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Objectives: Obsessive--compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts accompanied by repetitive mental or physical acts. While both intolerance of uncertainty and emotion-related impulsivity have been consistently evidenced as cognitive risk factors of OCD, no studies have considered their joint effects. The current study examined the interaction between intolerance of uncertainty and two forms of emotion- related impulsivity--including both a behavioural and cognitive form--in predicting OCD symptoms. Design: Cross- sectional data were collected online from community- based adult participants. Methods: Participants (N = 673) completed a battery of self- report measures of OCD symptom severity, intolerance of uncertainty, and emotion- related impulsivity. Results: The behavioural form of emotion- related impulsivity positively moderated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and OCD symptoms. Elevated levels of both factors predicted the most severe symptoms, particularly checking, washing, and obsessing. This interaction effect was not found for the cognitive form of emotion- related impulsivity, which still emerged as a unique predictor of OCD symptom severity, specifically obsessing symptoms. Conclusions: Current findings furthered the understanding of the link between intolerance of uncertainty and OCD symptoms by highlighting the role of emotion- related impulsivity. When uncertainty triggers distress in individuals with high intolerance of uncertainty, the urge to behaviourally alleviate this distress could promote the use of maladaptive obsessions and compulsions, leading to greater OCD symptoms. Results also indicated the potentially differential effects from the behavioural versus cognitive forms of emotion- related impulsivity on different symptom domains, and the mechanistic link here is worthy of further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Several dimensions have received attention for their potential role in explaining shared variance in transdiagnostic symptoms of psychopathology. We hypothesized emotion‐related impulsivity, the trait‐like tendency toward difficulty restraining responses to emotion, would relate to symptoms of psychopathology, with two separable dimensions of emotion‐related impulsivity relating distinctly to internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Method: Across two studies, we tested hypotheses using structural equation models of emotion‐related impulsivity and multiple indicators of internalizing, externalizing, and thought symptoms. Results: In Study 1 (658 undergraduates), emotion‐related impulsivity was highly correlated with the general psychopathology (p) factor. In study 2 (421 Mechanical Turk participants), models did not support a general p factor; however, we replicated the hypothesized associations of emotion‐related impulsivity dimensions with internalizing and externalizing factors. Across both studies, forms of emotion‐related impulsivity uniquely and differentially related to internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Conclusions: Findings indicate emotion‐related impulsivity may help explain transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology, such as the p factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: As the threat of climate change continues to grow, bolstering individual‐level support for climate change initiatives is crucial. More research is needed to better understand how individual difference factors, such as climate change anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty (IU), may shape how people perceive climate change and respond to climate change messaging. To date, the majority of published studies have not taken these individual difference factors into consideration, and IU has been particularly neglected in the climate change literature. This study examined the independent effects of climate change anxiety and IU on three climate change‐related outcomes: climate‐related distress, support for climate change policies, and behavioural engagement. Methods: Participants were Florida residents (N = 441) who completed an online survey, including measures of climate change anxiety and IU. Participants then watched a video describing climate change consequences and completed three outcome measures: post‐video distress, climate change policy support, and behavioural engagement. Results: Controlling for demographic covariates, both climate change anxiety (β =.43, p <.001) and IU (β =.27, p <.001) were associated with greater post‐video distress, but only IU independently predicted greater policy support (β =.10, p =.034) and behavioural engagement (β =.12, p =.017). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IU may be an important factor in promoting pro‐environmental behaviour and policy support, but climate change anxiety may increase emotional distress without boosting meaningful behaviours or support. Our findings highlight the potential influence of cognitive factors on climate change engagement and suggest that invoking uncertainty rather than anxiety may be more effective in catalysing effective environmental engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Researchers have increasingly differentiated trait‐like tendencies toward impulsivity occurring during emotional states (emotion‐related impulsivity [ERI]) from impulsivity not tied to emotion (non‐ERI). Relative to non‐ERI, ERI has shown robust correlations with psychopathology and mild to moderate associations with physical health parameters (e.g., physical activity, poor sleep quality, body mass index [BMI]). Therefore, we first aimed to investigate the unique contributions of ERI and non‐ERI to psychopathology symptoms while controlling for neuroticism. Second, we sought to explore the combined associations of physical health parameters with several impulsivity forms. Methods: German‐speaking adults (N = 350, 35.9 ± 14.6 years, 69.1% female, BMI: 24.0 ± 4.8 kg/m2, mostly students or employees) completed measures of impulsivity, psychopathology symptoms, neuroticism, and physical health. We gathered measures of two ERI forms: Feelings Trigger Action and Pervasive Influence of Feelings. As a control comparison, we gathered a measure of non‐ERI, the Lack of Follow‐Through scale. We conducted separate path models for Aims 1 and 2. Results: For Aim 1, Pervasive Influence of Feelings showed strong links with internalizing symptoms. Feelings Trigger Action and Lack of Follow‐Through showed small links with alcohol use. For Aim 2, poor sleep quality was related to all three impulsivity factors, while physical activity was only related to Pervasive Influence of Feelings and Lack of Follow‐Through. BMI showed a curvilinear association with impulsivity. Conclusions: ERI is more directly relevant than non‐ERI for psychopathology symptoms, emphasizing the need to differentiate between the two ERI types. The association of ERI and non‐ERI with physical activity and poor sleep quality may serve as potential treatment targets for impulsivity‐related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The COVID‐19 pandemic presented both serious health threats and economic hardships, which were reflected in increased rates of mood and anxiety symptoms. We examined two separate distress domains, health worries and work distress, as predictors of mood and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, we considered whether these two domains might be uniquely associated with the development of dysfunctional beliefs, as a proposed mechanism to account for increased symptoms during the pandemic. Two separate models were considered to examine if associations remained stable through the first year of the pandemic. Methods: Participants (N = 2152) were a representative sample of Florida adults. They completed online surveys at three waves: Wave 1 (April–May 2020), Wave 2 (May–June 2020), and Wave 3 (December–February 2021). Participants completed measures of COVID‐19 health worry and work distress, anxiety, and depression. They also reported their level of hopelessness and helplessness (indices of dysfunctional beliefs). Results: In an early pandemic model (Wave 1‐Wave 2), health worry directly and indirectly predicted anxiety and depression via dysfunctional beliefs. In contrast, work distress only indirectly predicted both outcomes. In a longer‐term model (Wave 2‐Wave 3), health worry had direct and indirect effects on downstream anxiety but not depression. Pandemic work distress had no effect on depression or dysfunctional beliefs; however, it was associated with less anxiety. Conclusions: Although health worry and work distress predicted later symptoms of anxiety and depression, they appeared to operate through different pathways. These findings provide guidance for the development of more effective interventions to reduce the impact of pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Suicidal ideation is a pervasive and painful experience that varies considerably in its phenomenology. Here, we consider how one key risk variable might inform our understanding of variation in suicidal ideation: emotion-related impulsivity, the trait-like tendency towards unconstrained speech, behaviour, and cognition in the face of intense emotions. We hypothesized that emotion-related impulsivity would be tied to specific features, including severity, perceived lack of controllability, more rapidly fluctuating course, higher scores on a measure of acute suicidal affective disturbance, and more emotional and cognitive disturbance as antecedents. Methods: We recruited two samples of adults (Ns = 421, 221) through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), with oversampling of those with suicidal ideation. Both samples completed psychometrically sound self-report measures online to assess emotion- and non-emotion-related dimensions of impulsivity and characteristics of suicidal ideation. Results: One form of emotion-related impulsivity related to the severity, uncontrollability, dynamic course, and affective and cognitive precursors of ideation. Conclusions: Despite limitations of the cross-sectional design and self-report measures, the current findings highlight the importance of specificity in considering key dimensions of impulsivity and suicidal ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rumination and emotion‐related impulsivity predict suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI). Because rumination and emotion‐related impulsivity, though, are highly correlated, we consider their unique vs. conjoint influence on suicidal ideation and self‐harm. Method: Across two samples of adults (N's = 171 and 191), we examined how rumination and emotion‐related impulsivity relate to suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and NSSI. We assess the more general process of repetitive negative thinking and the more specific process of suicide‐related rumination. Participants completed the Three‐Factor Impulsivity Index and the self‐report Columbia‐Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Those in sample 1 completed the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire and the Deliberate Self‐Harm Inventory, and those in Sample 2 completed the Suicide Rumination Scale. Results: Emotion‐related impulsivity and both forms of rumination showed robust bivariate correlations with suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and NSSI. Neither rumination or impulsivity related to suicide attempts controlling for ideation or to NSSI. In multivariable analyses, emotion‐related impulsivity but not general rumination was tied to suicidal ideation. In contrast, suicide‐related rumination was more directly tied to suicidal ideation than was impulsivity. Conclusions: Findings provide support for a more nuanced approach to the forms of impulsivity and rumination related to suicidal ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous studies have established a link between the COVID‐19 pandemic and poor mental health. They further suggest that young adults may be especially vulnerable to worsened mental health during the pandemic, but few studies have investigated which specific aspects of the COVID‐19 experience affect psychological well‐being over time. To better understand concrete predictors of poor mental health outcomes in this population, we identified several pandemic‐related experiences and evaluated their effects on mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol, and substance use) in a sample of U.S. college students (N = 176). Methods: Both mental health symptoms and pandemic‐related experiences were evaluated at the start of quarantine (March/April 2020, Time 1) and the end of the Spring 2020 semester (May 2020, Time 2). Given the limited literature on specific predictors of mental health during a pandemic, we used elastic net regression, a novel analytic method that helps with variable selection when theoretical background is limited, to narrow our field of possible predictors. Results: While mental health symptoms were elevated at both timepoints, there were no clinically significant changes from Time 1 to Time 2 and few differences between sociodemographic groups. Both disruption due to the pandemic (β =.25, p =.021) and limited confidence in the federal government's response (β = −.14, p =.038) were significant predictors of depression symptoms at the end of the semester, even when controlling for baseline depression. Further, predictions that the pandemic would continue to impact daily life further into the future were linked with pandemic stress response symptoms (β =.15, p =.032) at Time 2, beyond the effects of baseline symptoms. Alcohol (β = −.22, p =.024) and substance use (β = −.26, p =.01) were associated with reduced adherence to COVID‐19 guidelines. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that specific aspects of the pandemic experience may be influencing internalizing symptoms and alcohol/substance use in college students, pointing to potential avenues for targeted support and intervention. Practitioner points: A range of factors may influence university student mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Students who expect the pandemic will continue to impact daily life further into the future maybe more likely to report stress symptoms.Disruption due to the pandemic and limited confidence in the federal government's response may be associated with depression symptoms.Alcohol and substance use are associated with lower COVID‐19 guideline adherence in university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition marked by recurrent and distressing thoughts, images, and urges accompanied by repetitive physical or mental rituals. An emerging line of work suggests that emotion may be an important consideration when looking at the role of impulsivity across the spectrum of psychopathology, including OCD. The current study examined the relationship between obsessive‐compulsive symptomatology (OCS) and impulsive cognitive and behavioural reactions to emotion using a multi‐study, multi‐method approach. Design: Data were collected cross‐sectionally online (Study 1) or via an in‐person laboratory visit (Study 2). Methods: In Study 1, self‐report measures of impulsivity and OCS were administered to a large, non‐selected community sample (N = 386). Study 2 extended these findings with a young adult sample (N = 107) with clinically elevated OCS using self‐report measures, clinical interview, and two behavioural symptom provocation tasks. Results: Emotion‐related impulsivity, but not non‐emotion‐related impulsivity, was associated with greater severity of OCS across symptom domains and across all modes of assessment. Impulsive cognitive responses to emotion were associated with greater obsession severity, while impulsive behavioural reactions to emotion were associated with greater compulsions. Emotion‐related impulsivity also acted synergistically with a belief in the importance and control of thoughts, such that this established risk factor for OCD was associated with greater OCS severity only when behavioural reactivity to emotion was also present. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of considering emotional context when studying impulsivity in OCD, and point to the potentially differential relationship between OCS and behavioural versus cognitive impulsive reactions to emotion. Practitioner points: Emotion‐related impulsivity (ERI) reflects a tendency to act impulsively in the context of strong emotions.ERI was associated with greater OCS across symptom domains and type of symptom assessment (self‐report, interview, or symptom provocation).ERI also interacted with an established OCS risk factor, a belief in the importance and control of thoughts, to predict symptom severity, suggesting that it may be important to evaluate and address ERI alongside unhelpful beliefs in patients with OCS.Given the present study's cross‐sectional nature, we cannot draw conclusions about the directionality of the ERI – OCS relationship, and while our study included individuals with clinically elevated OCS, results should be replicated in a fully clinical sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the individual factors that potentiate communication conflict in romantic relationships. This study examined the main and interactive effects of two types of emotion regulation in 1240 couples enrolled in an online relationship intervention. Results revealed that higher levels of actors' communication conflict were associated with actors' greater negative urgency and lower cognitive reappraisal. Furthermore, actors' cognitive reappraisal acted as an inhibitor of communication conflict, but only for actors with low levels of negative urgency. Partner effects on perceived actor conflict followed a similar pattern. There was no evidence that the emotion regulation of one partner moderated the effect of the emotion regulation of the other. These results highlight the importance of considering the contribution of couples' emotion regulation in the etiology of their communication conflict and selecting interventions that best match their emotion regulation needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: While theoretical models link obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) with executive function deficits, empirical findings from the neuropsychological literature remain mixed. These inconsistencies are likely exacerbated by the challenge of high‐dimensional data (i.e., many variables per subject), which is common across neuropsychological paradigms and necessitates analytical advances. More unique to OCD is the heterogeneity of symptom presentations, each of which may relate to distinct neuropsychological features. While researchers have traditionally attempted to account for this heterogeneity using a symptom‐based approach, an alternative involves focusing on underlying symptom motivations. Although the most studied symptom motivation involves fear of harmful events, 60–70% of patients also experience sensory phenomena, consisting of uncomfortable sensations or perceptions that drive compulsions. Sensory phenomena have received limited attention in the neuropsychological literature, despite evidence that symptoms motivated by these experiences may relate to distinct cognitive processes. Methods: Here, we used a supervised machine learning approach to characterize neuropsychological processes in OCD, accounting for sensory phenomena. Results: Compared to logistic regression and other algorithms, random forest best differentiated healthy controls (n = 59; balanced accuracy =.70), patients with sensory phenomena (n = 29; balanced accuracy =.59), and patients without sensory phenomena (n = 46; balanced accuracy =.62). Decision‐making best distinguished between groups based on sensory phenomena, and among the patient subsample, those without sensory phenomena uniquely displayed greater risk sensitivity compared to healthy controls (d =.07, p =.008). Conclusions: Results suggest that different cognitive profiles may characterize patients motivated by distinct drives. The superior performance and generalizability of the newer algorithms highlights the utility of considering multiple analytic approaches when faced with complex data. Practitioner points: Practitioners should be aware that sensory phenomena are common experiences among patients with OCD.OCD patients with sensory phenomena may be distinguished from those without based on neuropsychological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have identified anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a risk factor for suicidality; however, limited work has been performed to understand this risk within the context of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide (IPTS; Joiner, 2005). The current study examined the relationship between overall AS, each AS subfactor (cognitive, social, and physical), and the three IPTS domains (perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability). While each AS subfactor uniquely predicted one IPTS domain, greater overall AS only predicted greater acquired capability, suggesting that assessment of AS at the subfactor level may offer us more information about an individual's interpersonal suicide risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water recycling is increasingly recognized as a critical strategy to maintain sustainable water supplies. Yet public acceptance of water recycling often lags behind. It is unclear the degree to which individuals are aware of the role of disgust in their decisions about recycled water, how important anticipated disgust is to willingness to use when controlling for other factors, and what the most effective method of presenting information about water recycling would be to decrease disgust reactions and increase willingness to use. We used a two-pronged approach, combining a survey with open-ended and psychometric measures with an experimental manipulation, in a U.S., web-based sample ( N = 428). Only 2% of participants self-identified disgust as important to their decisions about recycled water. When measured directly using a Likert scale, however, anticipated disgust was the strongest predictor of willingness to use recycled water when controlling for individual differences that have been shown to impact willingness to use, including a subscale of individual pathogen disgust sensitivity. Finally, participants were exposed to an educational brochure about water reuse framed either affectively or cognitively or were shown a simple, neutral definition. Exposure to either the affectively or cognitively framed brochures lowered anticipated disgust, but did not significantly affect willingness to use recycled water compared to the neutral condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To evaluate the hypothesis that functionally over-expressing alleles of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene (solute carrier family 6, member 4, SLC6A4) are present in Tourette's disorder (TD), just as we previously observed in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), we evaluated TD probands (N = 151) and controls (N = 858). We genotyped the refined SERT-linked polymorphic region 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 and the associated rs25532 variant in the SLC6A4 promoter plus the rare coding variant SERT isoleucine-to-valine at position 425 (I425V). The higher expressing 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 LA allele was more prevalent in TD probands than in controls (χ2 = 5.75; P = 0.017; odds ratio [OR], 1.35); and, in a secondary analysis, surprisingly, it was significantly more frequent in probands who had TD alone than in those who had TD plus OCD (Fisher's exact test; P = 0.0006; OR, 2.29). Likewise, the higher expressing LAC haplotype (5-HTTLPR/rs25531/rs25532) was more frequent in TD probands than in controls ( P = 0.024; OR, 1.33) and also in the TD alone group versus the TD plus OCD group ( P = 0.0013; OR, 2.14). Furthermore, the rare gain-of-function SERT I425V variant was observed in 3 male siblings with TD and/or OCD and in their father. Thus, the cumulative count of SERT I425V becomes 1.57% in OCD/TD spectrum conditions versus 0.15% in controls, with a recalculated, family-adjusted significance of χ2 = 15.03 ( P < 0.0001; OR, 9.0; total worldwide genotyped, 2914). This report provides a unique combination of common and rare variants in one gene in TD, all of which are associated with SERT gain of function. Thus, altered SERT activity represents a potential contributor to serotonergic abnormalities in TD. The present results call for replication in a similarly intensively evaluated sample. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts accompanied by repetitive mental or physical acts. While both intolerance of uncertainty and emotion-related impulsivity have been consistently evidenced as cognitive risk factors of OCD, no studies have considered their joint effects. The current study examined the interaction between intolerance of uncertainty and two forms of emotion-related impulsivity-including both a behavioural and cognitive form-in predicting OCD symptoms., Design: Cross-sectional data were collected online from community-based adult participants., Methods: Participants (N = 673) completed a battery of self-report measures of OCD symptom severity, intolerance of uncertainty, and emotion-related impulsivity., Results: The behavioural form of emotion-related impulsivity positively moderated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and OCD symptoms. Elevated levels of both factors predicted the most severe symptoms, particularly checking, washing, and obsessing. This interaction effect was not found for the cognitive form of emotion-related impulsivity, which still emerged as a unique predictor of OCD symptom severity, specifically obsessing symptoms., Conclusions: Current findings furthered the understanding of the link between intolerance of uncertainty and OCD symptoms by highlighting the role of emotion-related impulsivity. When uncertainty triggers distress in individuals with high intolerance of uncertainty, the urge to behaviourally alleviate this distress could promote the use of maladaptive obsessions and compulsions, leading to greater OCD symptoms. Results also indicated the potentially differential effects from the behavioural versus cognitive forms of emotion-related impulsivity on different symptom domains, and the mechanistic link here is worthy of further investigation., (© 2024 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder. Worldwide, its prevalence is ~2% and its etiology is mostly unknown. Identifying biological factors contributing to OCD will elucidate underlying mechanisms and might contribute to improved treatment outcomes. Genomic studies of OCD are beginning to reveal long-sought risk loci, but >95% of the cases currently in analysis are of homogenous European ancestry. If not addressed, this Eurocentric bias will result in OCD genomic findings being more accurate for individuals of European ancestry than other ancestries, thereby contributing to health disparities in potential future applications of genomics. In this study protocol paper, we describe the Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO, https://www.latinostudy.org). LATINO is a new network of investigators from across Latin America, the United States, and Canada who have begun to collect DNA and clinical data from 5000 richly phenotyped OCD cases of Latin American ancestry in a culturally sensitive and ethical manner. In this project, we will utilize trans-ancestry genomic analyses to accelerate the identification of OCD risk loci, fine-map putative causal variants, and improve the performance of polygenic risk scores in diverse populations. We will also capitalize on rich clinical data to examine the genetics of treatment response, biologically plausible OCD subtypes, and symptom dimensions. Additionally, LATINO will help elucidate the diversity of the clinical presentations of OCD across cultures through various trainings developed and offered in collaboration with Latin American investigators. We believe this study will advance the important goal of global mental health discovery and equity., (© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Interdisciplinary mobile health (mHealth) technologies and intervention approaches are changing the nature of health research, providing the opportunity to shift from more reactive approaches for patient care to a more proactive stance. As with the larger field of medicine, mHealth and technology-enhanced approaches in psychiatry and clinical psychology are opening an unparalleled number of avenues to help reduce the risk for psychiatric disease, treat psychological disorders, and increase well-being of our patients. While promising, this research is characterized by complex challenges across the domains of concept development, initial design and testing, and downstream implementation and scaled-up dissemination. This Special Issue in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology was designed to highlight the development and implementation of mHealth research in the anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. In addition to informing readers about important advances that have been made, the present special issue also draws attention to the myriad challenges that will need to be considered in future research. Three domains relevant for mHealth research are addressed, including a careful consideration of where the research currently stands and what challenges we should prepare for, the adaptation of traditional and adjunctive treatments to mobile or online platforms, and the ability for technology and associated methodological approaches to provide further insight into aetiological investigations., (© 2021 The British Psychological Society.)