A large and growing number of published meta-analyses have examined the efficacy of psychological interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Conclusions drawn from these meta-analyses on treatment efficacy greatly influence clinical practice. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on psychological interventions for adult PTSD, focusing on their content, methodology, and reporting quality.
Method
Systematic database searches were conducted in March 2024 using MEDLINE, PsycInfo, PTSDpubs, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The quality of meta-analyses was assessed using AMSTAR 2. The systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020151234).
Results
Overall, 55 meta-analyses with 93 meta-analytic comparisons at treatment endpoint and 28 comparisons at follow-up were included. Meta-analyses most consistently showed superiority of psychological interventions over control conditions. However, beneficial long-term effects exceeding one-month post-treatment were limited to trauma-focused cognitive behavior interventions (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). There was a substantial overlap of primary RCTs, indicating redundancy between meta-analyses. Furthermore, the quality of meta-analyses varied substantially.
Conclusions
There is a need to enhance the methodological and reporting quality of meta-analyses, avoid the production of redundant meta-analyses, and conduct more high-quality, large RCTs with long-term assessments.
目的:越来越多已发表的荟萃分析研究了心理干预对创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)的疗效。这些荟萃分析得出的疗效结论对临床实践有很大影响。本研究旨在对成人创伤后应激障碍心理干预的随机对照试验(RCTs)的荟萃分析进行全面回顾,重点关注其内容、方法和报告质量。方法于2024年3月使用MEDLINE、PsycInfo、PTSDpubs、Web of Science和Cochrane系统综述数据库进行系统检索。采用AMSTAR 2评估meta分析的质量。该系统评价已在PROSPERO注册(CRD42020151234)。结果共纳入55项荟萃分析,其中治疗终点荟萃分析比较93项,随访期荟萃分析比较28项。荟萃分析最一致地显示心理干预优于对照条件。然而,治疗后超过一个月的有益长期效果仅限于以创伤为重点的认知行为干预(TF-CBT)和眼动脱敏和再加工(EMDR)。主要随机对照试验存在大量重叠,表明meta分析之间存在冗余。此外,meta分析的质量差异很大。结论需要提高meta分析的方法学和报告质量,避免产生冗余的meta分析,开展更多高质量的大型随机对照试验,并进行长期评估。
{"title":"Psychological interventions for adult posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review of published meta-analyses","authors":"Ahlke Kip , Linnea Ritter , Thole H. Hoppen , Davide Papola , Giovanni Ostuzzi , Corrado Barbui , Nexhmedin Morina","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>A large and growing number of published meta-analyses have examined the efficacy of psychological interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Conclusions drawn from these meta-analyses on treatment efficacy greatly influence clinical practice. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on psychological interventions for adult PTSD, focusing on their content, methodology, and reporting quality.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Systematic database searches were conducted in March 2024 using MEDLINE, PsycInfo, PTSDpubs, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The quality of meta-analyses was assessed using AMSTAR 2. The systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020151234).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, 55 meta-analyses with 93 meta-analytic comparisons at treatment endpoint and 28 comparisons at follow-up were included. Meta-analyses most consistently showed superiority of psychological interventions over control conditions. However, beneficial long-term effects exceeding one-month post-treatment were limited to trauma-focused cognitive behavior interventions (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). There was a substantial overlap of primary RCTs, indicating redundancy between meta-analyses. Furthermore, the quality of meta-analyses varied substantially.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>There is a need to enhance the methodological and reporting quality of meta-analyses, avoid the production of redundant meta-analyses, and conduct more high-quality, large RCTs with long-term assessments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103017"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143838030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating affliction that typically manifests during childhood and adolescence. While theoretical models of adult SAD emphasize the role of attentional biases, little is known about maintaining factors during childhood and adolescence. The objective of our eye-tracking study was to determine whether youth with SAD exhibit a hypervigilance-avoidance pattern of visual attention for faces. To this end, we used a free-viewing paradigm to present angry, happy, and neutral faces, and non-social object stimuli to three groups of adolescents aged 10–15 years: SAD (n = 57), specific phobia (SP; n = 41), and healthy controls (HC; n = 65). A screen-based eye tracker recorded gaze behavior and pupil dilation. Among participants, only older adolescents with SAD exhibited shorter latencies of first fixation to the eye region compared to HC. Contrary to our expectations, there were no differences in duration of first fixation to the eye region among the groups. Instead, compared to HC, older adolescents with SAD showed longer dwell times on the eye region during the first 1000 – 3000 ms of stimulus presentation. No significant differences among the groups were found regarding scanpath length or pupillary reactivity. Taken together, our findings suggest early hypervigilance followed by sustained attention to the eye region in older adolescents with SAD, which may indicate difficulties in disengaging attention. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications in detail.
{"title":"Early hypervigilance and sustained attention for the eye region in adolescents with social anxiety disorder","authors":"Vera Hauffe , Anna-Lina Rauschenbach , Eva-Maria Fassot , Julian Schmitz , Brunna Tuschen-Caffier","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating affliction that typically manifests during childhood and adolescence. While theoretical models of adult SAD emphasize the role of attentional biases, little is known about maintaining factors during childhood and adolescence. The objective of our eye-tracking study was to determine whether youth with SAD exhibit a hypervigilance-avoidance pattern of visual attention for faces. To this end, we used a free-viewing paradigm to present angry, happy, and neutral faces, and non-social object stimuli to three groups of adolescents aged 10–15 years: SAD (<em>n</em> = 57), specific phobia (SP; <em>n</em> = 41), and healthy controls (HC; <em>n</em> = 65). A screen-based eye tracker recorded gaze behavior and pupil dilation. Among participants, only older adolescents with SAD exhibited shorter latencies of first fixation to the eye region compared to HC. Contrary to our expectations, there were no differences in duration of first fixation to the eye region among the groups. Instead, compared to HC, older adolescents with SAD showed longer dwell times on the eye region during the first 1000 – 3000 ms of stimulus presentation. No significant differences among the groups were found regarding scanpath length or pupillary reactivity. Taken together, our findings suggest early hypervigilance followed by sustained attention to the eye region in older adolescents with SAD, which may indicate difficulties in disengaging attention. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications in detail.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103016"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-01DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103007
Gordon J.G. Asmundson
{"title":"\"And then one day you find ten years have got behind you\": Reflections on a Decade as Editor-in-Chief","authors":"Gordon J.G. Asmundson","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103007","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103007"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143694181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-28DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103001
Rachel E. Menzies, Jessie Brown, Jye Marchant
Poor sleep has long been established as both a symptom and cause of psychopathology. Similarly, death anxiety has attracted growing attention for its transdiagnostic role in mental illnesses, particularly anxiety-related disorders. However, the relationship between death anxiety and sleep has not been systematically explored. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between sleep and death anxiety. In total, 15 studies were included in this review, representing a total sample size of 2786 participants. A review of these studies revealed that death anxiety was significantly associated with a number of sleep outcomes, particularly insomnia and poor sleep quality. Mixed results were found regarding the relationship between death anxiety and nightmare frequency. A meta-analysis of seven studies revealed a significant but small relationship between death anxiety and sleep problems (r = .225). Neither gender nor age emerged as a significant moderator of this relationship. These studies were generally of moderate quality, and there was limited evidence of publication bias. The current findings support the relationship between death anxiety and sleep. Further research is needed to clarify the direction of this effect, and whether targeting one in treatment may produce direct improvements in the other.
{"title":"“To die, to sleep”: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between death anxiety and sleep","authors":"Rachel E. Menzies, Jessie Brown, Jye Marchant","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poor sleep has long been established as both a symptom and cause of psychopathology. Similarly, death anxiety has attracted growing attention for its transdiagnostic role in mental illnesses, particularly anxiety-related disorders. However, the relationship between death anxiety and sleep has not been systematically explored. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between sleep and death anxiety. In total, 15 studies were included in this review, representing a total sample size of 2786 participants. A review of these studies revealed that death anxiety was significantly associated with a number of sleep outcomes, particularly insomnia and poor sleep quality. Mixed results were found regarding the relationship between death anxiety and nightmare frequency. A meta-analysis of seven studies revealed a significant but small relationship between death anxiety and sleep problems (<em>r</em> = .225). Neither gender nor age emerged as a significant moderator of this relationship. These studies were generally of moderate quality, and there was limited evidence of publication bias. The current findings support the relationship between death anxiety and sleep. Further research is needed to clarify the direction of this effect, and whether targeting one in treatment may produce direct improvements in the other.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103001"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143767923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-23DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103008
Timothy J. McDermott , Greg J. Siegle , Alfonsina Guelfo , Kayla Huynh , Maya C. Karkare , Rebecca Krawczak , Amanda Johnston , Aziz Elbasheir , Travis M. Fulton , Jacob Semerod , Divya Jagadeesh , Emma C. Lathan , Robert T. Krafty , Negar Fani
Stress and anxiety are associated with increased autonomic arousal, including altered respiration. Breath-focused mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety, but trauma-exposed adults with dissociation have difficulty engaging in this practice. Our ongoing clinical trial examines if vibration-augmented breath-focused mindfulness (VABF) can improve outcomes and increase engagement. Here, we tested if VABF reduces respiration rate (RR) or respiration variability (RV), and examined associations between RR, RV, and emotion ratings. 128 trauma-exposed adults (mean age = 30.21 years) with elevated dissociation volunteered and completed at least 50 % of intervention visits. Participants were randomized to one of four mindfulness meditation interventions: VABF (n = 34); breath-focus only (n = 33); vibration only (n = 34); open awareness (no vibration or breath-focus, n = 27). Results from linear mixed-effects models showed that VABF decreased RV across visits while all the other interventions showed increased RV across visits (p = .008; ηp2 = .014), and RV was positively associated with both anxiety and anger ratings (ps < .001; rs > .125). Findings suggest RV is a meaningful metric for examining regulatory processes in clinical populations with elevated autonomic arousal and negative emotionality. They also show that RV is modifiable through VABF, which holds significant promise as an intervention to improve regulatory processes in trauma-exposed populations.
{"title":"Find your rhythm and regulate: Breath-synced vibration feedback during breath-focused mindfulness reduces respiration variability in trauma-exposed adults","authors":"Timothy J. McDermott , Greg J. Siegle , Alfonsina Guelfo , Kayla Huynh , Maya C. Karkare , Rebecca Krawczak , Amanda Johnston , Aziz Elbasheir , Travis M. Fulton , Jacob Semerod , Divya Jagadeesh , Emma C. Lathan , Robert T. Krafty , Negar Fani","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stress and anxiety are associated with increased autonomic arousal, including altered respiration. Breath-focused mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety, but trauma-exposed adults with dissociation have difficulty engaging in this practice. Our ongoing clinical trial examines if vibration-augmented breath-focused mindfulness (VABF) can improve outcomes and increase engagement. Here, we tested if VABF reduces respiration rate (RR) or respiration variability (RV), and examined associations between RR, RV, and emotion ratings. 128 trauma-exposed adults (mean age = 30.21 years) with elevated dissociation volunteered and completed at least 50 % of intervention visits. Participants were randomized to one of four mindfulness meditation interventions: VABF (<em>n</em> = 34); breath-focus only (<em>n</em> = 33); vibration only (<em>n</em> = 34); open awareness (no vibration or breath-focus, <em>n</em> = 27). Results from linear mixed-effects models showed that VABF decreased RV across visits while all the other interventions showed increased RV across visits (<em>p</em> = .008; <em>η</em><sub><em>p</em></sub><sup>2</sup> = .014), and RV was positively associated with both anxiety and anger ratings (<em>p</em>s < .001; <em>r</em>s > .125). Findings suggest RV is a meaningful metric for examining regulatory processes in clinical populations with elevated autonomic arousal and negative emotionality. They also show that RV is modifiable through VABF, which holds significant promise as an intervention to improve regulatory processes in trauma-exposed populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103008"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-22DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102999
Igor Marchetti , Lavinia Miriam Pedretti , Sara Iannattone , Ilaria Colpizzi , Alessandra Farina , Lisa Di Blas , Marta Ghisi , Gioia Bottesi
Background
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a well-established risk factor for anxiety disorders, as higher levels of IU increase the likelihood of future maladaptive outcomes. However, the presence of low levels of IU does not imply that maladaptive outcomes will not occur, as other risk factors can still lead to the onset of anxiety symptoms. Currently, it is unknown whether IU also serves as a necessary cause for anxiety symptoms, meaning that its absence would ensure the absence of these symptoms.
Methods
A sample of 186 adolescents (58.6 % boys) between 14 and 18 years of age (M = 16.58 ± 1.01) was followed for six months, with evaluations every three months. Several self-reports were administered to measure IU and general anxiety problems, derived from the Youth Self Report 11–18, and anxiety-specific symptoms, derived from the Self-Administered Psychiatric Scales for Children and Adolescents. The Necessary Condition Analysis approach was applied to determine the extent to which IU is a necessary condition for anxiety.
Findings
The analyses revealed that IU is a necessary condition for anxiety problems (d =.23 −.24), generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (d =.18 −.19), social anxiety disorder symptoms (d =.19 −.29), and school-related anxiety symptoms (d =.19 −.23) after three and six months. However, IU was not a statistically significant necessary condition for separation anxiety disorder symptoms. At baseline, between 29 % and 70 % of the sample exhibited the necessary levels of IU to potentially experience subclinical anxiety symptoms at subsequent follow-ups.
Discussion
IU is a necessary condition for the potential development of anxiety symptoms during adolescence. Recognizing necessary conditions for anxiety symptoms and mental disorders, in general, could lead to substantial progress, given its impact on enhancing our theoretical understanding and improving prevention strategies and clinical treatments.
{"title":"What is the internal structure of intolerance of uncertainty? A network analysis approach","authors":"Igor Marchetti , Lavinia Miriam Pedretti , Sara Iannattone , Ilaria Colpizzi , Alessandra Farina , Lisa Di Blas , Marta Ghisi , Gioia Bottesi","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102999","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102999","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a well-established risk factor for anxiety disorders, as higher levels of IU increase the likelihood of future maladaptive outcomes. However, the presence of low levels of IU does not imply that maladaptive outcomes will not occur, as other risk factors can still lead to the onset of anxiety symptoms. Currently, it is unknown whether IU also serves as a necessary cause for anxiety symptoms, meaning that its absence would ensure the absence of these symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A sample of 186 adolescents (58.6 % boys) between 14 and 18 years of age (M = 16.58 ± 1.01) was followed for six months, with evaluations every three months. Several self-reports were administered to measure IU and general anxiety problems, derived from the Youth Self Report 11–18, and anxiety-specific symptoms, derived from the Self-Administered Psychiatric Scales for Children and Adolescents. The Necessary Condition Analysis approach was applied to determine the extent to which IU is a necessary condition for anxiety.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The analyses revealed that IU is a necessary condition for anxiety problems (<em>d</em> =.23 −.24), generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (<em>d</em> =.18 −.19), social anxiety disorder symptoms (<em>d</em> =.19 −.29), and school-related anxiety symptoms (<em>d</em> =.19 −.23) after three and six months. However, IU was not a statistically significant necessary condition for separation anxiety disorder symptoms. At baseline, between 29 % and 70 % of the sample exhibited the necessary levels of IU to potentially experience subclinical anxiety symptoms at subsequent follow-ups.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>IU is a necessary condition for the potential development of anxiety symptoms during adolescence. Recognizing necessary conditions for anxiety symptoms and mental disorders, in general, could lead to substantial progress, given its impact on enhancing our theoretical understanding and improving prevention strategies and clinical treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102999"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-16DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103006
Ana De la Rosa-Cáceres , Leon P. Wendt , Johannes Zimmermann , Carmen Díaz-Batanero
In recent decades, the conceptualization of internalizing problems has changed from categorical to dimensional and hybrid approaches. However, most studies have analyzed the structure of internalizing problems at the disorder level using categorical or dimensional approaches, with only a few studies examining the structure at the symptom level, or considering a hybrid approach. This study aimed to compare categorical (latent class analysis), dimensional (confirmatory factor analysis), and hybrid models (semi-parametric factor analysis) of internalizing constructs at the symptom level regarding model fit (structural validity) and prediction (concurrent validity) in four samples: community adults (n = 1072; n = 620), students (n = 378), and patients (n = 485). All participants completed the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms-II to assess internalizing symptoms. In two samples, participants completed additional measures to test concurrent validity regarding disability, externalizing symptoms, personality traits, impairments in personality functioning, and quality of life. Dimensional models, particularly those allowing for non-normal distributions, outperformed categorical and hybrid models in terms of structural and concurrent validity (median adjR2 for dimensional models =.18–.16). Our results suggest that future studies should prefer dimensional models to better describe internalizing constructs and predict external variables. The consistent application of dimensional models of internalizing pathology would facilitate the integration of empirical findings in clinical science and enable a more valid and fine-grained assessment of individual mental health problems in clinical practice, thereby enhancing the potential to guide effective personalized interventions.
{"title":"Comparing structural models for internalizing pathology: Latent dimensions, classes, or a mix of both?","authors":"Ana De la Rosa-Cáceres , Leon P. Wendt , Johannes Zimmermann , Carmen Díaz-Batanero","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent decades, the conceptualization of internalizing problems has changed from categorical to dimensional and hybrid approaches. However, most studies have analyzed the structure of internalizing problems at the disorder level using categorical or dimensional approaches, with only a few studies examining the structure at the symptom level, or considering a hybrid approach. This study aimed to compare categorical (latent class analysis), dimensional (confirmatory factor analysis), and hybrid models (semi-parametric factor analysis) of internalizing constructs at the symptom level regarding model fit (structural validity) and prediction (concurrent validity) in four samples: community adults (<em>n</em> = 1072; <em>n</em> = 620), students (<em>n</em> = 378), and patients (<em>n</em> = 485). All participants completed the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms-II to assess internalizing symptoms. In two samples, participants completed additional measures to test concurrent validity regarding disability, externalizing symptoms, personality traits, impairments in personality functioning, and quality of life. Dimensional models, particularly those allowing for non-normal distributions, outperformed categorical and hybrid models in terms of structural and concurrent validity (median <sub><em>adj</em></sub><em>R</em><sup><em>2</em></sup> for dimensional models =.18–.16). Our results suggest that future studies should prefer dimensional models to better describe internalizing constructs and predict external variables. The consistent application of dimensional models of internalizing pathology would facilitate the integration of empirical findings in clinical science and enable a more valid and fine-grained assessment of individual mental health problems in clinical practice, thereby enhancing the potential to guide effective personalized interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103006"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143674757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-15DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103004
Zoe J. Ryan , Holly Rayson , Jayne Morriss , Helen F. Dodd
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is the tendency to find uncertainty distressing. IU is related to anxiety in adults and youth but it is unclear whether IU plays a maintenance or causal role, particularly across childhood. Our research examined whether: (1) IU is associated with generalised anxiety in preschool-aged children; (2) IU in preschool-aged children is associated with the trajectory of generalised anxiety into middle childhood; and (3) IU is associated with the trajectory of internalising symptoms and externalising symptoms over time. Parents completed questionnaires (child anxiety, IU, internalising and externalising symptoms) about their children at three timepoints when their child was: 3–4 years old (n = 180); 5–7 years old (n = 162); and 8–10 years old (n = 148). Those with higher IU had higher concurrent generalised anxiety, internalising and externalising symptoms at each measurement point. Preschoolers with higher IU, relative to lower IU, had, on average, higher generalised anxiety across childhood. Unexpectedly though, children who were higher in IU as preschoolers were more likely to show a decrease in generalised anxiety over time. These findings indicate that IU is a consistent correlate of generalised anxiety, internalising and externalising symptoms, but that it may not play a causal role in the onset of generalised anxiety in children.
{"title":"Does intolerance of uncertainty predict child generalised anxiety? A longitudinal study","authors":"Zoe J. Ryan , Holly Rayson , Jayne Morriss , Helen F. Dodd","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is the tendency to find uncertainty distressing. IU is related to anxiety in adults and youth but it is unclear whether IU plays a maintenance or causal role, particularly across childhood. Our research examined whether: (1) IU is associated with generalised anxiety in preschool-aged children; (2) IU in preschool-aged children is associated with the trajectory of generalised anxiety into middle childhood; and (3) IU is associated with the trajectory of internalising symptoms and externalising symptoms over time. Parents completed questionnaires (child anxiety, IU, internalising and externalising symptoms) about their children at three timepoints when their child was: 3–4 years old (<em>n</em> = 180); 5–7 years old (<em>n</em> = 162); and 8–10 years old (<em>n</em> = 148). Those with higher IU had higher concurrent generalised anxiety, internalising and externalising symptoms at each measurement point. Preschoolers with higher IU, relative to lower IU, had, on average, higher generalised anxiety across childhood. Unexpectedly though, children who were higher in IU as preschoolers were more likely to show a decrease in generalised anxiety over time. These findings indicate that IU is a consistent correlate of generalised anxiety, internalising and externalising symptoms, but that it may not play a causal role in the onset of generalised anxiety in children.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103004"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143681595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-14DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103002
Christine Lykke Thoustrup , Robert James Blair , Sofie Heidenheim Christensen , Valdemar Uhre , Linea Pretzmann , Nicoline Løcke Jepsen Korsbjerg , Camilla Uhre , Anna-Rosa Cecilie Mora-Jensen , Melanie Ritter , Nicole Nadine Lønfeldt , Emilie Damløv Thorsen , Daniel S. Quintana , Ahmad Sajadieh , Jakob Hartvig Thomsen , Kerstin Jessica Plessen , Signe Vangkilde , Anne Katrine Pagsberg , Julie Hagstrøm
Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with emotion regulation (ER) difficulties. Most studies are based on self-reports, while few have examined how these difficulties are expressed across modalities, which may hold important diagnostic and therapeutic information. We applied a multi-informant and multi-method approach to examine ER difficulties in 211 children aged 8–17 years: 121 with OCD and 90 non-clinical controls. Child ER difficulties were assessed with The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (self-report and parent-report) and a Tangram frustration task with investigator-rated behavior, self-rated frustration, and heart rate variability (HRV). Children with OCD differed significantly from non-clinical controls in showing: (i) elevated child ER difficulties on self-report (partial eta squared =.068–.165) and parent-report (partial eta squared =.207–.369); (ii) more investigator-rated ER difficulties during the task (Cohen’s d = −.33); (iii) increased levels of self-rated frustration before and after the task (partial eta squared =.089); notably, the magnitude of this increase did not differ between children with and without OCD. Finally, (iv) all children, regardless of group, demonstrated significant HRV changes during the frustration task, with no discernible group differences in the magnitude of these changes. Results suggest the OCD-related experience of ER difficulties may not impact autonomic functioning.
{"title":"Emotion regulation difficulties in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A multi-informant and multi-method study","authors":"Christine Lykke Thoustrup , Robert James Blair , Sofie Heidenheim Christensen , Valdemar Uhre , Linea Pretzmann , Nicoline Løcke Jepsen Korsbjerg , Camilla Uhre , Anna-Rosa Cecilie Mora-Jensen , Melanie Ritter , Nicole Nadine Lønfeldt , Emilie Damløv Thorsen , Daniel S. Quintana , Ahmad Sajadieh , Jakob Hartvig Thomsen , Kerstin Jessica Plessen , Signe Vangkilde , Anne Katrine Pagsberg , Julie Hagstrøm","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with emotion regulation (ER) difficulties. Most studies are based on self-reports, while few have examined how these difficulties are expressed across modalities, which may hold important diagnostic and therapeutic information. We applied a multi-informant and multi-method approach to examine ER difficulties in 211 children aged 8–17 years: 121 with OCD and 90 non-clinical controls. Child ER difficulties were assessed with The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (self-report and parent-report) and a Tangram frustration task with investigator-rated behavior, self-rated frustration, and heart rate variability (HRV). Children with OCD differed significantly from non-clinical controls in showing: (i) elevated child ER difficulties on self-report (partial eta squared =.068–.165) and parent-report (partial eta squared =.207–.369); (ii) more investigator-rated ER difficulties during the task (Cohen’s <em>d</em> = −.33); (iii) increased levels of self-rated frustration before and after the task (partial eta squared =.089); notably, the magnitude of this increase did not differ between children with and without OCD. Finally, (iv) all children, regardless of group, demonstrated significant HRV changes during the frustration task, with no discernible group differences in the magnitude of these changes. Results suggest the OCD-related experience of ER difficulties may not impact autonomic functioning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103002"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103003
James Tait , Stephen Kellett , Jaime Delgadillo
Background
A number of treatments are available for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, there is currently a lack of data-driven treatment selection and adaptation methods for this condition. Machine learning (ML) could potentially help to improve the prediction of treatment outcomes and enable precision mental healthcare in practice.
Objectives
To systematically review studies that applied ML methods to predict outcomes of psychological therapy for PTSD in adults (e.g., change in symptoms, dropout rate), and evaluate their methodological rigour.
Methods
This was a pre-registered systematic review (CRD42022325021), which synthesised eligible clinical prediction studies found across four research databases. Risk of bias was assessed using the PROBAST tool. Study methods and findings were narratively synthesised, and adherence to ML best practice evaluated.
Results
Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, including samples derived from experimental and observational study designs. All studies were assessed as having a high risk of bias, notably due to inadequately powered samples and a lack of sample size calculations. Training sample size ranged from N < 36–397. The studies applied a diverse range of ML methods such as decision trees, ensembling and boosting techniques. Five studies used unsupervised ML methods, while others used supervised ML. There was an inconsistency in the reporting of hyperparameter tuning and cross-validation methods. Only one study performed external validation.
Conclusions
ML has the potential to advance precision psychotherapy for PTSD, but to enable this, ML methods must be applied with greater adherence to best practice guidelines.
{"title":"Using machine learning methods to predict the outcome of psychological therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review","authors":"James Tait , Stephen Kellett , Jaime Delgadillo","doi":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>A number of treatments are available for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, there is currently a lack of data-driven treatment selection and adaptation methods for this condition. Machine learning (ML) could potentially help to improve the prediction of treatment outcomes and enable precision mental healthcare in practice.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To systematically review studies that applied ML methods to predict outcomes of psychological therapy for PTSD in adults (e.g., change in symptoms, dropout rate), and evaluate their methodological rigour.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a pre-registered systematic review (CRD42022325021), which synthesised eligible clinical prediction studies found across four research databases. Risk of bias was assessed using the PROBAST tool. Study methods and findings were narratively synthesised, and adherence to ML best practice evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, including samples derived from experimental and observational study designs. All studies were assessed as having a high risk of bias, notably due to inadequately powered samples and a lack of sample size calculations. Training sample size ranged from <em>N</em> < 36–397. The studies applied a diverse range of ML methods such as decision trees, ensembling and boosting techniques. Five studies used unsupervised ML methods, while others used supervised ML. There was an inconsistency in the reporting of hyperparameter tuning and cross-validation methods. Only one study performed external validation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>ML has the potential to advance precision psychotherapy for PTSD, but to enable this, ML methods must be applied with greater adherence to best practice guidelines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anxiety Disorders","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103003"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143681596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}