family-assisted social cognitive training once a week (F-SCIT) and the other, social stimulation o... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658086 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658085&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005695%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, after a learning session, individuals may express a Judgment of Learning (JOL), which reflects their sense of being able to retrieve the information later and which forms the basis for their decision whether or not to carry on learning. The introspective abilities of schizophrenia patients and subsequent strategic control of study time during the encoding of easy or difficult word pairs were investigated in 23 patients and 23 healthy comparison subjects. In spite of their memory impairment, patients were able to judge the difficulty of the word pairs with accuracy and adapt their learning time accordingly. Schizophrenia patients are sensitive to difficulty when rating JOLs and afterwards controlling study time. Monitoring their knowledge at the start helped patients to adapt... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658085 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658084&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005312%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Previous studies have reported facial emotion recognition impairments in schizophrenic patients, as well as abnormalities in the N170 component of the event-related potential. Current research on schizophrenia highlights the importance of complexly-inherited brain-based deficits. In order to examine the N170 markers of face structural and emotional processing, DSM-IV diagnosed schizophrenia probands (n=13), unaffected first-degree relatives from multiplex families (n=13), and control subjects (n=13) matched by age, gender and educational level, performed a categorization task which involved words and faces with positive and negative valence. The N170 component, while present in relatives and control subjects, was reduced in patients, not only for faces, but also for face–word d... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658084 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658083&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100521X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Face and body perception rely on common processing mechanisms and activate similar but not identical brain networks. Patients with schizophrenia show impaired face perception, and the present study addressed for the first time body perception in this group. Seventeen patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were compared to 17 healthy controls on standardized tests assessing basic face perception skills (identity discrimination, memory for faces, recognition of facial affect). A matching-to-sample task including emotional and neutral faces, bodies and cars either in an upright or in an inverted position was administered to assess potential category-specific performance deficits and impairments of configural processing. Relative to healthy controls, schizo... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658083 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5658082&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005683%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The main aim of the present study was to investigate whether a specific type of source monitoring, namely self-monitoring for actions (differentiation between imagined and performed actions), is disrupted in schizophrenia. Persons diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=32) and healthy participants (n=32) were assessed with an action memory task. Simple actions were presented to the participants either verbally (short instructions) or nonverbally (icons). Some of the items required participants to physically perform the action whereas other actions had to be imagined. In the recognition phase of the study, participants were asked whether an action was previously displayed (verbally or nonverbally), whether it was a new action (not presented before), and if they had performed or imagined ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5658082 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5658082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484967&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004306%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes For many patients diagnosed with a neuropsychiatric disorder, the ability to drive a car plays a crucial part in their functional autonomy. Surprisingly, there were no data available in a PubMed search performed in March 2011 concerning Tourette's Syndrome and driving ability. According to our knowledge, this is the first report on driving ability in a drug-free Tourette's patient as well as after cannabinoid therapy. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484967 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484966&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004288%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Schizophrenia (SZ) is a debilitating mental disorder afflicting approximately 1% of the world's population. Family, twin, and adoption studies have indicated a significant genetic contribution to the etiology of this disease, with many genes exerting weak-to-moderate effects on predisposition. Indeed, association studies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have identified a number of promising susceptibility genes. A recent genome-wide association study reported a strong association between SNP rs1344706 in the zinc finger protein ZNF804A gene (2q32.1) and schizophrenia in the United Kingdom (). This association was subsequently replicated in the Irish population (), suggesting that the rs1344706 variant of ZNF804A is a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. (Source: Psychiatry Resea... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484966 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484965&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004938%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: It has been repeatedly shown that alcohol dependence is associated with emotional impairments, particularly for emotional facial expression decoding. Nevertheless, most earlier studies focused on basic emotions and did not explore more subtle affective states. In order to obtain a more accurate evaluation, and in view of earlier results showing impaired performance for this task among high-risk children of alcohol-dependent participants, the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test was used here to explore emotional recognition in alcohol dependence. We showed that the deficit described earlier for basic negative emotions is (1) generalizable to complex and positive emotions; and (2) specific for emotional features. This strengthens the proposition of a general face recognition im... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484965 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484964&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003891%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Eighteen adolescent patients with severe psychiatric disorders were compared with healthy, eutrophics adolescents for the presence of inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors. We found significant differences in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Our results show, evidence of an inflammatory status and a deleterious lipid profile, in a very early state of psychiatric disease. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484964 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484963&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005762%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Autism is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder. CDK5 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5) and its interacting molecules are involved in neurodevelopment. We performed a family-based association analysis between CDK5, NDEL1, and LIS1 polymorphisms and autism in a Chinese Han population. Our study did not detect a significant association. It indicated that common genetic variations in these genes might not play a role in the genetic predisposition to autism. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484963 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484962&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004549%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Schizophrenia is a heritable, complex mental disorder. We analysed the DRD3 gene as a candidate to be related to schizophrenia and clinical features in affected sib-pairs. A positive association with the -250A/Ser9 haplotype and a trend toward an association with formal thought disorder were observed. A synergic effect of DRD3 polymorphisms on schizophrenia susceptibility is suggested. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484962 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484961&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004409%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we investigated whether overexpression of the hnRNP C variants hnRNP C1 and C2 changed the expression of myelination-related genes in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH. In both hnRNP C1- and C2-overexpressing cells, the expression of quaking (QKI)-6 and QKI-7 significantly increased or decreased compared to the control, respectively. Intriguingly, QKI-5 and myelin basic protein were markedly up- or down-regulated by overexpressing hnRNP C2, respectively. Our findings are the first to demonstrate distinct functions of hnRNP C1 and C2, and may be helpful in understanding the functions of these molecules. These findings indicate that altered expression levels of hnRNP C in the brain of patients with schizophrenia could be involved in the pathophysiology of this disease ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484961 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484960&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100446X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Though the popularity of body modification increases, psychosocial data about practitioners of body piercing and tattooing are few and controversial. Most studies used semi-structured interviews and relatively small sample sizes. The aim of this study was to explore psychosocial background information (motivation, sexual abuse) for body modification practises based on a sufficiently large sample. A core group of 432 subjects with body piercings and/or tattoos (readers of a specialised magazine on body modification; mean age: 28years) was investigated in this study using a 55-item questionnaire. The mean number of body modifications (piercings and tattoos) was nine. Participants with a history of sexual abuse and high users with more than 10 body modifications differed from those ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484960 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484959&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004422%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study presents gender differences in sociodemographics and in psychiatric correlates of firesetting in the United States. Data were derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a representative sample of U.S. adults. Face-to-face interviews of more than 43,000 adults were conducted in the 2001–2002 period. This study focused on the 407 subjects with a lifetime history of firesetting. The prevalence of lifetime firesetting in the U.S. was 1.7% in men and 0.4% in women. Firesetting was significantly associated with a wide range of antisocial behaviors that differed by gender. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated associations in both genders with psychiatric and addictive disorders. Men with a lifetime history of firesetting ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484959 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484958&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004410%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In most experimental studies, emotional pictures are widely used as stimulus material. However, there is still a lack of standardization of picture stimuli displaying erotic relationships, despite the association between a number of psychological problems and severe impairments and problems in intimate relationships. The aim of the study was to test a set of erotic stimuli, with the potential to be used in experimental studies, with heterosexual female subjects. Twenty International Affective Picture System (IAPS) pictures and an additional 100 pictures showing romantic but not explicitly sexual scenes and/or attractive single males were selected. All pictures were rated with respect to valence, arousal, and dominance by 41 heterosexual women and compared to pictures with negativ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484958 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484957&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004331%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study aims to examine the relationship between impulsivity and depression and anxiety symptoms of depression and anxiety in childhood, and compare it with its relationship with a measure of aggressive behavior, which is present in many externalizing disorders. We administered the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 for children, the Children's Depression Inventory and the Screen for Children's Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders to a case–control sample of 562 children aged between 9 and 13 who were selected from an epidemiological study of anxiety and depression and whose teachers provided information about their proactive and reactive aggression. Impulsivity was related to measures of anxiety, depression and aggressive behavior, and showed higher relationships with measures of internal... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484957 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484956&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003817%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, the IDIS appears to be a useful tool in the primary care and mental health contexts for assessing insomnia-related diurnal dysfunction. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484956 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484955&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005038%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are frequently comorbid. To contribute to a better understanding of the associations regularly found between ADHD and BPD, on the one hand, and the developmental pathways for these disorders, on the other hand, latent class analyses (LCA) were undertaken to identify classes differing in profiles of childhood symptoms of ADHD and adult symptoms of ADHD and BPD. Diagnostic interviews with 103 female outpatients meeting the criteria for ADHD and/or BPD were used to assess current DSM-IV symptoms; childhood symptoms of ADHD were assessed in parent interviews. The latent classes were examined in relation to the DSM-IV conceptualizations of ADHD and BPD. And relations between childhood and adult c... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484955 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484954&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004914%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We investigated the links among decision-making assessed by the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Game of Dice Task (GDT), and the four facets of impulsivity (urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking, UPPS) proposed by Whiteside and Lynam (2001) in a sample of 107 healthy volunteers. Hierarchical regressions controlling for age and gender indicated that sensation seeking and urgency were linked to disadvantageous decisions on the GDT while no association was found between IGT performance and the UPPS. Sensation seeking and urgency facets of impulsivity are related in healthy individuals, to decision-making processes where potential consequences of different options and their subsequent probabilities rely on explicit information. In healthy contro... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484954 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484953&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005117%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The main goal of the present study was to examine the relationship between the schizotypy dimensions, emotional–behavioural problems and personality disorder traits in non-clinical general adolescent population. A total of 1455 participants (M=15.9years; S.D.=1.2) were administered the Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire (ESQUIZO-Q), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+). Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between the schizotypy and emotional–behavioural problems self-reported by adolescents. Participants with high scores in schizotypy dimensions, reported higher rates of affective and behavioural problems than those with low scores. Also, schizotypy dimensions and personality dis... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484953 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484952&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003878%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensional structure and measurement invariance of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) (Raine and Benishay, 1995) across sex and age in a representative sample of nonclinical adolescents and young adults. The sample consisted of 1789 adolescents and young adults (42.1% males), with a mean age of 17.1years (S.D.=2.9). The results indicated that the Likert version of the SPQ-B showed adequate psychometric properties (α total score 0.89). The schizotypal personality models that presented the best fit indices were Raine et al.'s (1994) three-factor model and Stefanis et al.'s (2004) four-factor model. In addition, the results support the measurement invariance of the SPQ-B across sex and age. When the latent means of ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484952 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484951&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003805%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study validates the findings of previous studies by performing a CFA with the DSM-IV BPD criteria and information derived from the DIB-R. A sample of 338 patients referred to our outpatient BPD program participated in the study. Results of the CFA support both the hypothesized unidimensional and the three-factor models, whereas the five-factor model was not confirmed. However, the three-factor model fits better than the unidimensional model. Thus, although the DSM-IV BPD criteria conceptualize BPD as a unidimensional structure, our results give support to the idea that the three-factor model could offer a better approach to further improve the current treatment of BPD, as well as lead to a better understanding of its ethiopathogenesis and comorbidity analysis. (Source: Psychiatry Rese... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484951 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484950&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003696%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: It has been demonstrated that alcohol-dependent patients exhibit decision-making deficits, particularly, hypersensitivity to reward and executive dysfunction. Yet, how the impaired motivational process and executive dysfunction in the patients affect decisions under ambiguity and risk with different degrees of uncertainty is little known. To investigate the neuropsychological origin of the impaired decision making under uncertainty in alcohol dependence, we administered the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Game of Dice Task (GDT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to 23 alcohol-dependent patients and 21 healthy subjects, and calculated the correlations between the task performances. We found that the patients showed poor performance in all three tasks compared with the healthy subje... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484950 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484949&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004896%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objectives of our study of 77 patients with ED were to develop further a brief measure to assess the patients' perceptions of their caregivers' EE, the patient version of the Brief Dyadic Scale of Expressed Emotion (BDSEE), and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Three clearly separate factors were identified: perceived criticism, perceived emotional overinvolvement, and perceived warmth. The BDSEE also demonstrated good levels of reliability and construct validity. The BDSEE subscales are significantly related to other measures of the perceived family emotional climate and to the CFI, the gold standard in the field of EE. The clinical implications of the ED patients' perceptions of their caregivers' EE are discussed. Findings support the utility of the expanded BDSEE for both res... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484949 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484948&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003660%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Increased and decreased levers of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity have been reported in patients with eating disorders, indicating abnormalities of the serotonin turnover. However, whether these findings are related to eating disorders or are rather reflecting the pathophysiology of borderline personality traits in these patients is still unknown. Platelet MAO activity and comorbid personality disorders were investigated in 72 patients with different subtypes of eating disorders (ED) and in a group of 28 healthy controls. ED patients comprised the following subtypes: 25 anorexia nervosa (AN) restrictive, 14 AN binge eating–purging (AN b-p), 3 anorexia nervosa not otherwise specified (AN NOS) and 30 bulimia nervosa (BN). Personality disorders and traits were assessed w... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484948 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484947&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005075%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study evaluated the positive motivational implicit response to Internet gaming cues (i.e., screenshots of popular online games) to identify potential mechanisms of dyscontrolled Internet use in young adults with Internet gaming addiction (IGA). The final analysis included 64 young adults with IGA and 71 control subjects. The subjects completed the implicit association task to test their reaction to congruent pairing (Internet gaming screenshot paired with liked words) and incongruent pairing (Internet gaming screenshot paired with disliked words). The results demonstrated that, compared to the control group, the IGA group reacted faster to congruent pairing. It suggests that the IGA group had a positive motivational implicit response to screenshots of online games. Implicit cognition ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484947 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484946&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005786%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study screened 253 middle school students and 389 high school students for Internet addiction and compared 59 Internet-addicted students with 43 non-addicted students using an IQ test. The Internet-addicted group had comprehension sub-item scores that were significantly lower than those of the non-addicted group. As the comprehension item reflects ethical judgement and reality testing, there may be a relationship between Internet addiction and weak social intelligence. Earlier onset of Internet addiction and longer addiction duration were associated with lower participant performance in areas related to attention. As this study is a cross-sectional study, it is not clear whether the persons who display weak cognitive functioning are susceptible to Internet addiction or if Internet add... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484946 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484945&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005798%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: It has been suggested that Black people show lower suicidality than White people. The few conflicting studies estimating lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts in Caribbean populations were mainly carried out in the UK and the USA. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts among the French Caribbean general population still living in the West Indies. As part of an international epidemiological multicenter study under the authority of the World Health Organization French Collaborating Centre, we interviewed 887 individuals selected from the general population in the Caribbean island of Martinique, using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Among the interviewed individuals, 4.4% (N=39) reported having attempted suicide. Younger age, life... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484945 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484944&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005701%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objective of this study was to determine the impact of work-related factors on risk for completed suicide. Psychiatric disorders and socio-demographic factors including work-related factors were assessed by a semi-structured interview using the psychological autopsy method in 163 completed suicide cases and by personal interview in 396 living population-based control persons. Unemployment (in particular, for more than six months), (early) retirement, or homemaker status were associated with highly significantly increased suicide risk, independently of categorized psychiatric diagnosis. In addition, adverse psychosocial working conditions, such as monotonous work, increased responsibility and pronounced mental strain due to contact with work clients, significantly increased suicide risk... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484944 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484943&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004550%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine trait impulsivity in patients with bipolar disorder and explore the possible connections between impulsivity and clinical presentation of the illness. Diagnoses were based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. The sociodemographic and clinical properties of 71 patients with bipolar disorder, who were euthymic according to Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale scores, were recorded. Their trait impulsivity was evaluated by using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and impulsivity subscale of the Temperament and Character Inventory, and the results were compared with 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls and among patients with different clinical properties. All BIS-11 subscale scores were higher in bipolar t... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484943 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484942&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004392%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, patients with BD-C demonstrated poor medication adherence and attitudes concerning medication management. Helping patients with BD achieve remission from SUD may lead to a more successful course of BD pharmacotherapy. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484942 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484941&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004926%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Previous studies have revealed psychosocial and cognitive impairments in patients during depression. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with major depression (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) differ in psychosocial and neurocognitive profiles. A second aim was to examine whether cognitive impairments are homogeneous among depressed patients. Patients with MDD (n=16) and BD (n=14) were enrolled during a major depressive episode. About half of them had comorbidities, including personality, substance use, and anxiety disorders. Information was collected about symptomatology and psychosocial functioning, whereas an exhaustive neuropsychological battery was administered to assess cognition. During a depressive episode, MDD and BD patients had global psycho... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484941 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484940&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004495%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Depressive patients exhibit symptoms of impaired regulation of wakefulness with hyperarousal and agitation as well as difficulties to falling asleep and preserving sleep continuity. Changes in hypocretin (hcrt) levels as polypeptides with impact on arousal and sleep–wake-regulation have been discussed in affective disorders but have not been investigated in patients with solely unipolar depression in comparison to healthy controls. In the present study, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of hcrt-1 for the first time were analyzed in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) without psychiatric comorbidities and compared with levels in healthy controls. In 17 inpatients with MDD (mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 13.9±7.4) and 10 healthy controls, CSF-hcrt-1 levels were m... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484940 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484939&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004379%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined the association in a study of 5658 Korean women who participated in the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 279 cases of depression were included. Cardiovascular disease risk factors were associated with higher odds of depression: ORs (95% CIs) were 3.99 (2.25–7.05) for current smokers with (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484939 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484939 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484938&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005099%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to simultaneously examine a wide range of risk factors and clinical characteristics in their predictive value for the 1-year severity of depressive symptoms. Data from 789 participants in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), a large psychiatric cohort study, with a major depressive disorder (MDD) at baseline were used. Depression severity at 1-year follow-up was studied using linear and multinomial logistic regression models. Results of the analyses showed that high neuroticism, no partner and older age were found predictive of a poorer outcome independent of baseline clinical characteristics. Further, comorbid anxiety disorder, first episode, having a moderate subtype (vs. melancholic), and higher baseline depression severity predict... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484938 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484937&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100504X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study tests the hypothesis in a general population. Our data are based on 10,086 persons who participated in the sixth Tromsø study carried out in 2007–2008. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hopkins Symptoms Check List 10 (SCL-10) based on answers from a questionnaire. Results were adjusted for known confounders such as age, gender, body-mass index, physical exercise, alcohol, education, marital status, kidney function and chronic disease. Results are presented for smokers (N=1966) and non-smokers (N=8120) separately as our immunoassay seems to overestimate 25(OH)D levels for smokers. Low serum 25(OH)D levels were found to be a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in both smokers and non-smokers. The association seemed to be stronger in women. The odds ratios fo... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484937 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484936&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111006214%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Olfactory deficits, in detection, recognition and identification of odorants have been documented in ageing and in several neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions. However, olfactory abilities in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have been less investigated, and available studies have provided inconsistent results. The present study assessed odour recognition memory and odour identification in two groups of 12 mild MDD patients (M age 41.3, range 25–57) and 12 severe MDD patients (M age, 41.9, range 23–58) diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria and matched for age and gender to 12 healthy normal controls. The suitability of olfactory identification and recognition memory tasks as predictors of the progression of MDD was also addressed. Data analyses revealed that Severe MD... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484936 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484935&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003945%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Despite the use of actigraphy in depression research, the association of depression ratings and quantitative motor activity remains controversial. In addition, the impact of recurring episodes on motor activity is uncertain. In 76 medicated inpatients with major depression (27 with a first episode, 49 with recurrent episodes), continuous wrist actigraphy for 24h and scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) were obtained. In addition, 10 subjects of the sample wore the actigraph over a period of 5 days, in order to assess the reliability of a 1-day measurement. Activity levels were stable over 5 consecutive days. Actigraphic parameters did not differ between patients with a first or a recurrent episode, and quantitative motor activity failed to correlate with the HAMD... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484935 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484934&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003738%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Depression is a commonly occurring mental disorder, which is characterized by dysfunctional inhibition and facilitation for emotional stimuli. The aim of the present study was to investigate distracter inhibition and facilitation for emotional faces in depressed individuals in a negative affective priming task. Control participants who had never suffered from depression (NC), sub-clinically depressed participants, and participants diagnosed with a current major depressive disorder (MDD), Anxiety Inventory, the Hamilton Depression Rating Score were recruited using the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck and DSM-IV as tools. Twenty-four participants in each group completed a negative affective priming task. The main finding was that there were no significant differences among the t... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484934 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484933&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005671%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study aimed to explore the relationship between spirituality and QOL, and to investigate if spirituality contributes to other domains of QOL (both physical and psycho-social) in subjects with residual schizophrenia. In a study with a cross-sectional design, 103 patients with residual schizophrenia were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome scale, and their quality of life, spirituality and religiousness were assessed with the WHO Quality of Life-Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs (WHOQOL-SRPB) scale. The SRPB domain and all its facets other than spiritual connection correlated significantly with all other domains of QOL and overall QOL. On regression analysis, the inner peace domain of spirituality explained 21.6 to 37.6% of variance of all QOL domains except ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484933 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484932&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003829%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In individuals with schizophrenia, the prevalence of cigarette smoking is significantly higher than that of the general population; this appears to be associated with specific psychosocial and clinical characteristics. Indeed, some evidence suggests an increased risk of suicide among smokers with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of smokers with schizophrenia in Taiwan. In this cross-sectional study, 95 outpatients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited and independently interviewed for nicotine dependency with tobacco use. The effects of cigarette smoking on the various measures, especially suicidality, were investigated. The results revealed that smokers with schizophrenia had higher rates of hospitalization, lifetime sui... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484932 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484931&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004471%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Disruption of prepulse inhibition of the startle response (PPI) has been widely identified in patients with schizophrenia, as well as impairment in many domains of cognitive functioning. However, there is some controversy regarding the relationship between PPI and the different neuropsychological tasks assessing inhibition. This controversy may be due to the influence of other variables, such as substance abuse. We aimed to determine whether differences in inhibition in schizophrenia subjects were related to their pattern of substance use and whether there was a correlation between the changes in each process. PPI and neuropsychological functioning were studied in three groups of subjects with schizophrenia (N=73): tobacco dependents (ToD; n=22), multiple substance abusers (MSUD;... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484931 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484930&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100432X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Longitudinal cohort studies have implicated an association between both low and high birth weight and schizophrenia. It has been suggested that schizophrenia associated genes could augment an individual's susceptibility to adverse prenatal and perinatal environmental events. We investigated the association between birth weight and schizophrenia in a large Finnish schizophrenia family study sample. We utilized the birth weight data of 1051 offspring from 315 Finnish families with at least one offspring with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. We used a multivariate COX frailty model to analyze the effect of birth weight on the risk of developing schizophrenia within the families. Using information from the Medication Reimbursement Register and patient interviews, we further investigated... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484930 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484929&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004483%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: An increasing number of reports in the literature indicate that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) regulates nitric oxide generation in numerous disease states. ADMA has been less studied in psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine plasma ADMA concentrations in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. The study was conducted in 49 male patients with schizophrenia and 30 healthy male control subjects. The patient group was 24 first episode and 25 multiple episode schizophrenia participants. All schizophrenic patients were administered the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Measurement of plasma concentrations of ADMA was accomplishe... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484929 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484928&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005051%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the relationship between chronicity of illness and performance of facial emotion recognition in Chinese with schizophrenia. There were altogether four groups of subjects matched for age and gender composition. The first and second groups comprised medically stable outpatients with first-episode schizophrenia (n=50) and their healthy controls (n=26). The third and fourth groups were patients with chronic schizophrenic illness (n=51) and their controls (n=28). The ability to recognise the six prototypical facial emotions was examined using locally validated coloured photographs from the Japanese and Caucasian Facial Expressions of Emotion. Chinese patients with schizophrenia, in both the first-episode and chronic stages, performed significantly worse than their control co... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484928 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484927&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005804%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Implicit memory seems to be preserved in schizophrenia as a whole, but dissociations between conceptual and perceptual tasks and between accuracy and reaction time measures have appeared. The present research has revealed some methodological limitations in many studies to date that are focused on the study of perceptual implicit memory in schizophrenic patients using accuracy measures. The review of these studies revealed that limitations are related to an inadequate definition of performance and priming measures, a lack of control over the characteristics of the stimuli, and the absence of information on the experimental procedures used in data collection. Moreover, the task used in these studies is word stem completion, a task that makes use of perceptual and conceptual process... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484927 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5484927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455391&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000606%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes I read the interesting study which was reported by on the association between genetic polymorphism (rs27388) of multiple epidermal growth factor-like domains 10 (MEGF10, MIM: 612453) and susceptibility to schizophrenia in a Chinese case–control sample. The authors found that there was no association between rs27388 polymorphism of MEGF10 and schizophrenia. Also, they mentioned that their finding is not consistent with a previous report by . (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455391 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455390&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100357X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Schizophrenia is a complex condition with a strong genetic basis whose detailed pathogenesis is not fully understood. Studies have shown that the disease involves prefrontal cortex impairment (). Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9, gelatinase B) belongs to a family of zinc-dependent enzymes that degrade extracellular matrix and that play an important role in the plasticity of the brain, as well as in long-term potentiation in the prefrontal cortex (). In an animal model, MMP-9 has been proposed to be involved in aberrant plasticity (). (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455390 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455389&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003556%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we tried to clarify the prevalence of suicidal ideation and self-mutilation including suicide attempts among patients with gender identity disorder (GID) and the relationship of those behaviors to demographic characteristics. A total of 500 consecutive Japanese GID patients without any other psychiatric comorbidity were evaluated at the outpatient GID Clinic of Okayama University Hospital. The lifetime rate of suicidal ideation was 72.0% of the total sample. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of suicidal ideation among groups divided by sex, age, age at onset or education. The lifetime prevalence of self-mutilation including suicide attempts was 31.8% of the total sample. Low level of education was significantly related to self-mutilation among both male... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455389 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455388&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003775%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The current study analyzed the life events reported by 1271 demented patients vs. 140 cognitively healthy elderly subjects. The Life Change Unit (LCU) method was used to quantify the results. When all the events were included in the analysis, the two groups had similar LCU scores (61.26 vs. 63.42). However, when events causally related to dementia (e.g. stroke) are excluded, demented patients were found to experience half of the LCU load in comparison to controls (30.70 vs. 63.42). In both groups the level of LCU load is far below 100 which is the threshold suggested for the induction of psychosomatic disorders. Conclusively, the current study suggests that there is no causal role for life events in the etiopathogenesis of dementia. On the contrary, demented patients even the las... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455388 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455387&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003684%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study investigated the predictive value of pretraumatic and peritraumatic variables and early PTSD-like symptoms (within 48h post-event) in determining the severity of posttraumatic stress in accident victims. Symptom development appears to be related to initial PTSD-like reactions, while demographic variables play a role in predicting symptom severity 6 months post-event. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455387 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455386&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003581%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We investigated a relationship between selected polymorphisms: rs6313 in HTR2A, rs6295 in HTR1A and rs1386494 in TPH2, and suicidal behaviour in 150 alcohol-dependent patients. There was a significant association between more frequent C102C genotype in HTR2A and suicide attempts in alcoholic females. No differences in genotype distribution in HTR1A and TPH2 SNPs were found between patients with and without suicide attempts. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455386 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455385&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003568%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A self-administered cognitive test (Test Your Memory, TYM) is designed as a screening test for the detection of Alzheimer disease (AD). We compared the diagnostic utility of the Japanese version of the TYM (TYM-J) in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with that of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive Subscale Japanese version (ADAS-Jcog). We studied 79 patients with mild AD, 46 with MCI and 34 normal controls. The sensitivity and specificity of each test in the diagnosis of AD and MCI were compared. The average total TYM-J scores were 45.7 in controls, 41.7 in MCI, and 35.7 in AD. The TYM-J scores showed good correlations with other neuropsychological tests. The receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated th... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455385 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455384&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003659%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: There is a need for reliable and well-validated diagnostic measures for studying psychopathology in preschool and young children. The goal is to study the psychometric properties of the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents for Parents of Preschool and Young Children (DICA-PPYC) in the general population. A sample of 852 Spanish school children, aged 3 to 7 years, were randomly selected and screened for a double phase design. A total of 251 families were interviewed with the DICA-PPYC and 244 participated in a test–retest design. Different measures of psychopathology and functional impairment were also administered. Test–retest agreement with a mean interval of 8.8days ranged from excellent to slight (kappa from 1 to 0.39) for DSM-IV-TR and from good to fair (kapp... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455384 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455383&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003489%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) total tau-protein (t-tau) and amyloid-beta 1-42 (Abeta1-42) have been increasingly included in the diagnostic process of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to analyze whether these CSF biomarkers correlate with cognitive plasticity as measured by a dynamic recognition test strategy. We assessed 29 elderly individuals (15 with incipient and 14 without AD) from an outpatient memory clinic at a university hospital by a Testing-the-Limits (TtL) based recognition paradigm consisting of a pre-test (baseline) and two post-test conditions with an interposed encoding instruction. We identified a negative association between Abeta1-42 and the two post-test failure rates, but not with that of the pre-test. Also, none of the standard tests correlates with Abeta 42-1... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455383 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455382&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005749%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between severity of borderline personality features and history of suicide attempt (HSA) in male substance-dependent inpatients and the effect of anger, hostility and aggression on this relationship. Further, the effect of some variables that may be related to suicide and/or borderline personality, such as age at inception of regular substance use, substance of dependence (alcohol/drug), depression, and both state and trait anxiety, were controlled. Participants were 200 consecutively admitted male substance-dependent inpatients. Patients were investigated with the Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI), the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State–Trait Anxiety Invent... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455382 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455381&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002800%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Patients with social phobia commonly resist face-to-face assessments, and a number of alternative assessment methods based on the Internet are being developed. The aim of this study was to identify patients with social phobia on the Internet and characterize their condition, using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). In Stage I, this study recruited 1307 participants from the Internet, most of whom were well-educated young females, who had remained unmarried and unemployed. The Internet-based SPIN demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.937) and good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.942). In Stage II, we examined the discriminant validity of the SPIN via structured telephone interviews. The area under the receiver operating charact... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455381 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455380&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003623%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Body image disturbances are central to anorexia nervosa (AN). Previous studies have focused mainly on attitudinal and visual aspects. Studies on somatosensory aspects thus far have been scarce. We therefore investigated whether AN patients and controls differed in tactile perception, and how this tactile body image related to visual body image and body dissatisfaction. The Tactile Estimation Task (TET) measured tactile body image: Two tactile stimuli were applied to forearm and abdomen, and, while blindfolded, participants estimated the distance between the two tactile stimuli between their thumb and index finger. The Distance Comparison Task (DCT) measured visual body image. Compared to controls (n=25), AN patients (n=20) not only visualized their body less accurately, but also ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455380 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455379&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003477%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate clinical and economic consequences of medication non-adherence during 21-month follow-up in the treatment of bipolar disorder following a manic or mixed episode. Data were taken from the European Mania in Bipolar Longitudinal Evaluation of Medication (EMBLEM), which was a prospective, observational study on patient outcomes with a manic/mixed episode in Europe. Physician-rated adherence was dichotomized as adherence/non-adherence at each assessment. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to investigate the impact of non-adherence on remission, recovery, relapse, recurrence, hospitalization and suicide attempts. Costs of medication and resource use in adherent and non-adherent patients during follow-up were estimated with mult... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455379 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455378&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003787%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The evidence obtained from prospective studies to support the hypothesis that fish consumption may improve mental status remains limited. The current study prospectively assessed a low frequency of fish consumption as a risk factor for depressed mood. Included were 5068 adults aged 25–74years examined in 1971–1975 as the baseline of the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Follow-up Study. Frequency of eating fish at baseline was obtained using a 3-month food frequency questionnaire. Severely depressed mood (SDM) was defined as the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores ≥22 or taking anti-depressants. After an average of 10.6years of follow-up, among men (n=2039), the percentage of individuals with SDM was 11.7%. Compared with frequent co... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455378 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455377&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003714%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether symptom severity or personality traits are associated with psychotic symptoms in major depression (MD), since it is still debated whether psychotic depression represents the most severe form of depression or the effect of personality structure. The study included 163 patients affected by MD who were divided into four groups on the basis of the presence/absence of melancholic features and psychotic symptoms. All subjects completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-IV), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SIDP-IV) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D). Personality was assessed after MD remission (absence of DSM-IV criteria and Ham-D score lower than 7 for a... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455377 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455376&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003763%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Despite the growing research interest in the role of immunological markers in schizophrenia, few studies, with conflicting results, have focused on the association between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and clinical characteristics in schizophrenia. In this cross-sectional case–control study, a sample of 200 antipsychotic-free male Egyptian schizophrenia patients was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and compared with 200 healthy controls as regards serum hs-CRP level using an immunoturbidimetric method. CRP level for patients (geometric mean=3.3mg/L) was significantly (P=0.000) higher than that for controls (geometric mean=1.4mg/L). PANSS scores and patients' data, which significantly correlated with serum hs-CRP level, were ente... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455376 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455375&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003544%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Neurological soft signs (NSSs) and minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are consistently found at higher rates in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. However, limited research has been conducted on these traits among the biological relatives of these patients. We aimed to identify the possible origins of these traits in schizophrenia by exploring them in patients with schizophrenia, their healthy siblings and normal controls. Ninety-six patients with schizophrenia, their 66 non-psychotic siblings and 52 healthy subjects were studied. Measures included the Neurological Evaluation Scale, a structured examination for detection of minor physical anomalies, stroop and verbal fluency tests for cognitive assessment, and scales for assessment of disease severity in pa... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455375 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455374&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003490%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusions, varenicline can attenuate abstinence-induced adverse outcomes and appears to be well-tolerated in smokers with schizophrenia. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455374 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455372&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000035%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Individuals with personality disorders (PDs) have difficulties in modulating mental states and in coping with interpersonal problems according to a mentalistic formulation of the problem. In this article we analyzed the first 16 psychotherapy sessions of 14 PD patients in order to explore whether their abilities to master distress and interpersonal problems were actually impaired and how they changed during the early therapy phase. We used the Mastery Section of the Metacognition Assessment Scale, which assesses the use of mentalistic knowledge to solve problems and promote adaptation. We explored the hypotheses that a) PD patients had problems in using their mentalistic knowledge to master distress and solve social problems; b) the impairments were partially stable and only a mi... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455372 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455371&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110006906%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Metacognitive theories describe relationships between mental-affective self-states, including the capacity of one self-state to reflect upon another self-state. The assimilation model is a metacognitive approach that understands self-states as made of traces of experiences at different levels of integration. Psychological problems are understood as impaired accessibility of certain self-states to the person's normal awareness. These states are distressing or otherwise subjectively problematic when they emerge. This exploratory study used the assimilation framework to describe mental states in 17 clients who participated in a clinical trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression. Three clinically sophisticated raters examined transcripts of 1h-long psychotherapy session pe... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455371 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455370&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110003744%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Using lexical content analysis (linguistic inquiry and word count), the hypotheses that social detachment and impaired cognitive processing are typical for alexithymia are investigated. Based on clinical interviews with 32 outpatients (mixed diagnoses), we found support for the hypotheses for the externally oriented thinking facet of alexithymia only. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455370 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455369&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811000185X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This article summarizes findings from a series of studies that examined the effect of alexithymia on various aspects of the psychotherapeutic enterprise. Findings indicated that alexithymia has little effect on patients' treatment preferences, yet there was some tendency for alexithymic patients to prefer group therapy. However, alexithymia was associated with poor outcome in both traditional psychodynamic psychotherapy and supportive therapy. This negative effect was found in individual and group psychotherapies. In the context of group therapy, higher levels of alexithymic features elicited negative reactions from one's therapist, which partially contributed to the poor outcome experienced by such patients. Finally, the negative reaction that therapists had toward patients with high alex... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455369 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455368&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110004786%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study we measured levels of alexithymia with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and explored its correlations with the overall presence of PD and different PD diagnoses, symptoms, and interpersonal difficulties. Results were largely consistent with the hypothesis. Higher levels of alexithymia were related to high levels of global psychopathology and with dysfunctional representation of interpersonal relations. A sub-sample of patients, mostly suffering from avoidant, dependent, passive–aggressive and depressive PD, had alexithymic features and, in particular reported difficulties describing their feelings to others. A patient with cluster B PD featured no alexithymia. Implications of this study for future research and treatment are discussed. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455368 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455367&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811000692X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: First- and second-order theory of mind (ToM) abilities seem to form a hierarchy of mind states within the same construct. If so, no ability in higher comprehension of intentionality would be possible when the previous one is failing. The purpose of the study is to investigate this hierarchy in a sample of schizophrenic subjects. Insofar as ToM defines processes involved in a multi-level social cognitive processing, they could be part of a scenario of specialized areas performing different parallel computations. Therefore, we further investigated the relationship of ToM scores to metacognitive indexes, widely demonstrated to be involved in social cognition, symptomatology and global functionality, in two independent samples of subjects with schizophrenia.Thirty-eight subjects with... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455367 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455366&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110007213%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This article discusses the important advances in a recent field of science dealing with the brain processes implicated in understanding social situations and interacting with others. Many behavioral studies on schizophrenia have shown the impairment of these processes and their preferential relation with disorganization and negative syndromes. Brain imaging is a powerful method to identify brain systems participating in these processes in healthy subjects and will be used increasingly to study mental disorders such as schizophrenia. A few preliminary studies have opened this field of research and allowed for the drawing of some limited conclusions. We emphasize the importance of developing an integrated neurocognitive framework to account for the multifaceted nature of social cognition def... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455366 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455365&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110004178%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Research suggests that many with schizophrenia experience a range of deficits in metacognition including difficulties recognizing the emotions and intentions of others as well as reflecting upon and questioning their own thinking. Unclear, however, is the extent to which these deficits are stable over time, how closely related they are to one another and whether their associations with core aspects of the disorder such as disorganization symptoms are stable over time. To explore this issue, we administered three assessments of Theory of Mind (ToM), the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale at baseline and 6months to 36 participants with schizophrenia. Correlations revealed the ToM and BCIS scores were stable across the two test administ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455365 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455364&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110001149%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, a capacity for mental state attribution is uniquely important for social skills in schizophrenia. As such, training to target social cognitive skills, including mental state attribution, may be particularly beneficial for patients' social functioning. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455364 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5455362&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000977%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Many adults with serious mental illness experience difficulties thinking about their own mental states and the mental states of others. Increasing amounts of evidence have suggested that these difficulties underpin many of the struggles these persons subsequently experience trying to cope with symptoms and distress, to solve social problems and to negotiate with others in order to accomplish important life goals. In this special issue, the contributing authors explore the problems associated with impaired mental state understanding in different psychiatric conditions using a wide range of tools, from laboratory tasks, to self-reports, to discourse analysis. Also, both population-based studies and single-case analyses are adopted. The intent is to shed light how various difficulti... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5455362 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5455362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283176&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002344%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Clozapine (CLO) is the most effective option in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Its high efficacy is compromised by significant adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which lead to massive compliance problems. The variability in CLO response among patients who are either intolerant or refractory to the treatment is not fully understood and likely arises from multiple factors. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283176 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283175&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002228%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The evidence regarding the association between schizophrenia and the fractions of bilirubin is mixed. In a retrospective case-control design we examined the association between total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin and schizophrenia. The relevance of our findings and that of the association of unconjugated bilirubin to schizophrenia is discussed. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283175 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283174&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000618%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of solute carrier family 6 member 11 (SLC6A11) (rs2304725, rs2272400, and rs2245532), SLC6A12 (rs216250 and rs557881) and SLC6A13 (rs2289954) with schizophrenia and its clinical symptoms. We found that rs216250 of SLC6A12 was correlated with the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) scores. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283174 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283173&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005063%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Single-nucleotide and diplotype associations with 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17) total score changes were examined, based on catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) rs165599 status in duloxetine-treated, self-identified white patients with major depressive disorder. COMT rs165737 and a diplotype containing COMT rs165599 and COMT rs165737 were associated with HAMD17 total score changes. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283173 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283172&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100059X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Polymorphisms (rs 4753426 and rs 794837) and expression of the melatonin MT2 receptor gene were evaluated in 181 patients with recurrent depressive disorder (rDD) and 149 healthy subjects of Polish origin. We found an increased risk for rDD in patients with the C allele and a decreased risk in patients with the T allele (rs4753426). Patients with the AT heterozygote (rs794837) had an increased mRNA level. The significance of the MT2 receptor gene and the risk of rDD are suggested. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283172 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283171&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004355%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We compared executive dysfunction with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) among distinct national and ethnic patients with bipolar disorder in euthymia. Bipolar patients, aged 16–45years, from the United States (n=25) and Taiwan (n=30) did not differ significantly on any measure. The WCST score for number Failure to Maintain Set was significantly positively correlated with residual affective symptoms in Taiwanese and US patients. Selective executive dysfunction in euthymia is inherent to bipolar disorder. Euthymic bipolar patients of various ethnic groups may exhibit similar executive dysfunction. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283171 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283170&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004276%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Time to treatment discontinuation and rates of discontinuation are commonly used when evaluating effectiveness of antipsychotic medication. However, less is known about reasons for discontinuation. The purpose of this study was to develop two measures of reasons for discontinuation or continuation of antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia. Based on literature review, a patient interview pilot study, and expert panel input, two measures were drafted: the clinician-reported Reasons for Antipsychotic Discontinuation/Continuation Questionnaire (RAD-Q) and the patient-reported Reasons for Antipsychotic Discontinuation/Continuation Interview (RAD-I). Patients and clinicians completed the draft measures and structured cognitive debriefing interviews. For the draft instruments... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283170 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283169&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004951%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study tested reliability and validity of four newly designed measures of the constructs of self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy Scale; SES), referral decisions and de-escalation skills (Behavioral Outcomes Scale; BOS), attitudes toward psychiatric treatment (Opinions about Psychiatric Treatment; OPT), and social distance (Adapted Social Distance Scale; ASDS) in a sample of law enforcement officers. Self-administered, anonymous surveys, which included the measures of interest, were completed by 177 officers—68 of whom were undergoing Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and 109 of whom were not—at the beginning and end of week-long trainings. Analyses examined the internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, and construct validity of the instruments. The four measures of... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283169 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283168&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100391X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study investigated patients with psychosis (N=29) and a non-clinical population (N=193) using the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS), a measure of perceptual distortion and associated distress, intrusiveness and frequency; along with measures of depression, anxiety and worry. The study also allowed a re-validation of the CAPS in a more representative sample of the UK population. Moderate, reliable correlations with depression, anxiety and worry were found in the non-clinical population with the association being stronger in psychotic patients. The study re-confirmed that anomalous perceptual experiences are common in the general population and that a significant minority (11.9%) have higher levels than the mean of psychotic patients. Scale reliability and validity were also re... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283168 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283167&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000990%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study demonstrated the good validity of C-MDQ in China. The best cutoff between BP-II and UP can be regarded as the optimal cutoff between BP and UP to improve the sensitivity of screening for BP-II. Five should be the optimal cutoff between the BP and UP when only the 13 items of the questionnaire are used in China. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283167 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283166&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002381%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The study of distinctive and consistent behaviors in the most common genetic syndromes with intellectual disability is useful to explain abnormalities or associated psychiatric disorders. The behavioral phenotypes revealed outcomes totally or partially specific for each syndrome. The aim of our study was to compare similarities and differences in the adaptive profiles of the five most frequent genetic syndromes, i.e. Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Fragile-X syndrome (fully mutated), taking into account the relation with chronological age and the overall IQ level. The research was carried out using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (beside the Wechsler Intelligence scales to obtain IQ) with a sample of 181 persons (107 males and ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283166 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283165&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004963%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Emotional distress and reasoning biases are two factors known to contribute to delusions. As a step towards elucidating mechanisms underlying delusions, the main aim of this study was to evaluate a possible “jumping to new conclusions” reasoning bias in healthy people with delusional ideation and its association with emotions. We surveyed 80 healthy participants, measuring levels of depression, anxiety, cognitive error and delusional ideation. Participants completed two versions of the beads task to evaluate their reasoning style. Results showed that people with delusional ideation reached a conclusion after less information, as expected. Interestingly, they also tended to change their conclusions more often than people without delusional ideation and did so with greater conv... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283165 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283164&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005713%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been associated with deviations in cortisol in response to interpersonal stressors. Identifying mechanisms contributing to such deviations may help to address emotional dysregulation and the increased risk of self-destructive behavior. While dysfunctional relationships to caregivers have been widely reported among individuals with BPD, their contribution to cortisol hyperresponsiveness has yet to be investigated. Fifty-one females (aged 18–24years) participated to assess the impact of BPD and the quality of protective care in mother-daughter relationships on stress responsiveness. Seventeen females with BPD and twenty females without BPD participated with their mothers in a videotaped parent-young adult conflict discussion. Fourteen non... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283164 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283163&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001028%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) exhibit impairment in labeling of facial emotional expressions. However, it is not clear whether these deficits affect the whole domain of basic emotions, are valence-specific, or specific to individual emotions. Whether BPD patients' errors in a facial emotion recognition task create a specific pattern also remains to be elucidated. Our study tested two hypotheses: first, we hypothesized, that the emotion perception impairment in borderline personality disorder is specific to the negative emotion domain. Second, we hypothesized, that BPD patients would show error patterns in a facial emotion recognition task more commonly and more systematically than healthy comparison subjects. Participants comprised 33 inpatients with BPD and... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283163 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283162&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005026%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Hoarding disorder (HD) is increasingly viewed as distinct from obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). In particular, some researchers have suggested that HD is characterized by substantial problems of neurocognitive function; however, HD patients have not yet been compared to OCD patients in this respect. The aim of the present study was to compare neuropsychological test performance in HD patients (n=27), OCD patients (n=12), and healthy controls (n=26). Consistent with previous research, HD patients showed an attenuated ability to sustain attention and poorer employment of adaptive memory strategies compared to healthy controls. HD and OCD patients did not differ significantly on these measures, although moderate effect sizes suggested that hoarders showed somewhat greater atte... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283162 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283161&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004446%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study reports a waitlist controlled randomized trial of family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy delivered via web-camera (W-CBT) in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Thirty-one primarily Caucasian youth with OCD (range=7–16years; 19 male) were randomly assigned to W-CBT or a Waitlist control. Assessments were conducted immediately before and after treatment, and at 3-month follow-up (for W-CBT arm only). Primary outcomes included the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), clinical global improvement rates, and remission status. When controlling for baseline group differences, W-CBT was superior to the Waitlist control on all primary outcome measures with large effect sizes (Cohen's d≥1.36). Thirteen of 16 youth (81%) in the W... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283161 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283160&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000540%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Obsessive–compulsive disorder is a common neuropsychiatric condition. Although a variety of pharmaceutical agents is available for its treatment, psychiatrists have found that many patients cannot tolerate the side effects, do not respond to treatment adequately, and may finally discontinue their treatment. However, augmentation strategies have been shown to have some benefits in the treatment of OCD. These include reducing both the overall cost of treatment and the side effects. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of celecoxib as an adjuvant agent in the treatment of OCD in an 8-week, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. To this end, 25 patients were assigned to a study group and were given fluoxetine 20mg/day plus celecoxib 400mg/day (200mg BID). The contr... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283160 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:59 +0100 5283160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283159&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004434%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: To address gaps in the literature related to the contribution of childhood trauma on aggression, we evaluated salivary cortisol and heart rate changes to psychological challenge in aggressive children with various degrees of trauma. We hypothesized that traumatized and aggressive youths will exhibit higher responsiveness to an active challenge (Violent film—VF) than aggressive youth with no trauma but will not differ when viewing a Non-Violent film (NVF). A total of 25 children (aged 9–12; M=15, F=9) with history of aggression were assessed for trauma exposure. Children viewed the two films in randomized order. Four salivary cortisol and pulse measurements were obtained before (T1), 15min after the start (T2), at the end (T3), and 15min following the end of the movie (T4). Re... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283159 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283158&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000655%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Studies of mental health among hospital personnel during armed conflict are scarce and usually include single time point investigations without a comparison group. The authors compared the psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial functioning of exposed and unexposed hospital personnel at two time points. The research was conducted during 2009 and included a survey of two random samples of hospital personnel (physicians and nurses), one collected during the Gaza War and the other 6months later. Each sample included hospital personnel who were exposed to war-related stress and others who were not (Study 1: n=67 and 74 for exposed and unexposed, respectively; Study 2: n=57 and 50 for exposed and unexposed, respectively). Levels of psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial functioning were ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283158 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283157&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178110007845%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In Chinese adolescents exposed to the Wenchuan earthquake, we used the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES) as the screening tool, and Post-traumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to assess the cognitive status and their social supports, to evaluate the prevalence and the predictors variables of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the Wenchuan earthquake in China, which occurred on 12 May 2008. Subjects with a CRIES score greater than 30 were interviewed and assessed using the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD diagnosis by a trained psychiatrist with the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Lifetime version (Kiddie-SADS-L). We found the overall prevalence of PTSD was 2.5% in... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283157 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283156&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003647%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The main aim of this study was to compare patients with euthymic bipolar I (BDI) and bipolar II (BDII) disorders and healthy controls in measures of social cognition. Additional aims were to explore the association between social cognition performance with neurocognitive impairments and psychosocial functioning. Eighty one euthymic patients with BDI or BDII and 34 healthy controls were included. All subjects completed tests to assess verbal memory, attention, and executive functions. Additionally theory of mind (ToM) and facial emotion recognition measures were included. Psychosocial functioning was assessed with the GAF. Both groups of patients had lower performance than healthy controls in ToM, and a lower recognition of fear facial expression. When neurocognitive impairments a... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283156 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283155&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005348%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Depression has been linked to executive dysfunction and emotion recognition impairments, associated with abnormalities in fronto-temporal and subcortical brain regions. Little is known about changes of different empathy subcomponents during depression, with potential impairments being related to the interpersonal difficulties of depressed patients. Twenty patients treated for an episode of unipolar depression and 20 matched healthy controls were assessed. Measures of dispositional and behavioural empathy components were administered along with tests of cognitive flexibility, response inhibition and working memory. Relative to controls, depressed patients showed higher self-reported dispositional empathy scores, mainly driven by increased personal distress scores. Patients and con... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283155 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283154&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002289%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined the association between serum ferritin concentrations and depressive symptoms among 312 men and 216 women working in two municipal offices in Japan. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. In men, increased prevalence of depressive symptoms (defined by using a cutoff value of ≥19) was significantly associated with decreased levels of serum ferritin. In age- and study-site-adjusted models, ORs (95% CIs) for depressive symptoms for men in first, second, third, and fourth quartiles of serum ferritin concentrations were 2.83 (1.01–7.94), 1.74 (0.87–3.49), 1.33 (0.71–2.47), and 1.00 (reference), respectively (p for trend=0.02). In multivariate-adjusted model, ORs (95% CIs) in first, second, third, and fourth q... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283154 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283153&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005737%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Joiner's (2005) interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide hypothesizes that painful and provocative events increase pain tolerance. The theory further proposes that increased pain tolerance represents one component of increased suicidal capability. Although initial studies have been consistent with this model, several key aspects remain untested. In 67 undergraduates, we investigated associations among painful and provocative events, nonsuicidal self-injury, acquired capability for suicide, and pain tolerance, threshold, and perceived intensity. Results were highly consistent with the interpersonal-psychological theory: a multiple mediation model specified that pain tolerance – but not other pain variables – accounted for significant variance within the association betwee... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283153 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283152&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000436%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study suggests that assessment of depressive patients should include detailed questions about painful physical symptoms, and treatment of MDD should involve management targeting painful physical symptoms as well as emotional and non-painful physical symptoms. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283152 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283151&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002447%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The effectiveness and safety of various antipsychotics was evaluated in a long-term study on 47 patients, 29 with schizophrenia and 18 with schizoaffective disorder, aged 10 to 17years (mean 15.5) at onset. Follow-up ranged from 3years (all 47 patients) to 11years (19 patients). Data were collected on the following antipsychotics: haloperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole and clozapine. Cases with positive response were significantly more frequent with clozapine as compared to haloperidol, risperidone and olanzapine. Risperidone was significantly better than haloperidol at the 3-year follow-up. A comparison of the degree of clinical improvement evaluated with PANSS and CGI in patients treated with drugs in subsequent periods showed clozapine led to significan... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283151 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283150&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004367%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: First-episode psychosis typically emerges during late adolescence or young adulthood, interrupting achievement of crucial educational, occupational, and social milestones. Recovery-oriented approaches to treatment may be particularly applicable to this critical phase of the illness, but more research is needed on the life and treatment goals of individuals at this stage. Open-ended questions were used to elicit life and treatment goals from a sample of 100 people hospitalized for first-episode psychosis in an urban, public-sector setting in the southeastern United States. Employment, education, relationships, housing, health, and transportation were the most frequently stated life goals. When asked about treatment goals, participants' responses included wanting medication managem... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283150 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283149&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003908%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The self-esteem of some people with serious psychiatric disorders may be hurt by internalizing stereotypes about mental illness. A progressive model of self-stigma yields four stages leading to diminished self-esteem and hope: being aware of associated stereotypes, agreeing with them, applying the stereotypes to one's self, and suffering lower self-esteem. We expect to find associations between proximal stages — awareness and agreement — to be greater than between more distal stages: awareness and harm. The model was tested on 85 people with schizophrenia or other serious mental illnesses who completed measures representing the four stages of self-stigma, another independently-developed instrument representing self-stigma, proxies of harm (lowered self-esteem and hopelessness... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283149 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283148&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002459%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Expressed emotion (EE) was examined in a large sample of families of patients with either first-episode psychosis (FEP) within the schizophrenia spectrum, or who met the criteria for ultra high-risk (UHR) of psychosis. The aim of our study was to determine the patterns and relationship of EE with the duration of untreated illness (DUI) or of untreated psychosis (DUP), as well as with illness severity. The sample used in our study included 77 FEP and 66 UHR families. The Camberwell Family Interview was used to assess EE.In both samples, about one-third of patients’ families were classified as high EE, with emotional over-involvement (EOI) being the most frequent reason for a family to be classified as high EE. In FEP, higher EE correlated with longer DUI, and higher paternal EOI... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283148 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283147&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100045X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study longitudinally examined the effects of atypical antipsychotics on serum BDNF levels in schizophrenic patients. Specifically, this study measured serum BDNF levels in 53 patients with paranoid schizophrenia during a relapse and again 4weeks following the administration of antipsychotic treatment (with risperidone in 32 cases, and clozapine in 21 cases). BDNF levels remained unchanged relative to study entry after 4weeks of atypical antipsychotic treatment. However, serum BDNF was significantly increased in the subgroup receiving risperidone compared to that receiving clozapine, albeit only in the 15 male subjects and not in the 17 females. These results suggest that gender might significantly influence the antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia from the perspective of BDNF. The... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283147 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5283146&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100624X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5283146 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:45:58 +0100 5283146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221102&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005014%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Psychiatric disorders cause a significant amount of morbidity globally and have a complex aetiology. Genetic association studies for these disorders often fail to replicate in other cohorts. The present study attempted to replicate the results of two studies that found positive associations with panic disorder (PD) and related phenotypes. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221102 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:06 +0100 5221102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221101&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003465%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Genetic association studies of schizophrenia typically utilize diagnostic status as the trait of interest. Among Indian schizophrenia (SZ) participants, we evaluated genetic associations (selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with SZ) with selected indices of severity and symptom pattern. Ordinal logistic regression enabled us to analyze variables with multiple categories as outcome variables, while incorporating key demographic variables; this form of analysis may be useful in future genetic association studies. No significant associations were detected following corrections for multiple comparisons. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221101 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:06 +0100 5221101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221100&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005191%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We studied the impact of cumulative life stress on CFS in a population-based study. We found that exposure to stressors was significantly more common in persons with CFS compared to NF controls; those with CFS reported experiencing significantly higher levels of psychological distress. Also, post-traumatic stress disorder was significantly more common in people with CFS. These results not only corroborate findings from other studies but, importantly, extend those by: a) measuring a comprehensive spectrum of stress variables, b) for the first time presenting data on stress in a population-based study, thus minimizing the effects of recruitment bias, and c) diagnosing CFS by means of standardized, validated scales, thus allowing replication and extension of our findings. Stress may... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221100 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221099&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100223X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The severity of insomnia and the relationships between social fear, anxiety, depression and insomnia were examined in 179 patients with social phobia. Two-thirds of our sample had insomnia. Depression, anxiety, social anxiety, and insomnia were positively correlated. General and social anxiety contributed to insomnia when accounting for depression. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221099 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221098&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111000989%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the association of the reticulon 4 receptor (RTN4R) gene with schizophrenia and smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality in a Korean population. Although we failed to provide convincing evidence that RTN4R is associated with schizophrenia development and SPEM impairment, our findings may be useful for further genetic studies. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221098 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221097&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005105%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We investigated inflammatory markers in psychotic disorders and their association with metabolic comorbidity, antipsychotic medication, smoking, alcohol use, physical condition, and mood. From the population-based Finnish Health 2000 study, we identified all persons with schizophrenia (n=45), other nonaffective psychosis (ONAP) (n=57), affective psychosis (n=37) and chose controls matched by age, sex, and region of residence. We found that persons with schizophrenia had significantly higher sIL-2Rα, IL-1RA and C-reactive protein (CRP), persons with ONAP significantly higher IL-1RA and CRP and persons with affective psychosis almost significantly higher TNF-α compared to their matched controls. Current antipsychotic use was associated with elevated IL-1RA and CRP. After taking m... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221097 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221096&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005154%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study aimed to explore the manifestation of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms in a sample of people with eating disorders and to investigate possible associations between body dysmorphia and alexithymia. Forty patients currently seeking treatment for an eating disorder completed a battery of six measures assessing alexithymia, mood, eating behaviours, weight-related body image, body dysmorphia and non-weight related body image. Significant moderate positive correlations (Pearson's r) between selected variables were found, suggesting that participants with high levels of dysmorphic concern (imagined ugliness) have more difficulty with the affective elements of alexithymia, that is, identifying and describing feelings. When depression, eating attitudes, and weight-related body image con... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221096 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221095&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111004902%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the specificity of face emotion processing deficits in 22q11DS by exploring recognition accuracy and visual scanpath performance to a Faces task compared to a Weather Scene task. Seventeen adolescents with 22q11DS (11=females, age=17.4) and 18 healthy controls (11=females, age=17.7) participated in the study. People with 22q11DS displayed an overall impoverished scanning strategy to face and weather stimuli alike, resulting in poorer accuracy across all stimuli for the 22q11DS participants compared to controls. While the control subjects altered their information processing in response to faces, a similar change was not present in the 22q11DS group indicating different visual scanpath strategies to identify category within each of the tasks, of which faces appear to rep... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221095 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221094&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002241%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Event-related potentials (ERPs) such as Nd, N2b, and P300 in an attentional task and an auditory oddball task were compared among 54 adult AD/HD patients, 43 schizophrenic patients (SZ), and 40 healthy age-matched volunteers (HC). It is known that Nd, N2b, and P300 reflect selective attention, voluntary attention, and cognitive context updating respectively. The peak amplitude of P300 was significantly lower in the adult AD/HD and SZ groups than in the HC group. The peak latencies of late Nd, N2b, and P300 were significantly longer in the SZ group than in the HC and adult AD/HD groups. Thus, attenuated amplitude and prolonged latency of various ERP components in the SZ group suggest the possibility of impairment of basic mechanisms underlying cognitive processing. Unlike the SZ g... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221094 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221093&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS016517811100494X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The role of good nutrition for resilience in the face of stress is a topic of interest, but difficult to study. A 7.1 earthquake took place in the midst of research on a micronutrient treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), providing a unique opportunity to examine whether individuals with ADHD taking micronutrients demonstrated more emotional resilience post-earthquake than individuals with ADHD not taking micronutrients. Thirty-three adults with ADHD were assessed twice following the earthquake using a measure of depression, anxiety and stress also completed at some point pre-earthquake (baseline). Seventeen were not taking micronutrients at the time of the earthquake (control group), 16 were (micronutrient group). While there were no between-group differ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221093 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221092&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005269%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objective of this study was to examine the DSM-IV-TR requirement of criteria B and C for a diagnosis of TTM in a sample of people with hair-pulling. A multi-site sample of adults with hair-pulling who met both DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria B and C (n=82, 89.13%) were compared to those who failed to satisfy both B and C (n=10, 10.87%) on a number of clinical variables. There were no differences in hair-pulling severity, levels of comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms, number of comorbid body-focused repetitive behaviors, or impairment between those patients who did and did not meet criteria B and C. Our study does not provide convincing support for the inclusion of the current diagnostic criteria B and C for TTM in DSM-5. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221092 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221091&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001715%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess personality characteristics and psychological distress associated with primary exercise dependence (ExeDepI) in a mixed gender sample. A cross-sectional study was carried out with adult habitual physical exercisers. A total of 79 participants voluntarily completed a package of self-report questionnaires including the Exercise Dependence Questionnaire (EDQ), the Eating Disorder Inventory II (EDI-2), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the Attitude Toward Self scale (ATS), and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). Significant differences were found on the EDQ exercise for weight control subscale with regard to gender, as well as on the EDI-2 total score and five of its subscales, with higher scores for females compared to males. Participants... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221091 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221090&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005270%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A number of neuropsychological models implicate disinhibition and a lack of response confidence in the pathogenesis of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). To provide a fair test of the inhibition and confidence account, a variant of the directed forgetting (DF) paradigm with OCD-related and unrelated conditions was administered in 30 OCD patients and 20 healthy controls. First, 16 words were presented which the participant was subsequently instructed to forget. Then, 16 words were presented that should be memorized. After a short interval, patients were shown the to-be-forgotten and the to-be-remembered items along with new items in random order. The subjects were instructed to recollect both the to-be-remembered and the to-be-forgotten items. The subject was asked to grade re... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221090 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221089&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002435%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the association between trauma exposure and DLE in a large community sample, investigating different trauma types and age-at-first-exposure to trauma. Subjects were from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2007. Associations between DLE and (i) exposure to different trauma types and (ii) age-at-first-exposure were assessed using logistic regression with adjustments for potential confounding factors. 8.4% of 8773 subjects reported DLE and almost 75% reported at least one traumatic event. Exposure to a traumatic event was significantly associated with more than twice the odds of delusional-like experiences and exposure to more types of trauma increased the likelihood of DLE in a dose dependent fashion. The majority of the individual trauma items ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221089 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221088&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005233%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined thought control and avoidance coping strategies associated with both a probable diagnosis and symptom severity of combat-related PTSD in a sample of 167 treatment-seeking Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF–OIF) Veterans. Within one year of returning from deployment, Veterans completed a survey containing measures of combat exposure, coping strategies, psychopathology, and postdeployment social support. Veterans with a positive screen for PTSD scored higher than Veterans without a positive screen for PTSD on measures of worry, self-punishment, social control, behavioral distraction, and avoidance coping strategies. Worry and social avoidance coping were positively related to PTSD symptoms, and greater perceptions of understanding from others were negati... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221088 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221087&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002836%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined a variety of serotonin-related gene polymorphisms to determine whether undifferentiated somatoform disorder is associated with specific serotonin-related gene pathways. Serotonin-related polymorphic markers were assessed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. One hundred and two patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder and 133 healthy subjects were enrolled. The genotype and allele frequencies of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)1 A218C, TPH2 rs1386494, serotonin receptor 2A-T102C (5-HTR 2A-T102C), 5-HTR 2A-G1438A and serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR) gene were compared between the groups. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the somatization subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used for psychological assessment. Patients with ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221087 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221086&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111003635%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Depressive patients often have altered cortisol secretion, an effect that likely derives from impaired activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the main regulator of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Glucocorticoids reduce the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a downstream target of antidepressants. Antidepressants promote the transcriptional activity of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB), a regulator of BDNF expression. To identify potential biomarkers for the onset of antidepressant action in depressive patients, GR and phospho-CREB (pCREB) levels in lymphocytes and serum BDNF levels were repeatedly measured during the course of antidepressant treatment. Thirty-four depressed outpatients (10 male... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221086 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221085&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005166%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study expands upon this topic by examining patterns of state affect in psychometrically identified schizotypy through self-report and lexical expression in reaction to emotionally valenced photos. Overall, the schizotypy group reported less positive/more negative affect across affect induction conditions. Both schizotypy and control groups' affect ratings were similar following the unpleasant stimuli; but the schizotypy group's ratings remained significantly less positive/more negative than the control group following the pleasant stimuli. This pattern suggests that the schizotypy group experienced a deficit in emotional reactivity compared to controls in pleasant situations. The schizotypy group also used a higher percentage of negative words and a lower percentage of positive words ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221085 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221084&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005221%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Previous research has shown a unique effect of red light on visual processing related to both schizophrenia and positive schizotypy. The current study examined whether this effect is influenced by sex in a more broadly-defined schizotypy sample. A location backward masking (BM) task with red, green, and gray backgrounds was administered to 34 undergraduate students (59% female) with a high score on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and 38 students (50% female) with a low score. Results revealed that the group by color interaction was significant for the male participants, while it did not approach significance in the females. The male schizotypy participants showed a significant decrease in BM accuracy to the red (vs. green) background, while the male control partic... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221084 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221083&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001600%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The present study examined the relationship between the atypical cerebral lateralization pattern represented in hand and foot preferences and schizotypal personality traits, especially proneness to auditory hallucinations as related to a sense of agency. A sense of agency, measured with questionnaires in the present study, is the sense that “I am the one who causes the actions.” Although atypical lateralization and an abnormal sense of agency may be related to schizophrenia or schizotypal personality, the connection between them has remained unclear. The present study used cluster analysis to categorize the handedness–footedness combinations. The results indicated that people with right-handedness and left-footedness may have more schizotypal traits and that their abnormal ... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221083 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221082&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002332%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The authors studied the prevalence of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class I gene in 136 (85 male, 51 female) India-born schizophrenia patients residing in and around the Siliguri subdivision of West Bengal by the PCR-SSP method. The control group consisted of 150 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals from the same ethnic group as the patients. Increased frequency of HLA A*03 as well as decreased frequencies of HLA A*31 and HLA B*51, was noted. The study suggests the possible existence of a susceptibility locus for schizophrenia within the HLA region. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221082 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221081&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001594%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Research evidence suggests that individuals with schizophrenia are prone to self-stigmatization, which reduces their psychosocial treatment adherence. A self-stigma reduction program was developed based on a theoretical framework proposed by our team. The effectiveness of such program to reduce self-stigma, enhance readiness for change, and promote adherent behaviors among individuals with schizophrenia was investigated. This program consisted of 12 group and four individual follow-up sessions. An integrative approach including psychoeductaion, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, social skills training, and goal attainment program was adopted. Sixty-six self-stigmatized individuals with schizophrenia were recruited. They were randomly allocated to the self-st... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221081 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221080&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111005129%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, higher baseline BMI predicted adverse glycemic changes after 12months with OLZ and RIS. Individuals with normal baseline BMI may be most susceptible to OLZ-induced hyperlipidosis. Frequency of metabolic screening should be independent of baseline BMI or rapid increases in BMI. (Source: Psychiatry Research) Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221080 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221079&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001697%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, 40 actively psychotic inpatients were equally divided in two age- and education-matched groups according to their diagnosis (Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder). Participants were asked to report their dreams upon awakening and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) was administered to elicit waking fantasies; the same procedure was used in a control group of 20 non-psychiatric subjects. Two highly trained judges scored the collected material according to a Dream Bizarreness scale. The same level of cognitive bizarreness was found in TAT and dream reports of schizophrenic and manic subjects but was almost completely absent in the TAT stories of the control group. Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures assessed the effect of diagnosis and experimental conditions (TA... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221079 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221078&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001648%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In schizophrenia, poor insight has been associated with negative outcome. In fact, some studies have found insight to be associated with greater treatment adherence and lower levels of symptomatology, as well as better psychosocial functioning. However, others have found that insight into illness is associated with an increase in depression, low self-esteem, and possibly higher risk of suicide. We investigated the relationship between insight and well-being in a sample of 40 people presenting paranoid symptoms and diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder. Independent-samples t-tests revealed that compared to a paranoid group with high insight, paranoid participants with low insight had more self-acceptance, higher sense of autonomy and personal growth, and greater... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221078 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221077&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001636%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Depression in schizophrenia has been recognized as one of the important factors influencing the Quality of Life (QOL). For this study 60 patients with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia as per ICD-10 (DCR version) were divided into two groups (with and without depression) on the basis of their score on Calgary Depression Rating Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). Thereafter, all patients were assessed on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS) for psychopathology, on Lehman Quality of Life Interview (QOLI)-brief version for QOL, on World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-II (WHODAS-II) for disability, on UKU Side Effect Rating Scale for side effects of drugs and on Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) for perceived social support. The two (dep... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221077 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221076&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002265%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Patients with schizophrenia tend to neglect their own pain and are known to have impairments in the processing of facial expressions. However, the sensitivity to dynamic expressions of pain has not been studied in these patients. Our goal was to test this ability in schizophrenia and to probe the underlying cognitive processes. We hypothesized that patients would have a reduced sensitivity to expressions of pain and that this impairment would correlate with deficits in attention, working memory, basic emotions recognition and with positive symptoms. We applied a battery of tests composed of the Comprehensive Affect Testing System (CATS), Sensitivity to Expressions of Pain (STEP), Toulouse-Pierón, Stroop and Digit Span tests to two groups of individuals, 27 patients with the diag... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221076 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221075&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111001582%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study compared the effectiveness of a family psychoeducational intervention (FPEI) and a therapeutic alliance focused intervention (TAFI) for parents of daughters and sons with severe mental illness (SMI). A process-outcome model was used to compare the effectiveness of the two interventions and to evaluate how they achieved their outcomes. Extent of effectiveness was assessed in terms of the family burden (FB) of the parents and the quality of life (QoL) and psychiatric symptoms of the daughters and sons. This study did not uncover a difference in effectiveness between the two interventions. However, at post-treatment, the participants in both interventions reported statistically significant less FB and attributed more QoL and less psychiatric symptoms to their daughters and sons tha... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221075 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221074&cid=s_38636_172_f&fid=38636&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psy-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0165178111002848%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Although social skills training (SST) is an effective approach for improving social skills for schizophrenia, the motivational deficit attenuates its efficacy. Virtual reality (VR) applications have allowed individuals with mental disabilities to enhance their motivation for rehabilitations. We compared SST using VR role-playing (SST-VR) to SST using traditional role-playing (SST-TR). This randomized, controlled trial included 91 inpatients with schizophrenia who were assigned to either SST-VR (n=46) or SST-TR (n=45). Both groups were administered over 10 semiweekly group sessions. An experienced, blinded rater assessed vocal, nonverbal and conversational skills. We also obtained data on motivation for SST and various social abilities. Throughout the 10 sessions, the SST-VR group... Psychiatry Research journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221074 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:05 +0100 5221074