Alpha psychiatry最新文献

Objective: Studies investigating social cognition impairments in substance use disorders (SUD) emerged from attempts to understand the influence of social interactions on substance use. This study aimed to measure Theory of Mind (ToM) performance and possible interactions between ToM performance, personality traits, and substance use severity.

Methods: Participants (n = 153) were assessed using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes, Dokuz Eylul Theory of Mind Index, Addiction Profile Index (API), Borderline Personality Questionnaire (BPQ), Basic Empathy Scale (BES), and Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (LSRP).

Results: Cluster analysis identified two groups: a 'high ToM' (n = 59, 41.2%) and a 'low ToM' (n = 84, 58.8%) group. Comparative analysis showed that the API effect of substance use on life subscale scores (p = 0.033), BES total (p = 0.003), and affective empathy subscale scores (p = 0.001) were higher in the high ToM group compared with the low ToM group. Conversely, BPQ impulsivity subscale scores (p = 0.011), LSRP total (p = 0.026), and primary psychopathy subscale scores (p = 0.007) were lower in the high ToM group compared with the low ToM groups. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that lower affective empathy scores (odds ratio (OR) = 0.896, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.818-0.982), p = 0.019) and higher primary psychopathy scores (OR = 1.099, 95% CI (1.011-1.195), p = 0.027) predicted ToM abilities in women with SUD.

Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence that in women with SUD, affective psychopathic traits and lack of affective empathy predict lower ToM abilities. These findings suggest that intervention targeting affect-related psychopathy dimensions may be effective in alleviating ToM disabilities.

Background: Personality disorders are complex mental disorders characterized by interpersonal difficulties and are notoriously difficult to treat. Inpatient treatment offers patients the opportunity to establish therapeutic alliances, which can help alleviate their clinical dilemmas. However, there is currently a lack of research that takes the perspective of inpatients as the main subject. This study aims to delve into the significant events experienced by inpatients with personality disorders from their own perspective and explore their significance and impact on the individuals.

Methods: Nine inpatients with personality disorders at different stages of hospitalization from a psychiatric specialty hospital were selected for semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data.

Results: In the context of hospitalization, the significant events that patients experienced mainly include the 'giving' and empowerment by therapists, the contained and holding hospital environment, supportive relationships with peer patients, and the biopsychosocial impact of medication on patient perception and therapeutic engagement.

Conclusion: Implicit 'giving' by therapists fosters empowerment and strengthens the therapeutic alliance, enhancing patient engagement and outcomes. The hospital environment offers a structured space for self-reflection and emotional recovery, while peer relationships promote growth. The combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy stabilizes patients' psychological states and improves receptivity to treatment. An integrated approach to these treatments is essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impact of bedtime procrastination, rumination, loneliness, and positive body image on university students' sleep quality, and to explore potential mediating pathways and sex differences.

Methods: A total of 674 students from a university in southern China were recruited. Assessments of participants' body measurements were conducted, followed by the completion of a general information questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Bedtime Procrastination Scale, Body Appreciation Scale, Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Ruminative Responses Scale, and University of Loneliness Scale. Stepwise multiple linear regression and mediation models were employed to separately analyze the associations between sleep quality and the aforementioned factors in males and females.

Results: Sex differences in sleep quality were apparent, with women having worse sleep quality than men (p < 0.05). In men, bedtime procrastination (β = 0.376, p < 0.01), loneliness (β = 0.339, p < 0.01), and rumination (β = 0.171, p < 0.01) were significant factors in predicting sleep quality. Loneliness played a partial mediating role in predicting poor sleep quality caused by bedtime procrastination, with a mediating effect of 18.95%. In women, bedtime procrastination (β = 0.399, p < 0.01), loneliness (β = 0.239, p < 0.01), body image flexibility (β = -0.153, p < 0.01), and body appreciation (β = -0.103, p < 0.05) were significant factors in predicting sleep quality. Loneliness and body appreciation played parallel mediating roles in predicting sleep quality through bedtime procrastination, with mediating effects of 9.24% and 5.19%, respectively.

Conclusions: Sleep quality and bedtime procrastination were worse in women than in men. The sleep quality of female students may be increased by focusing on enhancing positive body image, while for male students, managing rumination and reducing loneliness could be helpful.

Objective: To explore the effect of self-help mindfulness-based stress reduction exercise therapeutics (MBSRET) on the psychological status and sleep quality of medical staff.

Method: A total of 85 Hubei medical staff were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 43) and a control group (n = 42). The intervention group received MBSRET for 8 weeks and the control group received routine care. Psychological status and sleep were assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after the intervention.

Result: After the intervention, SCL-90, PSS, and PSQI scores were significantly lower in the control group (p < 0.001 for all), indicating that MBSRET could effectively improve the psychological status and sleep quality of Hubei medical staff.

Conclusions: Mindfulness-based stress reduction exercise therapy is a simple, convenient, and low-cost intervention method that can be widely applied to improve the mental health care of medical staff during public health emergencies.

Clinical trial registration: The study was registered at https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN84911422, registration number: ISRCTN84911422.

Background: Psychological abuse and neglect are considered fundamental to the development of impulsiveness. However, the interplay between psychological abuse-neglect symptoms and impulsiveness dimensions remains unclear, especially during adolescence, a critical developmental stage. This study uses network analysis to explore the link between adolescent psychological abuse-neglect and impulsivity, aiming to inform targeted early interventions and treatment strategies for impulsive behaviors.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used to gather demographic data from 6731 students across 17 middle schools. Clinical assessments utilized the Chinese Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Child Psychological Abuse and Neglect Scale (CPANS). Network analysis explored associations between the six CPANS components and three impulsiveness dimensions. Centrality indices and stability indicators were calculated.

Results: In the study population, 47.4% were female, and 68.4% were middle school students. Scolding (4.0 [1.0, 7.0]) scored highest in abuse, while Emotional Neglect (6.0 [2.0, 12.0]) scored highest in neglect. Among impulsive types, Non-planning Impulsiveness (47.5 [32.5, 60.0]) ranked highest. Emotional Neglect emerged as the central node in the network, with the greatest strength, closeness, and influence, while Non-planning Impulsiveness showed the highest correlation with centrality. All centrality indices had Correlation Stability (CS) coefficients of 0.75, with narrow 95% confidence intervals for edge weights.

Conclusions: This study underscores the central role of emotional neglect in the development of impulsive traits in adolescents. Network analysis revealed that emotional neglect serves as a critical link between abuse-neglect and impulsivity, with non-planning impulsivity acting as a key mediator. The results emphasize the need for comprehensive interventions, as well as addressing the impact of early traumatic experiences.

Clinical trial registration: The study was registered at https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=134138, registration number: ChiCTR2100052297, date of registration: 24 October 2021.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) patients often experience fear of recurrence, which affects their psychological well-being and quality of life. This study aimed to explore the relationship between illness perception, psychological flexibility, and fear of recurrence, as well as to investigate the demographic factors associated with fear of recurrence in MI patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, enrolling 466 MI patients to complete questionnaires assessing general information, disease-related factors, illness perception, psychological flexibility, and fear of recurrence. Correlation analysis, analysis of variance, and mediation effect analysis were used to explore the relationships between these factors and fear of recurrence.

Results: Gender, monthly income, marital status, alcohol consumption, New York Heart Association functional classification (NYHA classification), and number of chronic diseases were significantly associated with fear of recurrence. Illness perception was positively correlated with patients' fear of recurrence. Psychological flexibility was negatively correlated with fear of recurrence and played a mediating role between illness perception and fear of recurrence, mediating the negative impact of illness perception on fear.

Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasize the critical role of psychological flexibility in mitigating the fear of recurrence among myocardial infarction survivors. By targeting modifiable factors such as psychological flexibility and illness perceptions, healthcare providers can develop more effective interventions aimed at improving mental health and overall quality of life for these patients.

Background: Medical students frequently encounter high academic demands that increase their risk of depression. Understanding how academic distress interacts with interpersonal communication tendencies to influence depression can inform mental health interventions. This study aims to explore the direct effect of academic distress on depression and the mediating role of interpersonal communication tendency.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 7317 students in medicine and related fields at Xuzhou Medical University from September to December 2022, using stratified random cluster sampling. Data were collected using validated scales measuring academic distress, interpersonal communication tendency, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the total, direct, and indirect effects of academic distress on depression, and a multi-group analysis was conducted to examine gender differences.

Results: Academic distress was found to directly and positively affect depression (β = 0.622, 95% CI: 0.556, 0.686). Additionally, interpersonal communication tendency significantly mediated the relationship between academic distress and depression (β = -0.253, 95% CI: -0.294, -0.217). Gender-based analysis indicated a slightly stronger direct effect of academic distress on depression among male students (β = 0.630) compared to female students (β = 0.606).

Conclusions: Academic distress is strongly associated with depression among medical students, with interpersonal communication tendency serving as an effective mediator that reduces depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the need for academic institutions to support medical students by enhancing interpersonal communication skills and providing mental health resources to alleviate academic distress.

Objective: The factorial validity of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-21) in individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to assess the factor structure of these instruments and analyze their interrelationships within the Georgian IBS population.

Methods: Principal component analysis was performed on data from 89 IBS patients. Factors were determined using eigenvalues ≥1, with factor loadings exceeding 0.4 and oblique rotations identifying factor compositions. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure, Cronbach's alpha, Bartlett's test, communality, non-redundant residuals, and the component correlation matrix were used to assess factor validity. Intercorrelations between the scales' symptoms were also analyzed.

Results: The mean BDI-II score was 24.31 (standard deviation (SD) = 14.93) and the mean HAMD-21 score was 17.38 (SD = 8.91). According to the cutoff criteria for both scales, the sample exhibited moderate depression. The BDI-II identified three factors, while the HAMD-21 revealed four distinct factors. Combined analysis showed that most BDI-II items and core depressive symptoms from HAMD-21 clustered into Component I. Component II included four HAMD-21 items: insomnia (delayed), agitation, somatic anxiety, and insight. Significant positive correlations between paired BDI-II and HAMD-21 symptoms were found, with a high correlation (r = 0.88, p = 0.000) between the scales, differing from previous findings.

Conclusion: The high correlations within components, along with low non-redundant residuals and high communality, indicate satisfactory factor validity for both the BDI-II and HAMD-21. The self-report BDI-II inventory and the HAMD-21 scale are complementary in evaluating depressive symptoms in patients with IBS.

Objective: To explore the value of psychoeducation-based group work in the continuous treatment of patients with bipolar disorder in remission.

Methods: From December 2020 to March 2022, 60 outpatients with remission-stage bipolar disorder were enrolled in the trial. All enrolled subjects were randomly and single-blindly divided into a study group and a control group at a 1:1 ratio. The control group was treated with general drug therapy, while the study group was treated with group psychological education combined with drug therapy. To analyze the treatment adherence of patients in the two groups, and to compare the changes in self-awareness and attitude toward treatment questionnaire (ITAQ) scale scores, Morisky medication adherence scale scores, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) total scores, and subscale scores before and after the intervention in the two groups.

Results: The mean score for treatment compliance in the study group was 4.2 ± 0.3, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (4.2 ± 0.3 vs. 3.2 ± 0.5, p < 0.001). The ITAQ score in the study group following the intervention was significantly higher than that in the control group (18.5 ± 3.2 vs. 12.7 ± 2.7, p < 0.001), as well as the study group prior to the intervention (p < 0.001). Morisky scale scores after intervention were significantly higher than those in the control group (6.9 ± 1.0 vs. 5.5 ± 0.8, p < 0.001) and the study group before intervention (p < 0.001). Sheehan Disability Scale 1 (SDS1), SDS2, SDS3, and SDS scores after intervention were 8.5 ± 1.2, 8.0 ± 1.5, 7.9 ± 2.0, and 25.5 ± 4.3, respectively, all of which were significantly higher than those in the control group (all p < 0.001). The proportion of positive coping style for bipolar disorder in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (93.3% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Continuous intervention using psychoeducation-based model group work in patients with bipolar disorder in the remission stage can significantly improve treatment compliance, improve insight and treatment attitudes, ensure compliance with drug therapy, and reduce the degree of mental disability.

Objectives: Animal models of human diseases are commonly used in experimental research. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by reduced social motivation and often co-occurs with epilepsy, representing a distinct clinical subgroup. This study investigated social deficits in Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats, which present with latent epilepsy and an autistic-like phenotype, by measuring ultrasonic communications during social interaction.

Methods: The three-chamber test for social preference/novelty, accompanied by registration of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), was conducted in 12 KM and 12 control Wistar rats. For analysis, each individual vocalization trajectory was mapped and the results were derived from aggregating the individual data. To assess potential anhedonia, sucrose preference was tested in a separate group (10 KM and 20 Wistar rats) by measuring the consumption of 1% sucrose and water in individual rats over a 24-h period. All animals used were seizure-naive males, aged 4-6 months.

Results: A longer duration of aversive USV calls was registered during the sociability tests in KM rats (p < 0.05, compared with controls). The majority (p < 0.05) of aversive USVs occurred when KM rats distanced themselves from the social stimuli, and the duration of these calls showed a positive correlation with freezing behavior (Spearman coefficient Rs = 0.68, p < 0.05). Reduced sucrose preference was not observed in KM rats; instead, an increase in daytime sucrose consumption was noted.

Conclusions: KM rats exhibit negative emotional states in sociability tests, as evidenced by enhanced aversive vocalizations and distancing behavior. The social aversion observed in KM rats is not associated with anhedonia.