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Introduction: The initial year of medical school is linked to a decline in mental health. To assess mental health comprehensively, the dual-factor model posits the consideration of both psychopathology (e.g., depression) and positive mental health (e.g., well-being). Previous mental health research among medical students has primarily examined these two factors independently. This study uses the dual-factor approach for a deeper understanding of mental health changes during the first year of medical school. Methods: Students from eight German medical schools (N = 450) were surveyed three times (T0 = entering medical school, T1 = end of the first semester, T2 = end of the second semester) regarding depression (PHQ-9), well-being (subscale of FAHW-12), and general life satisfaction (German Single-Item Scale L1). Latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct mental health groups based on their combinations of psychopathology and positive mental health. We then analysed trajectories descriptively by examining the longitudinal stability and dynamics of mental health group membership during the first year of medical school. Results: We identified five mental health groups: (1) complete mental health, (2) moderately mentally healthy, (3) symptomatic but content, (4) vulnerable, and (5) troubled. The examination of change trajectories unveiled diverse paths pointing towards both recovery and deterioration. In comparison to the other groups, students belonging to the complete mental health group exhibited greater stability and a higher potential to recover after initial deteriorations in the first semester. Conclusions: Our study uncovers distinct mental health trajectories in the first year of medical school, emphasizing the crucial role of initial mental health status. Our findings stress the diverse nature of mental health changes in medical students, underscoring the need for tailored prevention strategies. The implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sexual minority (SM) individuals experience a disproportionate health burden relative to their heterosexual peers; however, less is known about their experience of insomnia. Participants: The sample consisted of a subset of students, N = 1543, Mage = 21.25 years, SD = 3.95, in the 2019–2020 Healthy Minds Study. Adjusting for non-response weights, approximately 16.95% of the sample identified as a sexual minority. Methods: Participants completed measures of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index) and psychopathology symptoms (PHQ-9 for depression and GAD-7 for generalized anxiety). Results: Sexual orientation was significantly positively associated with insomnia severity, such that SM students exhibited higher insomnia symptom severity, B = 1.71, SE = 0.35, p <.001, 95% CI [1.01, 2.40]. Including depression and anxiety symptom severity in the model completely attenuated this effect. Conclusions: Insomnia symptoms in SM students may be understood in the context of internalizing symptoms; however, study design precluded examining causal pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of women are conceiving through assisted reproductive technology; however, few studies have investigated their mental health after successful conception. This study investigated the changes in depressive symptoms in women using assisted reproductive technology and the association between the mode of conception and perinatal depressive symptoms. A longitudinal observational study was conducted from 2015 to 2019, 542 pregnant women completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms at eight timepoints during the prepregnancy, pregnancy and first-year postpartum periods. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A generalized estimating equation regression model was employed for repeated measures. In the assisted reproductive technology group, depressive symptoms were more prevalent during early pregnancy and at 1 month postpartum than before pregnancy, and more prevalent before pregnancy and at 1 month after childbirth than in the spontaneous conception group. No significant association was identified between the mode of conception and depressive symptoms during the antenatal or postnatal period. The lack of full-time employment and prepregnancy depressive symptoms were associated with antenatal depressive symptoms. Primipara status and depressive symptoms during prepregnancy and pregnancy were associated with depressive symptoms during the first-year postpartum. Assisted reproductive technology was not a risk factor for depressive symptoms during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, whereas primipara status, lack of full-time employment and prepregnancy depressive symptoms were negative predictors. Therefore, targeted mental health interventions should address these specific factors to effectively support maternal mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to test the predictive capacity of the attachment theory in delineating the line between normal and pathological love as well as testing the moderating role of gender in the link between insecure attachment and sexual satisfaction. We administered to a sample of 307 adults the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Love Addiction Inventory (LAI), the Passionate Love Scale (PLS), and the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS). We found that some subscales of the ASQ predict LAI scores and that the relationship between passionate love and love addiction was positively moderated by insecure styles of attachment (i.e. discomfort for closeness, preoccupation for relationships, and need for approval). In addition, insecure attachment was negatively related to sexual satisfaction. However, moderation analyses evidenced that the relationship between attachment avoidance and low sexual satisfaction was positive only among males. The study confirmed the utility of the attachment perspective in the understanding of the processes underlying romantic relationships. Results also suggest that the quality of attachment style may be a key factor in differentiating normal from pathological love and that the impact of avoidant attachment style on sexual satisfaction may follow different pathways according to gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high prevalence, and high functional impairment associated with panic disorder, programs targeting the prevention of panic psychopathology are still very limited. This article aims to guide panic disorder prevention programs, by analyzing different psychological risk factors, and their interactions in the pathogenesis of the psychopathology of panic disorder. The results show, on the one hand, that neuroticism, perceived control, emotional clarity, and anxiety sensitivity are causal risk factors for the development of panic disorder. On the other hand, several causal pathways involving complex chains of these factors lead to the development of panic disorder. These results may help guide panic disorder prevention interventions by guiding, on the one hand, decisions concerning the populations to be targeted for prevention efforts as well as, on the other hand, by identifying the risk and protective factors to be targeted to reduce the probability of occurrence of panic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent history of psychiatry is one of diagnostic expansion. Since the etiological model of mental illness was superseded by the symptom model around 1980, new diagnoses have continuously been added to the reigning manuals of psychopathology, most recently with DSM-5 and ICD-11. This article unfolds some of the criticism that has recently been directed at diagnostic psychiatry with a focus on two quite different lines of critical thought: One represented by a neuroscientific approach known as RDoC, which argues that psychiatry must move beyond symptoms and find the causes of mental illness in the brain (Insel et al., 2010), and another represented by a contextual approach known as PTMF, which argues that mental distress is by and large understandable in light of what happens to people (Boyle & Johnstone, 2020). These oppositional perspectives stand out as prototypical, and each contain valuable insights but also limitations. The article ends by arguing that the limitations can be overcome if the perspectives are united by a hybrid theory stating that mental illness is always a property of a relation between a person and an environment. Two such theories are introduced and discussed (Gannik, 2002; Wakefield, 1992). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current evidence suggests that the efficacy of psychedelic therapy depends, in part, on the character of psychedelic experiences themselves. One pronounced aspect of psychedelic experiences is alterations to the experience of time, including reports of timelessness or transcending time. However, how we should interpret such reports remains unclear, and this lack of clarity has philosophical and clinical implications. For instance, “true” timelessness may be considered antithetical to having any experience at all, and descriptions of experiences involving “timelessness” are known to be diverse and of varying clinical significance. In this article, we utilize a phenomenological approach to the study of temporality to highlight ambiguities in current constructs used to assess psychedelic experiences. In doing so, we advance some preliminary phenomenological accounts of psychedelic therapy’s mechanisms of action, such as psychedelic temporality acting as a kind of counterpoint for depressive temporality. We conclude by outlining how a dedicated phenomenological research program can provide a nuanced map of psychedelic temporality, guiding future research in a manner that addresses both philosophical and clinical ambiguities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Madness as Resilience in Henry Chettle’s The Tragedy of Hoffman" by Catherine Clifford explores the portrayal of madness as a resilient response to community crisis in Chettle's lesser-known revenge tragedy. The play, likely authored in 1602, features a noblewoman named Lucibella whose madness serves as a liminal space, adapting to the trauma she faces. Lucibella's recovery from her distraction symbolizes the community's transition from despair to action against their victimizer, Hoffman. The article delves into the themes of resilience, madness, and community response in the context of early modern revenge tragedies. [Extracted from the article]

With a reliable retrospective link to early-life traumatic stress, dissociation has been formulated as a pathology of abnormal socioemotional development. Dissociation hence should be identifiable and diagnosable in childhood. This study aimed to address the extent to which current formulation and diagnostic criteria of adult dissociation is applicable to children. This case study documented and analyzed the potentially dissociative experiences and behaviors in a 11-year-old boy from a residential facility accommodating children from high-risk families. The first-person account from the child client about his potentially dissociative experiences and the observations of the clinician witnessing the targeted behaviors were documented, revealing a symptom profile similar to adult dissociation. Dissociation disrupted multiple domains of typically integrated mental functioning including memory, consciousness, and the sense of self. The child client presented unusual forgetfulness that was observed by others, while the child himself was able to describe experiences involving gaps in consciousness and a fragmented and disconnected sense of self. This case study renders support for the current formulation of dissociative pathology and its applicability to high-risk cases in early developmental stages. This finding also indicates the importance of trauma-informed care in child residential settings. With gentle guiding prompts, children are able to recognize and articulate unusual experiences, facilitating the early identification of dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveParticipantsMethodsResultsConclusionsDisordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) frequently co-occur in university students, yet what underlies this co-occurrence remains unknown. Network analysis was used to identify psychosocial correlates that may link DEBs and NSSI in university students and test whether networks were similar across gender.Four hundred and seventy college women and 473 college men (aged 18–25 years).Participants completed online questionnaires. Networks were estimated for men, women, and a combined sample.The networks for men and women were invariant. The most central nodes in the combined network were difficulties in emotion regulation and body dissatisfaction. Interoception and difficulties in emotion regulation were directly associated with past-month NSSI and strongly associated with body dissatisfaction, linking DEBs and NSSI in the network.Difficulties in emotion regulation, interoception, and body dissatisfaction may play critical roles in the comorbidity of DEBs and NSSI in university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsParanoid ideation underlies numerous psychological disorders and has debilitating effects on daily life. Deficits in neurocognition are highlighted as a contributing factor to paranoid-related disorders, but the impact on the symptom-level experience of paranoid ideation is unclear. This study aimed to employ a dimensional approach to understand the association between neurocognition and the severity and presence of paranoid ideation.400 participants, representative of the general population of the USA, completed an online questionnaire consisting of the Brief Symptom Inventory-53, and demographic and clinical questions. The participants then completed four computerised neurocognitive tasks measuring working memory, shifting, inhibition, and speed of processing.Speed of processing accounted for unique variance in the severity of paranoid ideation with a small effect size, after controlling for covariates. Working memory, shifting, and inhibition could not uniquely or collectively, account for paranoid ideation. Neurocognitive performance could not distinguish between individuals with and without paranoid ideation experiences.This research supports the body of literature that speed of information processing may be a key feature of paranoid ideation. Future research should employ non-linear dynamic methods to better understand the potential interactions between neurocognitive components and how this may relate to paranoid ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn narrative identity research, variables are typically captured through detailed content-coding of personal narratives. Yet, alternative methods have been suggested, notably self-report scales, because they capture a participant’s own interpretation of their personal narratives, and because they are efficient to administer as a supplement to more labor-intensive coding methods. This study developed and validated the Narrative Identity Self-Evaluation (NISE) questionnaire. In Study 1, the questionnaire was developed through exploratory factor analysis (n = 425) and its criterion validity examined. In Study 2, the NISE factor structure and criterion relationships were confirmed (n = 304). In Study 3 (based on the same sample as Study 1), content-coding of 11 narrative identity characteristics in open-ended personal story accounts was conducted, and NISE scores were compared to corresponding content-coded variables. The 20-item NISE has three factors replicating common dimensions in narrative identity (autobiographical reasoning, desire for structure, positive motivational/affective themes) and a novel fourth factor capturing disturbances of narrative identity. The NISE correlated in theoretically-coherent ways with content coded narrative identity variables, self-report traits, and measures relevant for narrative identity, self-concept, well-being, and psychopathology. We discuss the scale’s advantages in complementing content-coding of narrative accounts to assess variation in narrative identity within both clinical and non-clinical populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the prevalence of smartphone addiction has significantly increased. This situation has raised concerns about its potential impact on health aspects, such as sleep quality and mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations like pregnant women. This study aimed to identify the factors that determine sleep quality in pregnant women and examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, depression, and sleep quality. This descriptive correlational study included 257 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters who were registered at six family health centers between September 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Form, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Regression and mediation analyses were performed for the data. Of the participants, 44.4 percent had poor sleep quality. Depression and third trimester were significant determinants of sleep quality. The bootstrapping results revealed that smartphone addiction led to an increase in the level of depression (β = 0.145; p <.001). Depression worsened sleep quality (β = 0.262; p <.001). The smartphone addiction did not significantly affect sleep quality (β = 0.020; p =.279). Depression mediates the relationship between sleep quality and smartphone addiction (β = 0.038; 95 percent CI [0.018: 0.062]). The study highlights that while smartphone addiction does not directly impact sleep quality in pregnant women, it is associated with increased depression levels, which subsequently worsen sleep quality. It is recommended that healthcare providers monitor smartphone usage and mental health in pregnant women to mitigate the risk of sleep disturbances and improve overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to discern configurations of executive functioning (EF) and neuroticism (NE) and tested their concurrent validity with respect to internalizing and externalizing problems and physical health. Participants: A total of 125 college students completed the study. Methods: Participants self-reported NE and EF on separate normed rating scales and completed computerized tests of EF. Self-reported internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and global physical health were collected. Results: LPA revealed four profiles: (1) Lower EF + Higher NE, (2) Higher EF + Lower NE, (3) Inconsistent EF + Higher NE, and (4) Inconsistent EF + Lower NE. Adjusting for covariates, profiles were differentially associated with internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and physical health. Conclusions: Screening EF and NE in college students may identify those at risk for psychopathology and physical health concerns. Tailored prevention and intervention efforts on college campuses targeting EF and NE may enhance well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High intensity (HI) binge drinking has emerged as a high-risk drinking phenotype in young adult drinkers, yet few studies have evaluated clinically meaningful correlates of HI binge drinking among young adults at risk for co-occurring psychopathologies, such as interpersonal trauma-exposed drinkers. The present study compared three groups (i.e., HI binge, standard binge, non-binge drinkers) of interpersonal trauma-exposed college student drinkers (N = 221) on alcohol and interpersonal trauma characteristics. Results of one-way ANOVAs indicated that the HI binge group endorsed significantly greater negative alcohol-related consequences relative to the other two groups. The HI binge group endorsed significantly greater enhancement motives compared to the non-binge group, and no group differences were detected for PTSD and interpersonal trauma characteristics. Individuals who engage in HI binge drinking may experience greater alcohol problems due to their use of alcohol to enhance positive mood. HI binge drinking does not differentiate individuals on the basis of interpersonal trauma experiences or related psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Rereading and rethinking: reflections towards the society of 2030 from Freud's three essays on the theory of sexuality and the case of Dora" delves into Freud's concepts from "Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality" and the case of Dora to explore human psyche and psychosexual development. It discusses Freud's theories on infantile sexuality, psychosexual development stages, and the interplay between constitution and environment in shaping human sexual drive. The article also reflects on clinical insights and theories of childhood sexuality, providing clinical suggestions and insights into the complex interplay between individual predispositions and environmental experiences. The author, Silvia Cimino, emphasizes the importance of maintaining Freudian milestones in understanding psychic functioning as society progresses towards 2030. [Extracted from the article]

People high in depressive or anxious symptom severity show repetitive negative thinking, including worry and rumination. They also show various cognitive phenomena, including probability, cost, and interpretation biases. Since there is conceptual overlap between these cognitive biases and repetitive negative thinking – all involve thinking about potential threats and misfortunes – we wondered whether repetitive negative thinking could account for (mediate) these cognitive biases' associations with depressive and anxious symptom severity. In three studies, conducted in two languages and cultures, cost bias and (in two studies) interpretation bias only predicted symptom severity via worry and repetitive negative thinking; this suggests these biases are actually associated with repetitive negative thinking, rather than with symptoms. In contrast, probability bias showed direct relationships with depressive (all studies) and anxious (two studies) symptom severity, suggesting its relationships with symptoms are partly independent of repetitive negative thinking. These results show the value of studying relationships among the various cognitive features of psychopathology. Furthermore, new interventions which target cognitive biases in depression or anxiety must show that they can improve upon cognitive behavioural therapy, which is already widely available, targets both repetitive negative thinking and probability bias, and is highly effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations in interoception have been linked to psychopathology. Recent findings suggest that both the attention to and the accuracy of, interoceptive perceptions may be oppositely related to subclinical symptomatology. Thus, providing well-validated tools that tap into these interoceptive processes is crucial for understanding the relation between interoceptive processing and subclinical psychopathology. In the current study (N = 642), we aimed to (1) validate the German version of the Interoceptive Attention Scale (IATS; Gabriele et al., 2022), and (2) test the differential association of self-reported interoceptive attention and accuracy with subclinical symptomatology, including alexithymia, depressive, and anxious symptomatology. We observed that a one-factor solution is a well-fitting model for the IATS. Further, the IATS showed good internal consistency, convergent, and divergent validity, but poor test-retest reliability. Self-reported interoceptive attention and accuracy were unrelated to each other. However, IATS scores were positively related to all measures of psychopathology (except depressive symptomatology), whereas self-reported interoceptive accuracy scores showed negative or nonsignificant relations with these. Our data suggest that the IATS is a good instrument to measure self-report interoceptive attention in the German population. Further, we highlight the need to distinguish between constructs of interoception to better understand the relation between interoception and psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While mental health frameworks are increasingly accepted in Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) policies, little is known about practitioners' experiences when individuals are mentally ill. This paper discusses how mental health clinicians review interactions between psychopathology and violent extremism, and which challenges Dutch practitioners face in decision-making processes around including severely mentally ill people in CVE individual case management approaches. Inclusion means that people are identified as (potential) violent extremists, which justifies CVE interventions on top of regular mental health care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 international mental health clinicians and 13 Dutch CVE practitioners. Data was analysed with qualitative thematic analysis. Results show that professionals usually view the risk of extremist violence, and not psychopathology, as the decisive factor for inclusion, unless (forensic) mental health clinicians advise otherwise. Nevertheless, some practitioners can experience challenges around making dichotomous choices about including mentally ill persons. Some expressed concerns about illegitimately labelling certain people as 'radicalised' when they suffer from severe mental illnesses (e.g. psychosis). CVE cases with mental illnesses are, however, characterised by heterogeneity, non-dichotomy and missing information. False negatives and false positives concerning uptake in pre-emptive CVE policies can have detrimental individual and societal effects. Future research suggestions are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA) remains a persistent problem in rape and sexual assault cases. Several scholars (e.g. Mouilso, E. R., & Calhoun, K. S. (2013). The role of rape myth acceptance and psychopathy in sexual assault perpetration. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 22(2), 159–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2013.743937) discussed RMA as a cognitive distortion that constitutes a crucial link between psychopathy and rape perpetration. Research has indicated that empathy can help counteract bias and promote understanding and support for individuals who have experienced sexual violence (Batson, C. D., Polycarpou, M. P., Harmon-Jones, E., Imhoff, H. J., Mitchener, E. C., Bednar, L. L., Klein, T. R., & Highberger, L. (1997). Empathy and attitudes: Can feeling for a member of a stigmatized group improve feelings toward the group? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(1), 105–118. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.72.1.105). The overall goal of this study was to experimentally assess the relationship between empathy priming, psychopathy, and RMA. Specifically, it aimed to examine whether psychopathic traits influence the relationship between empathy priming and RMA. The study included 518 participants from Ontario Tech University and the community. Results indicated that the amount of effort invested in the empathy priming task significantly reduced rape-supportive attitudes, but only when the participants had high levels of psychopathic personality traits. Limitations of the study and potential directions for future research are discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT: The present research offers a unique perspective in understanding the efficiency of empathy priming on rape-supportive attitudes in individuals with high- and low-trait psychopathy. Additionally, it highlights the significance of active involvement and engagement in empathy-based sexual assault prevention programmes, particularly when targeting individuals with high psychopathic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about men who sexually abuse multiple children and evade detection for long periods. This group is responsible for inflicting significant harm due to the severity, and longevity of their offending. The aim of the study was to identify men who perpetrate persistent sexual offences against children and differentiate them by those with long detection lags (LDLs) (n = 35) and short detection lags (SDLs) (n = 35) using police databases and case files. The men were compared on demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, victimisation, psychopathic traits, antisocial orientation, atypical sexual interest, and descriptive sexual offence variables. The LDL participants had more psychopathic traits, more pre-pubescent child victims, more often be in professional employment and have less antisocial and criminogenic indicators than the comparative SDL group. These findings have significant practical implications for reduced victimisation through early identification, forensic risk assessment, treatment and earlier prevention strategies for CSA. Practice impact statement: The current findings have important and practical implications within forensic risk assessment, especially Structured Professional Judgement (SPJ) when assessing specific groups of offenders. In addition, research informed SPJ can better prioritise policing investigative resources, both retrospectively (e.g. identifying victims) and prospectively (e.g. reducing detection lags and victimisation) while defensively informing the criminal justice system of the most appropriate supervision intensity and intervention modalities for men with clinical and forensic indicators of potential high victimisation and longer detection lags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHistorically, forensic evaluators have relied heavily upon various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders when rendering psycholegal opinions. The field of mental health is increasing moving toward dimensional models of personality and psychopathology in lieu of traditional DSM categorical models, though the domains of forensic psychology and psychiatry have been slow to make this transition. The current study therefore sought to examine forensic evaluators’ familiarity with dimensional approaches to personality and psychopathology, namely the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) and the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists (N = 54) completed an online survey designed to assess their familiarity with these models, as well as to determine if forensics practitioners are using these models in clinical practice. Participants endorsed greater familiarity with the AMPD, with a large majority of participants indicating they were unfamiliar with the HiTOP model. Few participants endorsed using these models in their clinical forensic practice. Implications for making the transition to dimensional models within forensic evaluation are discussed, as are paths forward for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractNumerous tools assess death anxiety, but many have questionable psychometric properties. The Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (DABBS) addresses these shortcomings, assessing death-related maladaptive affect, beliefs, and behaviors that could be foundational to fears associated with death. We translated the DABBS into Persian and examined its psychometric properties among Iranian adolescents (n = 598, Mage = 14.80, range = 12-18 years old). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the intended three-factor structure that comprises death-related affect, beliefs, and behaviors. Furthermore, the DABBS demonstrated good internal consistency, as well as expected associations with other measures of death anxiety and psychopathology measures, except that the Behaviors subscale unexpectedly did not relate to theoretically relevant constructs. Our findings indicate that the DABBS affect and belief subscales have strong psychometric properties among Iranian adolescents. However, further research is needed to elucidate whether the overall DABBS score demonstrates improved validity when used with other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodResultsConclusions\nKEY POINTSPrevious research has found a negative association between aversion to happiness and various aspects of mental well-being. In the present study, we hypothesised that aversion to happiness (as measured by the fear of happiness scale) would mediate the association between psychological distress and three predictors: Meaning in life, self-esteem, and perfectionism. We included five dimensions of perfectionism separately, and a composite of the five dimensions to measure overall perfectionism.We used a sample of 317 individuals from Turkey (mean age = 27.31) to test our hypotheses. We employed both ordinary least square regression analysis and path analysis to examine the mediation hypotheses.The results of mediation analyses showed that aversion to happiness was a significant mediator of the associations between psychological distress and self-esteem, meaning in life, the five aspects of perfectionism, and overall perfectionism. In a path model with meaning in life, self-esteem, and overall perfectionism, aversion to happiness was found to significantly mediate only the effects of meaning in life and perfectionism.These results highlight the importance of meaning in life, self-esteem, and perfectionism as predictors of aversion to happiness and the role of aversion to happiness as a mediator for the links between these predictors and mental well-being.What is already known about this topic: Aversion to happiness has been linked to reduced mental well-being and increased psychopathology symptoms.Previous studies have explored some predictors of aversion to happiness, such as childhood maltreatment, insecure attachment, and neuroticism.Aversion to happiness is commonly examined as a predictor variable in psychological research.Aversion to happiness has been linked to reduced mental well-being and increased psychopathology symptoms.Previous studies have explored some predictors of aversion to happiness, such as childhood maltreatment, insecure attachment, and neuroticism.Aversion to happiness is commonly examined as a predictor variable in psychological research.What this topic adds: This study is the first to demonstrate that low self-esteem and a lack of meaning in life are significant predictors of aversion to happiness.This study provides new evidence that perfectionism, across multiple dimensions, contributes to aversion to happiness.Aversion to happiness mediated the relationships between meaning in life, self-esteem, perfectionism, and psychological distress.This study is the first to demonstrate that low self-esteem and a lack of meaning in life are significant predictors of aversion to happiness.This study provides new evidence that perfectionism, across multiple dimensions, contributes to aversion to happiness.Aversion to happiness mediated the relationships between meaning in life, self-esteem, perfectionism, and psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freud’s oft-cited hostility toward religion is often taken as a counterpoint to Jungian analytical psychology, with the latter being known not merely to accommodate religious experience but to assert that the religious function is in fact integral to the psyche’s flourishing. An area that has not received much academic attention, however, is the relationship between Freud’s ideas on psychopathology/religion and those of the late post-Jungian writer and founder of archetypal psychology, James Hillman. This paper aims to address that gap in the literature, bringing to the fore concepts that are of central importance to Hillman’s oeuvre as soul and soul-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Freud's lost 1922 lecture on the unconscious, which served as a precursor to his later work on the structural model of the mind. It outlines Freud's development of the mind's conception in phases, from an affect-trauma model to a spatial model, and finally to the structural model with the id, ego, and superego. The text also delves into Freud's interactions with Georg Groddeck, who influenced Freud's transition from the system Unconscious to the structure id. Additionally, it touches on Freud's illness and the events leading up to his death, including his strained relationship with his physician Felix Deutsch. The article provides insights into Freud's personal struggles and the impact of his work on psychoanalysis. [Extracted from the article]

Childhood obesity is a prevalent health condition, the effects of which extend to mental health, social relationships, educational performance, and long-term physical health conditions. The present study focused on an optimized student support intervention that functions in predominantly high-poverty urban locations, which recognizes students as possessing unique constellations of protective and risk factors. Participants included 5,573 K-5 students that support staff identified as being overweight through a holistic, collaborative assessment process, and evaluated how these students differed from peers not perceived as overweight. Findings indicated statistically significant differences across the groups, in terms of demographic characteristics, strengths and risks recognized (in academic, social-emotional/behavioral, family, and health/medical domains), school-related academic and thriving performance scores, and the moderating effects of specific psychosocial and familial strengths and risks on those educational areas. This study underscores the importance of considering both strengths- and risks-based assessment and intervention approaches – as well as the utility of initial identification of students – particularly in low-income, underserved environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the concept of affordance, which refers to the perception of opportunities for action that objects in the environment offer to individuals. It discusses how affordance has been applied to various areas such as bodily action, perception, emotions, social cognition, and psychopathology. The article presents different perspectives on the definition and application of affordance, including its role in mental actions and thoughts. It also explores how affordance can inform the understanding of reasons for action, language, and affectivity. Additionally, the text discusses the applications of affordance in understanding the affective character of experience, social interactions, social norms, neurodivergence, psychopathology, architecture, education, and morality. Overall, the article highlights the versatility and potential of the concept of affordance in understanding human perception and behavior in different contexts. [Extracted from the article]

Affordances are action-possibilities, ways of relating to and acting on things in our world. They help us understand how these things mean what they do and how we have bodily access to our world more generally. But what happens when this access is ruptured or impeded? I consider this question in the context of psychopathology and reports that describe this experience. I argue that thinking about the bodily consequences of losing access to everyday affordances can help us better understand these reports. An affordance-based approach to psychopathology can illuminate some of the causes, as well as the experiential character and consequences, of affective disorders and diminished spatial agency in self-world disturbances. It also highlights some under-explored ethical and political dimensions of these issues that need further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prior studies suggest that lower levels of mindfulness contribute to the motivation of using alcohol to cope with distress. Research examining this possibility is scarce or limited to alcohol, but not marijuana, related outcomes. Objectives: We examined separate models (for alcohol and for marijuana) to determine the associations between trait mindfulness (describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, non-reactivity) and alcohol and marijuana outcomes (use indicators and negative consequences) via emotional psychopathology (i.e., a latent variable assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety) and alcohol/marijuana coping motives. Results: The final analytic sample consisted of 456 participants (Mean age = 22.96 ± 3.12 years; 66.2% women) for the alcohol model; and 232 participants (Mean age = 22.96 ± 3.01 years; 66.2% women) for the marijuana model. Two path models were conducted, such that indirect paths were examined for each trait mindfulness facet on alcohol/marijuana outcomes (e.g., describing → emotional psychopathology → alcohol coping motives → binge drinking frequency). Within the comprehensive alcohol model, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging and non-reactivity were associated with less binge drinking frequency and lower number of alcohol-related negative consequences via lower severity of emotional psychopathology symptoms and lower endorsement of drinking to cope motives. For the marijuana model, describing, acting with awareness, and non-judging of inner experience were associated with less marijuana quantity (grams) consumed and lower number of marijuana-related negative consequences via lower severity of emotional psychopathology symptoms and lower endorsement of marijuana coping motives. Conclusions: Prevention and intervention programs of alcohol and marijuana in Argentina may benefit from improving mindfulness skills and targeting emotional psychopathology and motives to use drugs, to prevent or reduce negative drug-related consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Authors discuss the connections between novel psychoactive substance (NPS) use and psychological trauma. The transition from classical substances to NPS, a paradigm change, poses a challenge for the treatment systems. Objective: Research evidence suggests difficulties in emotion regulation and trauma-related NPS-use. Authors explore some demographic and psychopathological characteristics related to such findings and examine the connections between emotion regulation deficiency and the choice of substance. Method: This study uses a methodological triangulation of a biologically identified sample to confirm NPS use, a survey method to describe users' socioeconomic characteristics, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) subscales to study dysfunctions in emotion regulation. Results: Participants (77 patients) were mainly polydrug users. The transgenerational transfer of substance use was a salient feature, but material deprivation was not characteristic of the entire sample. NPS use was not connected to certain psychopathological characteristics the way classical substance use was. More than half of the respondents had elevated scores on MMPI-2 Demoralization (RCd) and Dysfunctional Negative Emotions (RC7) scales. Nearly half of them also scored high on Neuroticism/Negative Emotionality (NEGE). Conclusions: Results suggest that NPS use in the context of polydrug use is connected to psychological trauma and emotion regulation deficiency, but the MMPI-2 scales to assess emotional dysfunctions are not connected to a particular type of NPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is included in ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR and includes a requirement of cultural deviance. This study examined endorsement rates and factors associated with endorsement of this criterion among Danish bereaved spouses (n = 425) and their adult children (n = 159) four years post-loss. In total, 7.5% (n = 44) participants endorsed this criterion. Both including and excluding the criterion, the prevalence rates for probable DSM-5-TR PGD were 1.4% (n = 8) and 1.7% (n = 10), respectively and for probable ICD-11 PGD were 1.4% (n = 8) and 2.2% (n = 13), respectively. Age and gender of the deceased, age of the bereaved, greater grief severity, and comorbid psychopathology were positively associated with endorsement of the criterion. Findings demonstrate low endorsement of the cultural deviation criterion, that its inclusion excludes several potential PGD cases, and unanticipated associations with several factors raise questions about the criterion's validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the impact of social activities on cognitive functioning and psychopathological symptoms. Methods: Participants aged 55 or older were enrolled through communities. Initial measures assessed demographic data, neuropsychological functioning, psychopathological state, and happiness. Social activities were evaluated using a modified 12-item tool, with 3–4 activities as the cutoff. Follow-up after 6–9 months included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Beck Depression Inventory – II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) measurements. Predictive models for psychiatric and cognitive statuses were built using multiple linear regression, adjusting for baseline conditions. Results: Initially, 516 older individuals enrolled, with 403 undergoing follow-up. During follow-up, the low participation group reported lower MMSE scores, higher BAI scores, and increased PHQ-15 risk. Negative correlations between social activity numbers and PHQ-15 results were found. Engagement in social clubs correlated positively with higher MMSE scores, while regular interactions with one's adult child(ren) were linked to decreased BAI scores. Conclusions: The quantity of social activities was associated with lower somatic distress. Social club engagement positively influenced cognition, and regular interactions with one's adult child(ren) mitigated anxiety among older individuals. Clinical implications: Enough types of social activities, participating in social clubs, and adequate interactions with children protected against psychopathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focused on the emotional experience of anger among individuals with and without social anxiety disorder (SAD). Eighty-eight participants took part in the study, half (n = 44) met diagnostic criteria for SAD and half (n = 44) did not meet criteria for SAD. Participants completed a 21-day experience sampling measurement (ESM) in which they reported on daily social interactions and emotions. Using multilevel linear modeling we found that individuals with SAD experienced more anger compared to individuals without SAD. We also found a Diagnosis × Social Context interaction such that interactions with distant others were associated with elevated anger compared to interactions with close others for individuals with SAD but not for individuals without SAD. Finally, we found that for individuals with SAD (but not those without SAD) anger on a given day (day t) was associated with elevated anxiety on the following day (day t + 1), above and beyond previous anxiety, sadness and guilt (i.e. anxiety, sadness and guilt reported on day t). This suggests that anger may play a unique role in maintaining or exacerbating anxiety among individuals with SAD. Additional implications of our findings for models of psychopathology and for treatment of SAD are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mary Main’s operationalization of infant attachment disorganization contributed to our understanding of attachment and psychopathology. Her exploration of attachment patterns at age 6 with Jude Cassidy laid the foundations for studying attachment post-infancy. They found remarkable correspondence from age 1 to age 6 in the disorganization spectrum and documented the emergence of role-reversal. This study proposes a person-centered approach to explore classes of children with respect to attachment disorganization at four time points between infancy and late preschool. Participants (n = 205) were recruited in the UK and formed a socioeconomically diverse community sample of mother–child dyads. We identified three classes of children: 1) a stable organized group; 2) an unstable group becoming organized; and 3) an unstable group becoming disorganized. Results show that major loss predicts membership of the third class of children. These findings contribute to our understanding of disorganization across multiple periods, and thus to Mary Main’s legacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professionals are encouraged to include multiple symptom validity tests (SVTs) and multiple performance validity tests (PVTs) to assess the credibility of clinical and forensic presentations. Combining the Inventory of Problems–29 (IOP-29, an SVT) with its Memory module (IOP-M, a PVT), referred to here as ‘IOP-29-M’, may be especially beneficial, as it allows for rapid assessment of both symptom and performance validity. Accordingly, the present study aimed at ‘stress testing’ the IOP-29-M by examining base rates of failure (BRFail) in 109 patients with schizophrenia spectrum psychopathology, both with and without criminal convictions. In the overall sample, BRFail were low: 13.8% and 8.3%, respectively, for the standard (≥ .50) and conservative (≥ .65) cutoffs of the IOP-29, and 12.8% and 9.2%, respectively, for the standard (≤ 29) and conservative (≤ 28) cutoffs of the IOP-M. Importantly, very few individuals, less than 5%, failed both components of the IOP-29-M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodResultsConclusionSystemic Therapy conceives mental health symptoms in the context of social systems. Previous meta-analyses on Systemic Therapy focused on symptoms. This meta-analysis aims to focus on family system functioning while including all types of outcomes.We conducted a systematic literature research in multiple databases (PsycInfo, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central). We included RCT-studies on adults with psychiatric diagnoses, which compared Systemic Therapy with active psychosocial control. The literature research resulted in 171 coded effect sizes of 32 RCTs. We conducted a random-effects three-level meta-analysis. We categorized outcomes into symptoms of patients, family system functioning, further secondary outcomes of patients, and psychopathology of family members.The results show a small significant overall effect size of g = .30 (CI: .15–.45, p < .001, k = 171, s = 32) for all outcomes. Systemic Therapy revealed small effect sizes with regard to family system functioning (g = .34, z = 3.51, p = .0004, k = 26, s = 12), symptoms (g = .30, z = 3.74, p = .0002, k = 73, s = 29), and further secondary outcomes (g = .32, z = 3.83, p = .0001, k = 63, s = 19). The effect sizes for psychopathology of family system members were reported rarely (k = 9, s = 6).This meta-analysis shows the potential relevance of investigating family system functioning as a primary outcome for Systemic Therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundAimMethodsResultsConclusionsAsthma, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airways, significantly impacts both respiratory function and quality of life. Recent studies have highlighted the psychological dimensions of chronic diseases like asthma. Despite growing evidence linking asthma with various psychopathological conditions, comprehensive data remains scarce.This study aims to explore the psychopathological status of asthma patients and identify demographic and clinical factors associated with higher levels of psychopathological symptoms.Data were collected from 42 asthma patients attending the Asthma Outpatient Clinic at the University of Thessaly, Greece. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire on demographics and clinical parameters, along with the Symptoms Checklist-90 (SCL-90) to assess psychological symptoms.The sample included patients with varying asthma severity: 38% with severe asthma and 62% with mild-moderate asthma, with a mean age of 60.8 ± 15.6 years. Results indicated that 23.8% exhibited somatization symptoms, 23.8% showed compulsive behaviors, 33.8% reported interpersonal sensitivity, and 38.1% experienced depression and 38.1% aggressiveness. Additionally, 45.2% struggled with fearful anxiety, 4.8% showed paranoid ideation, and 11.9% had traits of psychoticism. Women had significantly higher psychopathology scores than men. Factors such as longer disease duration, uncontrolled asthma, severe asthma, and comorbid conditions like atopy and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were linked to higher psychopathological scores.The study found a high prevalence of psychopathological symptoms among asthma patients. Female gender, prolonged asthma duration, persistent symptoms, comorbid diseases (GERD, atopy) and greater disease severity were significantly associated with higher psychopathology, underscoring the need for integrated mental health care in asthma management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital technological revolution shifted the balance of world perceptual experience, increasing exposure to digital content, introducing a new quality to our perceptual experiences. Embodied cognition offers an ideal vantage point to study how digital technologies impact on selves and their social relations for at least two reasons: first, because of the bodily performative character of the relations and interactions these new media evoke; second, because similar brain-body mechanisms ground our relations with both the physical world and its digital mediations. A closer look is taken at the possible effects of digitization on social communication, on politics, as well as on the constitution of the self and its world relations, especially in the context of the ever-increasing amount of time spent online, with a focus on digital natives. As we explore the complexities of the digital age, it is imperative to critically examine the role of digital technologies in shaping social life and political discourse. By understanding the interplay between content, emotional context, delivery methods, and shareability within digital media landscapes, we can develop strategies to mitigate the negative effects of misinformation and promote informed decision-making in our increasingly digital world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I explore Walter Benjamin's complex thoughts about the concept of experience to illuminate a central paradox when thinking about madness. This paradox concerns the need to hold together constellations of concepts that appear to be diametrically opposed. On the one hand there is the realm of the psychopathological; a psychiatric thinking of madness as mental illness that refers to suffering, loss of existence, and dysfunction. On the other hand, there is a thinking about madness as a diverse and different experience, as possibility, illumination, and difference. Benjamin's writings on experience can be particularly fertile here because he acknowledges the contradictions in experience, at certain points emphasising the loss of experience and at other points focussing on the possibilities of a new experience even within a destruction of experience. I will explore three aspects of Benjamin's reflections on experience and their relationship to an experience of psychosis; the loss of experience in modernity and the possibilities that lie within such a loss, the turn towards the object in Benjamin's account of experience, and finally the concept of the limit-experience. I conclude by considering Benjamin's idea of the dialectical image and apply this idea to the experience of madness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, taking a cue from the image provided by Walter Benjamin, I argue that the work of the psychiatrist can be compared to that of the ragpicker who collects what others consider to be 'waste', rescuing it from oblivion and transforming it into a key resource for treatment. I review two 'logics of discovery'- phenomenologically inspired structural psychopathology and that of narrative psychopathology - whose purpose is to complement mainstream diagnostic approach based on 'ticking boxes'. I try to identify the shortcomings of these two methodologies, in particular the confirmation bias that can cause selective inattention to anything that does not fit into the expected structure or narrative. I highlight the heuristic importance of these 'fragments' that are in danger of remaining on the fringes of the clinician's attention who is too focused on 'making ends meet,' showing how in certain psychopathological conditions - e.g. early schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder, marked by fragmentation - inattention to fragments can impede understanding and treatment. I argue for the importance in psychiatry of an 'emergentist' logic of discovery, of a kind of psychopathological knowledge 'co-produced' with patients, and of fragment-oriented listening in order not to lose the richness of patients' own accounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centering the perspectives of youth with lived experience (YWLE) in psychopathology is critical to engaging in impactful clinical research to improve youth mental health outcomes. Over the past decade there has been a greater push in clinical science to include community members, and especially community members with lived experience, in all aspects of the research process. The goal of this editorial is to highlight the need for and importance of integrating YWLE into every stage of clinical science research, from idea generation to interpretation and dissemination of research findings. We identify five key problems associated with pursuing research on adolescent mental health without involvement of YWLE and propose strategies to overcome barriers to youth engagement in clinical science research. We conclude with a call to action, providing guidance to clinical scientists, institutions, and funding agencies in conducting research on youth psychopathology with YWLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While psychopathy has been a topic of interest in the psychological field for a long time, it is still unclear which developmental factors are related to its onset. Theories have suggested that experiencing trauma in childhood may contribute to the development of psychopathic traits. Experiencing trauma may also contribute to the development of an insecure attachment style, which in turn might cause the emergence of psychopathic traits. The current study investigated links between experiencing childhood trauma and the three psychopathy domains of the Extended Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (E-LSRP; Egocentricity, Callousness, and Antisocial), and whether these links were mediated by the four insecure attachment dimensions of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Need for Approval, Preoccupation with Relationships, Relationships as Secondary, and Discomfort with Closeness), in a large sample of non-clinical participants (N = 2023, Mage = 32.7, 70.0% female). The results suggested that Relationships as Secondary, but not Discomfort with Closeness, positively mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and the three domains of psychopathy, while Need for Approval negatively mediated this relationship. Preoccupation with Relationships was a significant mediator in the links between childhood trauma and both the Egocentricity and Antisocial domains, but not the Callousness domain. The current findings suggested that there might be both shared and differential mechanisms linking childhood trauma and psychopathic traits through insecure attachment styles. These findings can guide further investigations in longitudinal research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)–characterised by excessive and uncontrollable worry–is the most frequently diagnosed anxiety disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Identification of GAD often relies on assessment of its cardinal feature, pathological worry. The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) is the most robust measure of pathological worry to date but has not been extensively evaluated for use during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This study evaluated the internal consistency, construct validity, and diagnostic accuracy of the PSWQ in a sample of pregnant and postpartum women with and without a principal GAD diagnosis. Methods: One hundred forty-two pregnant and 209 postpartum women participated in this study. Sixty-nine pregnant and 129 postpartum participants met criteria for a principal diagnosis of GAD. Results: The PSWQ demonstrated good internal consistency and converged with measures assessing similar constructs. Pregnant participants with principal GAD scored significantly higher on the PSWQ than those with no psychopathology and postpartum participants with principal GAD scored significantly higher than those with principal mood disorders, other anxiety and related disorders, and no psychopathology. A cut-off score of 55 and 61 or greater was determined for detecting probable GAD during pregnancy and the postpartum period, respectively. Screening accuracy of the PSWQ was also demonstrated. Conclusions: This study underscores the robustness of the PSWQ as a measure of pathological worry and probable GAD and supports its use in the detection and monitoring of clinically significant worry symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distress intolerance—a broad band dispositional variable has been shown to serve as a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. We investigated the predictive validity of the physical and emotional subscales of the Distress Tolerance Inventory (DTI) on behavioral responding (immersion time) and moment-to-moment subjective distress ratings to the Cold-Pressor Test. College students (N = 134) completed self-report questionnaires indexing physical and emotional distress tolerance and then completed a cold pressor challenge. The DTI displayed convergent validity with several well-established self-report measures assessing distress tolerance (i.e. DTS, PCS, DIS). Participants' scores on the DTI physical subscale (but not the DTS or DTI emotional subscale) predicted participants' immersion time on the cold pressor challenge, thus supporting the construct validity of the DTI physical distress subscale. The DIS also predicted immersion time, though its internal consistency was marginal. These data suggest that the DTI is a valid measure for both emotional and physical distress tolerance and should be considered as a viable alternative to the DTS, especially for investigative domains involving physical distress such as chronic pain, or screening personnel for physically demanding tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]