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Introduction: The pedophilic disorder is characterized by a sexual preference for children and leads to child sexual abuse (CSA) in half of the patients. Studies showed that pedophiles with a history of CSA (CSA+) are inferior, in inhibitory control, to those without (CSA-). Objectives: Inhibitory control may be influenced by negative affectivity, which was shown to be a state factor facilitating sexual abuse. Nevertheless, it is not known if distress influence CSA+ and CSAequally. Methods: We recruited three groups of participants: healthy controls (HC) CSA+ and CSA-who performed an emotional Go-NoGo block task. The task was design specifically to correspond to a situation in which an indivisual is opposed by a negative life event. In each trial, participants were presented with photographs, either of neutral or negative valence, which did not require reaction. After the photographs, a circle (Go stimuli) or a square (NoGo stimuli) was presented. Results: We found that HC and CSA- had slower reaction time in negative compared to neutral condition (regardless of the block type), while CSA+ did not. Consequently, HC and CSA- showed increased activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in negative compared to the neutral condition, what was not observed in CSA+. Conclusions: DLPFC is crucial for cognitive control, however, the activity of this region is modulated by emotional valence. Reduced engagement of dlPFC in CSA+ in negative condition (irrespectively of the task instructions), suggest that negative emotions in CSA+ disrupt also other aspects of cognitive control, rather than inhibition specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies have confirmed that the experience of childhood trauma, poor emotion regulation as well as experience of physical pain may contribute to development and poor treatment outcomes in alcohol dependence (AD). However, little is known about mutual relationships between all these factors in individuals with AD. Objectives: to analyze associations between childhood trauma, emotion regulation and pain tolerance in alcohol-dependent individuals. Methods: The study group comprised 165 individuals diagnosed with AD. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to investigate different types of trauma during childhood; the Brief Symptom Inventory - to assess anxiety symptoms; the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) - to assess emotional dysregulation and Pain Resilience Scale - to measure self-reported pain tolerance. Results: Childhood emotional abuse (CTQ subscale score), anxiety, emotional dysregulation (DERS total score), and the covariates (sex and age) explained almost 16% of the variance in pain tolerance (R2 = 0.156; F[5, 138] = 5.094; p < 0.001). Childhood emotional abuse was positively associated with anxiety, anxiety was positively associated with emotional dysregulation, and emotional dysregulation was negatively associated with pain resilience, adding up to the indirect negative association between childhood emotional abuse and pain tolerance. All of the correlations were significant. The statistical procedure proved anxiety and emotional dysregulation, operating in serial, mediated the effect of childhood emotional abuse on pain resilience in the study group. Conclusions: Addressing the issue of emotional dysregulation and physical pain in relation to childhood trauma, may be an important part of alcohol dependence therapeutic treatment programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent in Europe, but only a minority of those affected receive treatment. It is therefore important to identify factors that predict treatment in order to reframe strategies aimed at improving treatment rates. Methods Representative cross-sectional study with patients aged 18–64 from primary health care (PC, six European countries, n = 8476, data collection 01/13–01/14) and from specialized health care (SC, eight European countries, n = 1762, data collection 01/13–03/14). For descriptive purposes, six groups were distinguished, based on type of DSM-IV AUD and treatment setting. Treatment status (yes/no) for any treatment (model 1), and for SC treatment (model 2) were main outcome measures in logistic regression models. Results AUDs were prevalent in PC (12-month prevalence: 11.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.2–12.5%), with 17.6% receiving current treatment (95%CI: 15.3–19.9%). There were clear differences between the six groups regarding key variables from all five predictor domains. Prediction of any treatment (model 1) or SC treatment (model 2) was successful with high overall accuracy (both models: 95%), sufficient sensitivity (model 1: 79%/model 2: 76%) and high specificity (both models: 98%). The most predictive single variables were daily drinking level, anxiety, severity of mental distress, and number of inpatient nights during the last 6 months. Conclusions Variables from four domains were highly predictive in identifying treatment for AUD, with SC treatment groups showing very high levels of social disintegration, drinking, comorbidity and functional losses. Earlier intervention and formal treatment for AUD in PC should be implemented to reduce these high levels of adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Insomnia and tobacco use are frequent and important problems in alcohol-dependent patients. However, the relationship between sleep problems and cigarette smoking was not thoroughly investigated in this population. Aim The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between tobacco smoking and severity of insomnia in alcohol-dependent patients in treatment. We also aimed at assessing other predictors of insomnia in this population. Methods The study group comprised 384 alcohol-dependent patients. Standardized tools were used to assess: tobacco dependence (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence [FTND]), sleep problems (Athens Insomnia Scale [AIS]), severity of alcohol dependence (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test [MAST]) and drinking quantities before entering treatment (Timeline Follow Back [TFLB]). Other comorbid psychiatric symptoms were assessed using Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Results The study group included 79.1% of current smokers, 62% of participants reported insomnia (AIS). The mean FTND score was 6.05 ± 2.18. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that the severity of tobacco dependence was significantly associated with the severity of insomnia (FTND, beta = 0.140, P = 0.013). Other factors associated with insomnia that remained significant in multivariate model were severity of psychopathological symptoms (BSI, beta = 0.422, P < 0.0005) and intensity of drinking (TLFB, beta = 0.123, P = 0.034). Conclusion Tobacco use may predict severity of insomnia in alcohol-dependent patients. This finding may have important clinical implications and influence strategies applied in treatment of alcohol use disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Tobacco dependence (TD) often coexists with alcohol dependence. Previous research documented that both biological and environmental factors influence simultaneous development of the two disorders. However, it has not been determined whether the same psychological and psychopathological factors affect TD in alcohol-dependent males and females. Aim The objective of the study was to assess risk factors for high severity of TD in alcohol-dependent individuals considering gender differences. Methods The study entailed two groups: male ( n = 284) and female ( n = 102) subjects entering alcohol addiction treatment programs in Warsaw, Poland. Standardized instruments were used to assess: severity of TD – Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, personality traits – NEO-Five Factor Inventory to assess, consequences of drinking – Short Inventory of Problems, impulsivity – Barratt Impulsivity Scale, and Sleep Disorder Questionnaire-7 as a measure of insomnia. Results In the studied sample, current smokers comprised 79.1% ( n = 225) of male and 79.4% ( n = 81) of female participants. Multivariate regression model showed that high negative consequences of drinking ( P = 0.001) and low NEO Openness score ( P = 0.009) were associated with high risk of TD in female alcoholics (corr. R 2 = 0.223; P < 0.0005). Bivariate analyses showed that TD was associated with impulsivity, openness, agreeableness and neuroticism in male alcohol-dependent subjects. Insomnia was the only significant predictor for high severity of TD in the males (corr. R 2 = 0.068; P = 0.002). Conclusions Different factors contribute to severity of tobacco dependence in male and female alcohol-dependent individuals entering addiction treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Previous findings suggested that electrodermal hyporeactivity has a high sensitivity (up to 97%) and high raw specificity (up to 98%) for suicide. Aim To evaluate prevalence, sensitivity and specificity of electrodermal hyporeactivity for suicide and suicide attempt, with and without death intent and with violent method or not, in adult patients with a primary diagnosis of depression . Methods At each study site at least 100 patients with a primary diagnosis of depression, also in remission, will be recruited. Depressive symptomatology will be evaluated through the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale. Previous suicide attempts will be registered and the death intent of the worst attempt will be rated according to the first eight items of the Beck Suicide Intent Scale. The risk of suicide will be assessed according to rules and traditions at the centre. The EDOR Test (ElectroDermal Orienting Reactivity) will be performed. Two fingers are put on gold electrodes. Through headphones a moderately strong tone is presented now and then during the test. Sensors located within the electrodes are able to register the electrodermal response to those tones, measuring the skin conductance (i.e. electrodermal activity from sweat gland activity). Each patient will be followed up for one year for actions of intentional self-harm that require medical care and for suicide. The death intent will also be rated. Expected results It is expected that the EDOR test detects a previously unknown neuropsychological dysfunction that is independent of the depressive state and can predict suicidality with a high sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Impulsivity and alcohol drinking are both considered as important predictors of unintentional as well as intentional injuries. However, relationships between impulsivity and risky behaviors have not been investigated in alcohol dependence. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze relationships between the frequency of risky behaviors and level of behavioral as well as cognitive impulsivity in alcohol-dependent patients. Methods: By means of Barratt''s Impulsiveness Scale and stop-signal task the levels of cognitive and behavioral impulsivity among 304 alcohol-dependent patients were measured. Also, patients were asked to answer questions from the Short Inventory of Problems applying to risky behaviors and accidents after alcohol drinking. In addition participants filled in a questionnaire to assess frequency of other behaviors from the analyzed spectrum (suicide attempts, use of other drugs, law problems). Results: The statistical analysis revealed a significant association between impulsivity and frequency of risky behaviors in alcohol dependent patients. Individuals with higher scores in BIS behaved more frequently in a risky way (p=0,000001) and had significantly more accidents (p=0,00067) after alcohol drinking. The association for risky behaviors was strongest for non-planning (p=0,000075) and attentional (p=0,000002) impulsivity subscales, whereas frequency of accidents was particularly associated with motor impulsivity (p=0,001). In addition, a significant association between global impulsivity and risk of suicide attempts, use of other drugs and frequency of law problems was observed. A multivariate analysis revealed that impulsivity and severity of alcohol dependence are the most important predictors of risky behaviors. Conclusion: Impulsivity increases the frequency of risky behaviors in alcohol-dependent individuals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Impulsiveness is considered to be an important symptom of many psychiatric disorders and is often treated as one of the diagnostic criteria. Relationship between impulsivity and severity of depressive symptoms in alcohol-dependent individuals hasn’t been investigated yet, although both are considered to be important risk factors of relapse. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze relationships between depressive symptoms and level of behavioral as well as cognitive impulsiveness among alcohol-dependent patients. Methods: By means of Barratt''s Impulsiveness Scale and stop-signal task the level of impulsivity among 304 alcohol-dependent patients was measured. Stop-signal task was used as an independent, manipulation-free method of estimating the level of behavioral impulsiveness, and the Barratt''s Impulsiveness Scale - as a self report measure of global as well as cognitive impulsivity. Patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire to asses depressive symptoms (BDI, BHS). Results: The statistical analysis revealed significant association between impulsiveness and severity of depressive symptoms. Individuals with higher scores in BDI scale were more impulsive in Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (r=0,473; p<0,0005), whereas patients with higher scores in BHS appeared to be more impulsive in both: stop-signal task (r=0,21; p=0,001) and BIS (r=0,281; p<0,0005). Depressive symptoms in both measures correlated most with indicators of attention impulsivity in BIS (r=0,541; p<0,0005 for BDI and r=0,312; p<0,0005 for BHS). Conclusion: High level of impulsiveness may be treated as an element of depressive disorder in alcohol dependent patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]