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Background Excessive processing of aversive life events is a major pathology in stress-related anxiety and depressive disorders. Current pharmacological treatments have rather non-specific mechanisms of action. Somatostatin is synthesized and released as an inhibitory co-neurotransmitter by specific GABA interneurons and one of its receptors, SSTR4, is localized in brain regions involved in adaptive aversion processing and implicated in negative valence neuropathology, including the amygdala. Methods Rat and mouse experiments were conducted to investigate effects of specific SSTR4 agonism on neurobehavioral aversion processing including any normalization of stress-related hyper-responsiveness. A mouse experiment to investigate stress and SSTR4 agonism effects on reward processing was also conducted. Results In male rats (N=5-10/group) fitted with glutamate biosensors in basolateral amygdala, SSTR4 agonism attenuated glutamate release to restraint stress in control rats and particularly in rats previously exposed to chronic corticosterone. In male mice (N=10-18/group), SSTR4 agonism dose-dependently attenuated Pavlovian tone-footshock learning and memory measured as freezing behavior, both in controls (CON) and following exposure to chronic social stress (CSS) which induces excessive Pavlovian aversion learning-memory. Specificity of SSTR4 agonism effects to aversion learning-memory was demonstrated by absence of effects on discriminative reward (sucrose) learning-memory in both CON and CSS mice; SSTR4 agonism did increase reward-to-effort valuation in a dose-dependent manner, and in both CON mice and mice exposed to CSS which attenuates reward motivation. Conclusions These neuropsychopharmacological findings add substantially to the preclinical proof-of-concept evidence for SSTR4 agonism as a treatment in anxiety and depressive disorders.

Introduction : The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase of social stressors and mental health issues in the general population as well as among mentally ill patients. A COVID-19- related “infodemic”, including too much information in digital and physical environments, has been recognized globally. Aim : This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 infodemic (exposure to news related to COVID-19) in terms of depressive symptoms in the Paraguayan general population. Methods : This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. An online survey, designed in Google Forms, has been launched nationwide through the most popular social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and messaging applications (WhatsApp, Telegram) in April (1st-30th) 2021. The Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) was employed for detecting depressive symptoms. Results : The survey included 1102 responders aged 35.4 ± 12.9 years old, 74.9% were women. MHI-5 mean score was 44.07 ± 14.16 in the general population with 34.4% (n = 379) of responders suffering from severe symptoms of depression (>52, as cut-off point). 53.5% of sample reported to have been exposed between 1 and 3 h to COVID-19 news, daily. An OR 1.933 (95% CI 1.48 - 2.52) was found between the exposure to news and depressive symptoms. Conclusions : This study suggests that people exposed to a higher number of hours of COVID-19 news were 93.3% more likely to develop depressive symptoms.

The field of Obstetrics and Gynecology is one that provides intersections between one's most private and intimate moments with scenarios that could potentially trigger significant emotional trauma. As providers, one must balance providing appropriate care with the respect and autonomy of the patient. The perioperative and operative space presents many ethical dilemmas in navigating these boundaries, particularly among individuals with a history of sexual trauma. In our commentary, we present one case of an adolescent patient, with a history of sexual trauma and pelvic pain, who underwent laparoscopic surgery. We explore the interplay of delegating autonomy during amnesia, chronic pelvic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and hyperarousal within this period. There is knowledge to be gained amongst Obstetrics and Gynecology providers in navigating perioperative services in individuals with complex history of social stress and trauma so that we can better understand the landscape of providing competent care.

Background Sex differences in addiction have been described in humans and animal models. A key factor that influences addiction in both males and females is adolescent experience. Adolescence is associated with higher vulnerability to substance use disorders, and male rodents subjected to adolescent social isolation (SI) stress form stronger preferences for drugs of abuse in adulthood. However, little is known about how females respond to SI, and few studies have investigated the transcriptional changes induced by SI in the brain’s reward circuitry. Methods We tested the hypothesis that SI alters the transcriptome in a persistent and sex-specific manner in prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and ventral tegmental area. Mice were isolated or group housed from postnatal day P22 to P42, then group housed until ∼P90. Transcriptome-wide changes were investigated by RNA sequencing after acute or chronic cocaine or saline administration. Results We found that SI disrupts sex-specific transcriptional responses to cocaine and reduces sex differences in gene expression across all three brain regions. Furthermore, SI induces gene expression profiles in males that more closely resemble group-housed females, suggesting that SI “feminizes” the male transcriptome. Coexpression analysis reveals that such disruption of sex differences in gene expression alters sex-specific gene networks and identifies potential sex-specific key drivers of these transcriptional changes. Conclusions Together, these data show that SI has region-specific effects on sex-specific transcriptional responses to cocaine and provide a better understanding of reward-associated transcription that differs in males and females.

Contains fulltext : 291750.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Childhood adversity might impair corticolimbic brain regions, which play a crucial role in emotion processing and the acute stress response. The dimensional model of childhood adversity proposed that deprivation and threat dimensions might associated with individuals' development through different mechanisms. However, few studies have explored the relationship between different dimensions of childhood stress, emotion processing, and acute stress reactivity despite the overlapping brain regions of the last two. With the aid of the event-related potentials technique, we explore whether negative emotion processing, which might be particularly relevant for adaptive stress responding among individuals with adverse childhood experience, mediates the relationship between dimensional childhood stress and acute stress response. Fifty-one young adults completed a free-viewing task to evaluate neural response to negative stimuli measured by late positive potential (LPP) of ERPs (Event-related potentials). On a separate day, heart rate and salivary cortisol were collected during a social-evaluative stress challenge (i.e. TSST, Trier Social Stress Test). After the TSST, the childhood trauma questionnaire was measured to indicate the level of abuse (as a proxy of threat) and neglect (as a proxy of deprivation) dimensions. Multiple linear regression and mediation analysis were used to explore the relationship among childhood stress, emotion processing, and acute stress response. Higher level of childhood abuse (but not neglect) was distinctly related to smaller LPP amplitudes to negative stimuli, as well as smaller heart rate reactivity to acute stress. For these participants, smaller LPP amplitudes were linked with smaller heart rate reactivity to acute stress. Furthermore, decreased LPP amplitudes to negative stimuli mediated the relationship between higher level of childhood abuse and blunted heart rate reactivity to stress. Consistent with the dimensional model of childhood stress, our study showed that childhood abuse is distinctly associated with neural as well as physiological response to threat. Furthermore, the blunted neural response to negative stimuli might be the underlying mechanism in which childhood abuse leads to the blunted acute stress response. Considering that all the participants are healthy in the present study, the blunted processing of negative stimuli might rather reflect adaptation instead of vulnerability, in order to prevent stress overshooting in the face of early-life threatening experiences. 01 januari 2023

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in children that have a negative impact on the children's psychosocial development, cognition, behaviors, schooling, finally resulting to high stressors experiencing. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial stressors of epileptic children. Research design: A descriptive study design was conducted. Setting: This study was conducted at Neurological clinic of Children's University Hospital at Ain Shams University. Sample: Convenience sample was selected which included (100) epileptic children. Tools of data collection: Interviewing questionnaire tool for children was used which included two parts: Socio- demographic characteristics and medical history of the epileptic children and their parents, and the psychosocial stressors inventory. Results: More than three fifths of studied epileptic children had high psychological stressors and more than three quarter of studied epileptic children had high social stressors. Moreover, there were statistically significant relation between psychosocial stressors and socio-demographic features and medical history such as their age, area of residence, and medications compliance. Conclusion: The epileptic children have high psychosocial stressors in relation to their socio-demographic data and medical history. Furthermore, the majority of these stressors are due to illness precautions, medications side effects, epileptic fits, and the school. Recommendation: Develop and apply nursing intervention programs for epileptic children, their parents, and teachers to improve the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes towards epilepsy

Stressful life events are ubiquitous and well-known to negatively impact mental health. However, in both humans and animal models, there is large individual variability in how individuals respond to stress, with some but not all experiencing long-term adverse consequences. While there is growing understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of the stress response, much less is known about how neurocircuits shaped by lifetime experiences are activated during an initial stressor and contribute to this selective vulnerability versus resilience. We developed a model of acute social defeat stress (ASDS) that allows classification of male mice into “susceptible” (socially avoidant) versus “resilient” (expressing control-level social approach) one hour after exposure to six minutes of social stress. Using circuit tracing and high-resolution confocal imaging, we explored differences in activation and dendritic spine density and morphology in the prelimbic cortex to basolateral amygdala (PL→BLA) circuit in resilient versus susceptible mice. Susceptible mice had greater PL→BLA recruitment during ASDS and activated PL→BLA neurons from susceptible mice had more and larger mushroom spines compared to resilient mice. We hypothesized identified structure/function differences indicate an overactive PL→BLA response in susceptible mice and used an intersectional chemogenetic approach to inhibit the PL→BLA circuit during or prior to ASDS. We found in both cases that this blocked ASDS-induced social avoidance. Overall, we show PL→BLA structure/function differences mediate divergent behavioral responses to ASDS in male mice. These results support PL→BLA circuit overactivity during stress as a biomarker of trait vulnerability and potential target for prevention of stress-induced psychopathology.

Knowing the age at which the sexual orientation disparity in depression and anxiety symptoms first emerges and the early determinants of this disparity can suggest optimal timing and targets of supportive interventions. This prospective cohort study of children ages 3 to 15 (n = 417; 10.6% same-sex-attracted; 47.2% assigned female at birth) and their parents sought to determine the age at which the sexual orientation disparity in depression and anxiety symptoms first emerges and whether peer victimization and poor parental relationships mediate this disparity. Same-sex-attracted youth first demonstrated significantly higher depression symptoms at age 12 and anxiety symptoms at age 15 than exclusively other-sex-attracted youth. Age 12 peer victimization mediated the sexual orientation disparity in age 15 depression symptoms. Age 12 poor mother-child relationship mediated the sexual orientation disparity in age 15 anxiety symptoms. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for developmentally appropriate interventions against social stress during early development.

The dynamics of epidemics depend on how people's behavior changes during an outbreak. At the beginning of the epidemic, people do not know about the virus, then, after the outbreak of epidemics and alarm, they begin to comply with the restrictions and the spreading of epidemics may decline. Over time, some people get tired/frustrated by the restrictions and stop following them (exhaustion), especially if the number of new cases drops down. After resting for a while, they can follow the restrictions again. But during this pause the second wave can come and become even stronger then the first one. Studies based on SIR models do not predict the observed quick exit from the first wave of epidemics. Social dynamics should be considered. The appearance of the second wave also depends on social factors. Many generalizations of the SIR model have been developed that take into account the weakening of immunity over time, the evolution of the virus, vaccination and other medical and biological details. However, these more sophisticated models do not explain the apparent differences in outbreak profiles between countries with different intrinsic socio-cultural features. In our work, a system of models of the COVID-19 pandemic is proposed, combining the dynamics of social stress with classical epidemic models. Social stress is described by the tools of sociophysics. The combination of a dynamic SIR-type model with the classical triad of stages of the general adaptation syndrome, alarm-resistance-exhaustion, makes it possible to describe with high accuracy the available statistical data for 13 countries. The sets of kinetic constants corresponding to optimal fit of model to data were found. They characterize the ability of society to mobilize efforts against epidemics and maintain this concentration over time, and can further help in the development of strategies specific to a particular society., Comment: Minor corrections, enriched discussion and extended bibliography

To evaluate how social stressors, organizational stressors, and physical strains are related to suicidal ideation (SI) at an urban police department. Data was gathered between January–February 2020. Each case of SI was matched to 4 controls based on age, gender and military experience for a total sample size of 110 officers. Conditional logistic regression models assessed the relationship between stress domains and SI. Five percent (5%) of the officers surveyed (n = 22) reported SI. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, high levels of organizational stress, versus low organizational stress, were associated with 9.2 (95% CI: 1.1–75.8) times the odds of SI compared to no SI. In the fully adjusted model (i.e., sociodemographics and other stressors), medium and high levels of social stress showed 5.1 (95% CI: 1.1–23.5) and 3.8 (95% CI: 1.0–14.5) higher odds of SI compared to no SI. The likelihood of SI increased incrementally as higher number of stressors were reported, suggesting a significant dose-response relationship. This study found organizational and social stress were the strongest predictors of SI for law enforcement officers, as opposed to physical strain. This study serves to further inform the multi-dimensionality of police stress pathways to advise department psychological prevention efforts.

Introducción: Las personas con diagnóstico de cáncer y que reciben tratamiento manifiestan factores estresantes, físicos, emocionales y sociales, que inciden en la salud mental del paciente, por lo tanto, se reconoce la importancia de las prácticas de automanejo para aliviar la carga de estos factores. Objetivo: Identificar factores emocionales que puedan ser útiles para predecir la práctica de automanejo. Método: Diseño transversal, predictivo, muestreo no probabilístico intencional conformado por 160 personas con diagnóstico de cáncer. Se emplearon los instrumentos: Partners in Health (PIH), Self-rated Health, Escala de depresión del Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente (PHQ-8P), Escala Visual Análoga para valorar el estrés e insomnio. Se aplicó el modelo de regresión lineal múltiple; se calculó el efecto de la diferencia y la potencia estadística utilizando el método de escalonado. Resultados: Se identificaron dos variables predictoras con significancia estadística (p

Summary. The current biopsychosocial paradigm in medicine and medical psychology ensures the development of the theory and methodology of medical psychodiagnostics as a comprehensive study of psychological and psychosocial factors underlying mental adaptation. The diagnostic of prenosological and initial manifestations of borderline spectrum disorders designated as adjustment disorders in ICD-10 (F43.2), requires the criteria qualification of real or potential stressogenic social functioning conditions, thus, an arsenal of adequate methods of clinical and medical-psychosocial psychodiagnostics is required. The questionnaire «Social Frustration Level» represents one of such methods. The study of social frustration phenomenon as a predictor of emotional tension and stress resistance allows to characterize personality traits in relation to environmental influence and assess the specificity and pathogenic significance of socially frustrating factors. The article substantiates theoretical and methodological foundations of the questionnaire, its attributive characteristics — the phenomena of external and internal social frustration identified in medical psychodiagnostics for the first time. Socio-diagnostic criteria are illustrated by examples of the practical use in medical psychodiagnostics of social frustration in teachers of mass schools, the military and in patients with focal epilepsy. The specified research contingent is united by the problem of stress resistance in crisis situations (including a disease situation and the attitude to the disease). The questionnaire «Social Frustration Level» can be considered as a necessary form of psychosocial diagnostics of stress genesis, a source of information in screening psychoprophylactic studies, as well as in the forming of indications for psycho- and sociotherapy.

BackgroundThe prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) was elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA, but the relationships of SPD during the pandemic with pre-pandemic SPD, pre-pandemic socioeconomic status, and pandemic-related social stressors remain unexamined.MethodsA probability-based sample (N = 1751) of the US population age 20 and over was followed prospectively from February 2019 (T1), with subsequent interviews in May 2020 (T2) and August 2020 (T3). Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess prospective relationships between T1 SPD with experiences of disruption of employment, health care, and childcare at T2. Binary logistic regression was then used to assess relationships of T1 SPD, and socioeconomic status and T2 pandemic-related stressors with T3 SPD.ResultsAt T1, SPD was associated with age, race/ethnicity, and household income. SPD at T1 predicted disruption of employment (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.4–3.8) and health care (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4–7.1) at T2. SPD at T1 (OR 10.2, 95% CI 4.5–23.3), low household income at T1 (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1–6.4), disruption of employment at T2 (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4–7.6), and disruption of healthcare at T2 (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5–7.2) were all significantly associated with elevated risk for SPD at T3.ConclusionsElevated risk for SPD during the COVID-19 pandemic is related to multiple psychological and social pathways that are likely to interact over the life course. Policies and interventions that target individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions as well as those experiencing persistent unemployment should be high priorities in the mental health response to the pandemic.

Chronic stress induces peripheral and intracerebral immune changes and inflammation, contributing to neuropathology and behavioral abnormalities relevant to psychiatric disorders such as depression. Although the pathological implication of many peripheral factors such as pro‐inflammatory cytokines, hormones, and macrophages has been demonstrated, the roles of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) for chronic stress mechanisms remain poorly investigated. Here, we report that chronic social defeat stress (CSDS)‐induced social avoidance phenotype, assessed by a previously untested three‐chamber social approach test, can be distinguished by multiple pro‐inflammatory cytokines and EV‐associated molecular signatures in the blood. We found that the expression patterns of miRNAs distinguished the CSDS‐susceptible mice from the CSDS‐resilient mice. Social avoidance behavior scores were also estimated with good accuracy by the expression patterns of multiple EV‐associated miRNAs. We also demonstrated that EVs enriched from the CSDS‐susceptible mouse sera upregulated the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the LPS‐stimulated microglia‐like cell lines. Our results indicate the role of circulating EVs and associated miRNAs in CSDS susceptibility, which may be related to pro‐inflammatory mechanisms underlying stress‐induced neurobehavioral outcomes., Social avoidance behaviors after chronic social defeat stress are accompanied by altered extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood, together with increased levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. EV‐associated miRNA expression patterns are correlated with social behavioral scores. In addition, EVs are shown to enhance the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in cultured microglia‐like cells. Thus, EVs may contribute to pro‐inflammatory responses in socially stressed mice.

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Nigeria bear a disproportionately higher burden of HIV. Meyer’s minority stress theory posits that social stress due to the discrimination, violence, and stigma experienced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual men and women (LGBs)—due to their sexual orientation—may contribute to psychological problems, including mental health problems, substance use, and HIV sexual risk-taking. Between March and June 2019, we recruited 406 GBMSM from four states in Nigeria (Abuja, Delta, Lagos, and Plateau) to complete a cross-sectional survey at local community-based organizations. We utilized structural equation modeling to test whether psychological problems and substance use mediated the relationship between minority stress and HIV sexual risk-taking (condomless anal sex and number of sexual partners) among GBMSM in Nigeria. Minority stress (β = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44–0.72, p ≤ .001), substance use (β = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.27–0.59, p = .004), and psychological problems (β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.28–0.45 p = .012) had moderate associations with HIV sexual risk-taking. We found that psychological problems mediated the relationship between minority stress and HIV sexual risk-taking. Interventions focused on addressing psychological problems may help mitigate the effects of minority stress on HIV sexual risk-taking among GBMSM in Nigeria.

The creation of universally effective and safe correctors of biliary secretion disorders is becoming more timely. There is an urgent need for scientists to find drugs that would correct blood cholesterol levels and metabolism in liver effectively and without limiting side effects. The purpose of the study was to investigate the possibility of using corvitin to correct stress-induced biliary disorders of the liver of male rats. Materials and methods. The article looks at recent research dealing with changes in the bile acid composition of outbred male rats’ bile under chronic social stress (social defeat in daily male confrontations, 14 days) when using Corvitin (1 mg/kg, intragastrically, 7 days). Chronic social stress was created by daily agonistic interactions between animals. The state of memory and the level of research activity in the object recognition test (cognitive test) were also studied. The main fractions of conjugated bile acids (taurocholic, taurohenodeoxycholic and taurodeoxycholic, glycocholic, glycochenodeoxycholic and glycodeoxycholic and free ones – cholic, chenodeoxycholic and deoxycholic) were determined by the method of thin layer chromatography of bile. Results and discussion. Chronic social stress leads to a slight increase in the overall activity of the experimental animals, but significantly impairs the processes of recognition and memory. Social stress significantly inhibits the processes that ensure the synthesis, biotransformation and transport of bile acids in the bile. Also, chronic social stress causes changes in bile production, which reduce the solubilization properties of bile and increase the risk of lithogenesis. Conclusion. The use of Corvitin simultaneously with the simulation of experimental social stress normalized the biliary secretory function of the liver, which indicates a high potential for the use of Corvitin as a corrective factor in chronic social stress. Corvitin used by us in the conditions of experimental social stress to some extent corrected the content of bile acids in the liver of male rats, which indicates the ability of this drug to interfere with the metabolism of cholate in liver cells, in the mechanisms of bile acid transport. Correction of stress-induced pathologies of liver bile-secretory function by Corvitin requires further thorough experimental studies

Background Both parental and neighbourhood socio-economic status (SES) are linked to poorer health independently of personal SES measures, but the biological mechanisms are unclear. Our objective was to examine these influences via epigenetic age acceleration (EAA)—the discrepancy between chronological and epigenetic ages. Methods We examined three USA-based [Coronary Artery Risk Disease in Adults (CARDIA) study, Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) and Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS)] and one Mexico-based (Project Viva) cohort. DNA methylation was measured using Illumina arrays, personal/parental SES by questionnaire and neighbourhood disadvantage from geocoded address. In CARDIA, we examined the most strongly associated personal, parental and neighbourhood SES measures with EAA (Hannum’s method) at study years 15 and 20 separately and combined using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) and compared with other EAA measures (Horvath’s EAA, PhenoAge and GrimAge calculators, and DunedinPoAm). Results EAA was associated with paternal education in CARDIA [GEEs: βsome college = −1.01 years (−1.91, −0.11) and β Conclusions These findings suggest that EAA captures epigenetic impacts of paternal education independently of personal SES later in life. Longitudinal studies should explore these associations at different life stages and link them to health outcomes. EAA could be a useful biomarker of SES-associated health and provide important insight into the pathogenesis and prevention of chronic disease.

Aims: Prenatal maternal stress and anxiety affect the offspring causing low birth weight, decreased motor activity, and developmental delays. Ocimum sanctum is cherished as the holiest herb in India and possesses strong adaptogenic, memory enhancer, and anti-stress properties. This study aimed to assess the effect of O. sanctum leaf aqueous extract on preventing pregnancy related stress impact on the mice offspring. Methodology: Pregnant female mice were treated with O. sanctum leaf aqueous extract throughout the gestation period at 100 mg/kg, p.o, while exposed to resident–intruder social stress paradigm. Physiological, morphological, and behavioral aspects of offspring were observed for 6 weeks. Results: Pups of O. sanctum treated mothers showed significantly (P < 0.05) improved body weight, body length, and head length. O. sanctum treatment has significantly reduced eye opening and pinna detachment period (P < 0.05-0.01), and duration for gaining surface righting and mid-air righting refluxes (P < 0.05). O. Sanctum has significantly increased (P < 0.05-0.01) number of correct entries in radial arm maze and line crossing in open field performance. Conclusion: The study outcome proves the beneficial role of O. Sanctum in ameliorating prenatal stress and anxiety induced deleterious effect on offspring.

BackgroundThe serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor has been implicated in depression and suicidal behavior. Lower resting cortisol levels are associated with higher 5-HT1A receptor binding, and both differentiate suicide attempters with depression. However, it is not clear whether 5-HT1A receptor binding and cortisol responses to stress are related to familial risk and resilience for suicidal behavior.Methods[11C]CUMI-101 positron emission tomography imaging to quantify regional brain 5-HT1A receptor binding was conducted in individuals considered to be at high risk for mood disorder or suicidal behavior on the basis of having a first- or second-degree relative(s) with an early onset mood disorder and history of suicidal behavior. These high-risk individuals were subdivided into the following groups: high risk resilient having no mood disorder or suicidal behavior (n = 29); high risk with mood disorder and no suicidal behavior history (n = 31); and high risk with mood disorder and suicidal behavior (n = 25). Groups were compared with healthy volunteers without a family history of mood disorder or suicidal behavior (n = 34). Participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST). All participants were free from psychotropic medications at the time of the TSST and PET scanning.ResultsWe observed no group differences in 5-HT1A receptor binding considering all regions simultaneously, nor did we observe heterogeneity of the effect of group across regions. These results were similar across outcome measures (BPND for all participants and BPp in a subset of the sample) and definitions of regions of interest (ROIs; standard or serotonin system-specific ROIs). We also found no group differences on TSST outcomes. Within the high risk with mood disorder and suicidal behavior group, lower BPp binding (β = −0.084, SE = 0.038, P = .048) and higher cortisol reactivity to stress (β = 9.25, 95% CI [3.27,15.23], P = .004) were associated with higher lethality attempts. There were no significant relationships between 5-HT1A binding and cortisol outcomes.Conclusions5-HT1A receptor binding in ROIs was not linked to familial risk or resilience protecting against suicidal behavior or mood disorder although it may be related to lethality of suicide attempt. Future studies are needed to better understand the biological mechanisms implicated in familial risk for suicidal behavior and how hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function influences such risk.

Maternal effects can shape the phenotypes of offspring, but the extent to which a layer breeder’s experience can affect commercial laying hens remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of maternal age and maternal environment on laying hens’ behaviour and stress response. In our first experiment (E1), commercial hybrid hens were reared either in aviary or barren brooding cages, then housed in aviary, conventional cages or furnished (enriched) cages, thus forming different maternal housing treatments. Hens from each treatment were inseminated at three ages, and measures of response to manual restraint and social stress were assessed in offspring. In experiment 2 (E2), maternal age effects on offsprings' stress response were further investigated using fertile eggs from commercial breeder flocks at three ages. In E1, maternal age affected struggling and corticosterone during manual restraint, feather pecking and pulling and comb wounds. Additionally, maternal rearing and housing in aviary systems showed positive effects on measures of behaviour and stress response in offspring. Effects of maternal age were not replicated in E2, possibly due to methodological differences or higher tolerance to maternal effects in commercial breeders. Overall, we recommend researchers report parent stock age to increase comparison across studies and thus our understanding of maternal age effects.

BackgroundFatigue is a prevalent symptom in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Individual differences in chronic stress may affect the experience and persistence of fatigue, and this may vary between the sexes. Therefore, we studied the effect of chronic stress on the course of fatigue over a 2-year period after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and examined the moderating effects of sex.Methods1682 patients (78% men, age = 67.1 ± 10.6) were recruited and filled out multiple self-report questionnaires at baseline, one, 12, and 24 months post-PCI, including questions on demographics, fatigue (HCS). Multiple chronic stressors were assessed at baseline: work stress (ERI16), marital stress (MMQ-6), early life events (Life Events Questionnaire) and social stress. Latent class factor analysis (LatentGOLD) was used to construct a comprehensive chronic stress index. Linear mixed modeling examined the predictive quality of predictors and covariates.ResultsFatigue was found to substantially decrease over the first month post-PCI, then stabilized at a moderate level. Chronic stress impacted both the level and course of fatigue by increasing its level and delaying recovery. Overall and across time, women reported more fatigue than men. The level and course effects of chronic stress and sex were independent of demographic, health behavioral, and medical covariates.ConclusionsIndividual differences in chronic stress impact both the level and course of fatigue post-PCI, with women being affected most. Future research could further explain the mechanisms underlying the observed relationships. Developing and testing interventions focusing on exercise and stress-reduction could be used to alleviate fatigue.

Ketamine has been demonstrated to be a rapid-onset and long-lasting antidepressant, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies have emerged microRNAs as important modulators for depression treatment. In this study, we report that miR-98-5p is downregulated in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of mice subjected to chronic social stress, while overexpressing it by its agonist alleviates depression-like behaviors. More importantly, we demonstrate that miR-98-5p is upregulated by ketamine administration, while inhibition of it by its antagonist blocks the antidepressant effect of ketamine. Our data implicate a novel molecular mechanism underlying the antidepressant effect of ketamine, and that therapeutic strategies targeting miR-98-5p could exert beneficial effects for depression treatment.

The deleterious mental health effects associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic are increasingly apparent, however, questions remain about the extent to which pandemic‐related stressor exposure has contributed to increased psychological distress among an already disadvantaged group, individuals with disabilities. The first aim of the study was to examine the distribution of pandemic‐related stressors across multiple dimensions—employment, personal and family finances, personal relationships, and quality of social life—among individuals with and without disabilities. The second aim of the study was to examine the association between a composite COVID‐19 stressor score and two mental health outcomes—depressive and anxiety symptoms—among the two subsamples. The study used quota‐based online survey data (N = 2043) collected in the summer of 2020 from adults (18 and older) residing in the Intermountain West, half of whom had a self‐reported disability. Study results demonstrated that individuals with disabilities experienced pandemic‐related stressors at significantly higher rates relative to their non‐disabled counterparts. Further, pandemic stressor exposure was associated with greater negative effects on their psychological well‐being. We argue that the COVID‐19 pandemic is generating a secondary mental illness pandemic, and that individuals with disabilities are affected by it at significantly higher proportions.

Patients who have contracted COVID-19 experience alarming rates of severe illness, medical complications, and mortality compared with that observed in other respiratory diseases such as influenza. In addition, those who have recovered from COVID-19 are at higher risk of lasting medical complications postdischarge. Importantly, many of these physical complications are likely to cause, and in turn be exacerbated by, psychological complications experienced as a function of illness, extended hospitalization, ventilation, and rigorous quarantine measures. At this time, little is known about the nature and prevalence of these complications, or treatment approaches psychologists may use in providing intervention. Nevertheless, it is possible to identify some of the most likely psychological concerns based on the literature of similar disease states and on psychological sequelae that typically occur following extended intensive care unit (ICU) stays in general. In this article, we characterize psychological presentations likely to be experienced by patients recently discharged from COVID treatment in the ICU based on the review of relevant literature. Specifically, we focus on the domains of: (a) medical trauma, acute stress reaction and posttraumatic stress, (b) cognitive deficits, (c) fatigue and depression, (d) social stress and readjustment, and (e) illness anxiety. Within each characterized domain, we provide empirically supported treatment recommendations for psychologists should they encounter postdischarge COVID patients seeking psychological treatment in outpatient or telehealth settings. Public Significance Statement—Little is known about the mental health challenges faced by patients after being critically ill and hospitalized due to COVID-19. In this article, we provide descriptions of the psychological problems that could result from COVID-related illness which cause difficulty functioning during recovery, along with recommendations for the delivery of therapy and support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) © 2021 American Psychological Association

Context Caregiving during advanced cancer presents many physical and psychological challenges, especially for caregivers who are coping with their own history of cancer or their own chronic health conditions. There is growing recognition that caregiver health and patient health are interdependent. Objectives The objective of this study was to use quantitative and interview data to examine and explore the impact of a caregiver's personal cancer history and chronic health conditions on the psychosocial well-being of both the caregiver and patient. Methods This was a secondary analysis of data from 88 patients with advanced lung/gastrointestinal cancer and their spouse-caregivers. Participants self-reported subjective health, chronic health conditions (including cancer), anxiety and depression symptoms, and social support and social stress. Caregivers self-reported caregiving burden and preparedness for caregiving. Caregivers also completed semistructured interviews. Results Participants were mostly white, non-Hispanic, and in their mid-60s. Caregivers reported 1.40 (SD = 1.14) chronic conditions on average; 11 reported a personal history of cancer (“survivor-caregivers”). The number of caregiver chronic health conditions was positively associated with patient depression symptoms. Patients of survivor-caregivers also reported more depression symptoms than patients of caregivers without cancer (t(85) = −2.35, P = 0.021). Survivor-caregivers reported higher preparedness for caregiving than caregivers without cancer (t(85) = −2.48, P = 0.015). Interview data enriched quantitative findings and identified factors that may drive patient depression, including emotions such as resentment or guilt. Experiencing cancer personally may provide caregivers unique insight into the patient experience. Conclusion Providers should be aware of caregiver chronic conditions and cancer history, given the potential negative effects on patient psychosocial well-being.

Objective Determine the proportion and characteristics of traumatic injury survivors who perceive a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their recovery and to define post-injury outcomes for this cohort. Background The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated physical, psychological, and social stressors that may create a uniquely difficult recovery and reintegration environment for injured patients. Methods Adult (≥18 years) survivors of moderate-to-severe injury completed a survey 6-14 months post-injury during the COVID-19 pandemic. This survey queried individuals about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on injury recovery and assessed post-injury functional and mental health outcomes. Regression models were built to identify factors associated with a perceived negative impact of the pandemic on injury recovery, and to define the relationship between these perceptions and long-term outcomes. Results Of 597 eligible trauma survivors who were contacted, 403 (67.5%) completed the survey. Twenty-nine percent reported that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted their recovery and 24% reported difficulty accessing needed healthcare. Younger age, lower perceived-socioeconomic status (SES), extremity injury, and prior psychiatric illness were independently associated with negative perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on injury recovery. In adjusted analyses, patients who reported a negative impact of the pandemic on their recovery were more likely to have new functional limitations, daily pain, lower physical and mental component scores of the SF-12 and to screen positive for PTSD and depression. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting the recovery of trauma survivors. It is essential that we recognize the impact of the pandemic on injured patients while focusing on directed efforts to improve the long-term outcomes of this already at-risk population.

Introduction: A substantial body of research indicates that starting school is associated with increased anxiety, fears and behavioral disorders among children. However, little is known whether emotional problems in children are associated with school type. Aim: To study whether the emotional health of first-graders in a boarding school is different from that in a regular school in a Russian setting. Methods: Altogether, 48 first-graders from a regular school and 48 first graders from a boarding school in Arkhangelsk participated in a cross-sectional studyWell-being, Activity, Mood (WAM) questionnaire, Phillips school anxiety scale; René Gilles projective method were applied. In addition, "Fears in the houses"; "The Ladder technique", "Houses", "Educational motivation" techniques were used. Subjective well-being was studied using Arkhireeva's questionnaire. Mann-Whitney U-tests were applied to compare central tendencies in two independent groups. The alfa-error level was set at 5 %. Principal component analysis with varimax normalized rotation was used out to identify the most important characteristics of the emotional health of the first-graders. Results: We observed substantial and statistically significant differences in emotional health among the first-graders in different schools. Children attending the boarding school had higher levels of activity (p = 0.004), feeling well (p = 0.005), satisfaction with relationships (p = 0.019), subjective well-being (p = 0.015), learning motivation (p = 0.014). Life management (p = 0.001), attitude towards a teacher (p = 0,022), sociability (p = 0,000) were included in the risk zone in this group. Children from a regular school had higher levels of sociability (p < 0.001), life management (p = 0.001) and emotional warmth towards the teacher (p = 0.022). Areas of concern among these children were psychological tension related to being at school (p = 0.013) and doing homework (p = 0.004), social stress (p = 0.012), proneness to conflict (p = 0.018), frustration related to the need to be successful at school (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Significant differences in first-graders' emotional health by school type were observed. Our results warrant development and implementation of mental- and emotional health promotion programs among schoolchildren, which should take into account the differences between regular- and boarding schools.

The article looks at recent research dealing with changes in the bile acid composition of the bile of outbred male rats under chronic social stress (social defeat in daily male confrontations, 14 days) when administered Corvitin (1 mg/kg, intragastrically, 7 days). Chronic social stress was created by daily agonistic interactions between animals. The main fractions of conjugated bile acids – taurocholic, taurohenodeoxycholic and taurodeoxycholic, glycocholic, glycochenodeoxycholic and glycodeoxycholic and free ones – cholic, chenodeoxycholic and deoxycholic were determined by the method of thin layer chromatography of bile. The conjugation index (ratio of the sum of conjugated cholates to the sum of free ones) and hydroxylation (ratio of the sum of trihydroxycholanic bile acids to the sum of dihydroxycholanic ones) of bile acids were calculated. The research showed that in the conditions of experimental social stress, Corvitin enhances the conjugation of bile acids with taurine and glycine, i.e. stimulates detoxification processes in hepatocytes. In the conditions of chronic social stress in male rats, the processes that had provided the flow of glycoconjugates of bile acids from hepatocytes to the bile ducts were further suppressed. The concentrations of glycocholic acid and glycochenodeoxycholic and glycodeoxycholic acids in the bile of male intruders were lower than the control values. But, as seen in the experiment, the use of Corvitin normalized these indicators. The experiment showed that in the conditions of chronic social stress, the content of cholic acid in the bile of intruder rats decreased, and when correcting the pathological condition using Corvitin, it reached the control values. The use of Corvitin simultaneously with the simulation of experimental social stress normalized the biliary secretory function of the liver, indicating the high potential of using Corvitin as a corrective factor in chronic social stress. Correction of stress-induced pathologies of liver bile-secretory function by Corvitin requires further thorough experimental studies.

Prospective momentary psychological and biological measures of real-time daily life stress experiences have been examined in several psychiatric disorders, but not in adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current electronic self-monitoring study examined associations between momentary daily life stressors and (i) negative affect (NA; emotional stress reactivity) and (ii) cortisol levels (biological stress reactivity) in males and females with ASD (N = 50) and without ASD (N = 51). The Experience Sampling Method, including saliva sampling, was used to measure three types of daily life stress (activity-related, event-related, and social stress), NA, and cortisol. Multilevel regression analyses demonstrated significant interactions between group and stress (i.e., activity-related and event-related stress) in the model of NA, indicating stronger emotional stress reactivity in the ASD than in the control group. In the model of cortisol, none of the group × stress interactions were significant. Male/female sex had no moderating effect on either emotional or biological stress reactivity. In conclusion, adults with ASD showed a stronger emotional stress (but not cortisol) reactivity in response to unpleasant daily life events and activities. The findings highlight the feasibility of electronic self-monitoring in individuals with ASD, which may contribute to the development of more personalized stress-management approaches. ispartof: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS vol:11 issue:1 ispartof: location:England status: published

Background Attentional biases are assumed to be a core feature in the etiology and maintenance of clinical anxiety. The present study focuses on initial maintenance of attention to threat, one of three attentional components investigated the least, particularly in child anxiety. Methods Angry and neutral facial expressions were presented in a free-viewing task, while eye-movements were recorded. Participants were N = 96 school-aged children, with n = 50 children with a clinical social anxiety disorder (SAD) and n = 46 healthy control children (HC). Prior to the task, social stress was induced in half of participating children to investigate the impact of increased levels of distress on initial attention allocation. Results The length of first fixation to angry faces in children with SAD neither differed from the length of first fixation to neutral faces nor the length of first fixation to angry faces in HC children. Furthermore, this variable was not affected by a stress induction procedure. However, children with SAD initially fixated longer on faces than HC children. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence for difficulties disengaging attention from faces. This may indicate that attention allocation is determined by the social nature of the stimuli rather than by the specific emotional valence.

Patients with serious mental illness are a high-risk category of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Patients with schizophrenia are not participatory and have increased mortality and morbidity, patients with dementia cannot be cared for while depression, anxiety, bipolar tubing are associated with low immune status. Social stress is amplified by social isolation, amplifying depression and the mechanisms of decreased immunity. Hygiene measures and prophylactic behavior are impossible to put into practice in conditions of chronic mental illness. In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the risk for severe development is associated with the presence of comorbidities and immune system deficiency. Prothrombotic status, cytokine storm and alveolar destruction are mechanisms that aggravate the evolution of patients, especially in the context in which they have dysfunction of the autonomic system. The activity of proinflammatory cytokines is accentuated by hyperglutamatergia, which potentiates oxidative stress and triggers the mechanisms of neural apoptosis by stimulating microglial activation. Activation of M1-type microglia has an important role in pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and may associate hippocampal atrophy and disconnection of cognitive structures. Memantine and Amantadine, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor inhibitors, have demonstrated, through their pharmacological profile, psychotropic effects but also antiviral properties. In the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on these arguments, we suggest that they can be associated with the therapy with the basic psychotropics, Memantine or Amantadine, for the control of neuropsychiatric symptoms but also as adjuvants with antiviral action.

Generations of scholars have debated hair’s significance as a symbol of womanhood, fertility, and spiritual morality in South India. For contemporary Indian women, hair is a site of concern, often expressed as an everyday preoccupation with hair loss or “hair fall,” as it is known in the subcontinent. This exploratory study investigated hair fall among Kannada-speaking Hindu women in the South Indian city of Mysuru, Karnataka. It used a series of focus group discussions to explore how women talk about the causes and consequences of hair fall, and how women cope with hair-related distress. Participants articulated clear, shared ideas about why hair falls and how it can be managed. They connected hair fall to broader stressors in their lives both directly and symbolically. Hair fall, therefore, appears to function idiomatically in this context, both as an idiom of distress in its own right, and as a symptom of other idioms and forms of distress. Additional research is needed to establish the importance of hair fall relative to other distress constructs, and to more directly assess its potential value in research and intervention.

Objectives Several studies show that severe social stressors, e.g., in the form of exposure to workplace bullying in humans, is associated with negative mental health effects such as depression and anxiety among those targeted. However, the understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms that may explain the relationship between exposure to bullying and such negative health outcomes is scarce. The analyses presented here focus on understanding the role of the β2-adrenergic receptors (ADRB2) on this association. Methods First, a resident-intruder paradigm was used to investigate changes in circulating norepinephrine (NE) in rat serum induced by repeated social defeat and its relationship with subsequent social behavior. Second, the direct effects of the stress-hormones NE and cortisol, i.e., synthetic dexamethasone (DEX), on the ADRB2 expression (qPCR) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) release (immunoassay) was examined in cultured EL-1 cells. Third, in a probability sample of 1052 Norwegian employees, the 9-item short version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire—Revised (S-NAQ) inventory, Hopkins Symptom Checklist and genotyping (SNP TaqMan assay) were used to examine the association between social stress in the form of workplace bullying and anxiety moderated by the ADRB2 genotype (rs1042714) in humans. Results The present study showed a clear association between reduced social interaction and increased level of circulating NE in rats previously exposed to repeated social defeat. Parallel cell culture work, which was performed to examine the direct effects of NE and DEX on ADRB2, demonstrated ADRB2 downregulation and MCP-1 upregulation in cultured EL-1 cells. Genotyping with regard to the ADRB2 genotype; rs1042714 CC vs CG/GG, on human saliva samples, showed that individuals with CC reported more anxiety following exposure to bullying behaviors as compared to the G carriers. Conclusion We conclude that workplace bullying promotes anxiety and threaten well-being through an ADRB2 associated mechanism.

Research has shown that entertainment media can make people experience nostalgia, a mixed emotion triggered by fond memories, which can function as a resource for well-being in times of strain. Accordingly, people may be especially motivated to consume nostalgia-inducing media in times of crisis. One such crisis that has strongly affected the personal lives of most people around the world is the global COVID-19 pandemic. In our study, we investigate the role of nostalgic media use during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate whether nostalgic media use has increased during the early 2020 lockdown, what kinds of media people used to become nostalgic, and how nostalgic media use is associated with well-being and escapism. In a cross-sectional panel survey conducted during lockdown measures in Germany in April and May 2020, participants (N = 534) were asked about their current stress, fear of isolation, nostalgic media usage, and functional as well as dysfunctional escapism. Controlling for nostalgia proneness, our findings indicate that nostalgic media usage was positively associated with fear of isolation and that it was related to both functional and dysfunctional escapism. Respondents in our survey most commonly used music, movies, and series and also (audio-)books, videogames, and private photos and videos to become nostalgic. Overall, our findings indicate that media-induced nostalgia may function as a resource to cope with social stress (fear of isolation) for some people during the lockdown measures and that this coping strategy may have both functional as well as dysfunctional components. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Public Policy Relevance Statement: This research offers evidence that fear of isolation that many people experienced during the lockdown measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic is positively related to the consumption of media that elicits nostalgia. Moreover, nostalgia was positively related to both functional and dysfunctional escapism. These findings indicate that people may use nostalgia-inducing media as a coping mechanism to deal with fears related to social isolation during times of social distances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Background Negative beliefs about the effects of stress have been associated with poorer health and increased mortality. However, evidence on the psychological mechanisms linking stress beliefs to health is scarce, especially regarding real-life stress. Purpose The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of stress beliefs on affect in the daily stress process in a population prone to health-impairing effects of stress: university students. Methods Using daily diaries, 98 university students reported on daily perceived social and work-related stressors as well as positive and negative affect for 10 consecutive days. Stress beliefs, depressive and anxiety symptoms, neuroticism, and demographic variables were assessed prior to the daily diary phase. Results Hierarchical linear models revealed a significant cross-level interaction between negative stress beliefs and the association of daily social stressors with negative affect (B = 0.24; 99% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08–0.41, p < .001). When experiencing social stress, participants who held high negative stress beliefs had higher daily negative affect (simple slope = 4.09; p < .001); however, for participants who held low negative stress beliefs the association between daily social stress and daily negative affect was considerably smaller (simple slope = 2.12; p < .001). Moreover, individuals believing stress to be controllable showed higher positive affect throughout the 10-day daily diary phase. Conclusions Negative stress beliefs were found to moderate the affective response to daily real-life stressors. Given the established relationship between affect and health, this study provides initial evidence of psychological mechanisms linking stress beliefs to health.

BackgroundThe biological consequences of stress from the social environment pattern health outcomes. This study investigated whether social stress is prospectively associated with fracture incidence among racially and ethnically diverse, postmenopausal women.MethodsData from 160 709 postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative was analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine prospective associations of social stress with time to total and hip fracture incidence. Self-reported questionnaires measuring social strain, social functioning and social support were used to assess social stress.ResultsAge and race/ethnicity modified associations between social stress and total and hip fractures. HRs for the associations between higher social support (indicating lower social stress) and total fractures among those age 50–59 years were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90 to 0.94); HR=0.94 (95% CI: 0.93 to 0.95) for those age 60–69 years and HR=0.96 (95% CI: 0.95 to 0.98) for those age 70–79 years. Higher social strain was associated with greater hip fracture incidence among Native American women (HR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.10 to 3.10), Asian women (HR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.86) and white women (HR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.08).ConclusionIdentifying population patterns of fracture incidence as biological expressions of social environments reveals how race/ethnic specific social environmental factors influence disparities in fractures.

Social stressors produce neurobiological and emotional consequences in social species. Environmental interventions, such as environmental enrichment and exercise, may modulate physiological and behavioral stress responses. The present study investigated the benefits of environmental enrichment and exercise against social stress in the socially monogamous prairie vole. Female prairie voles remained paired with a sibling (control) or were isolated from a sibling for 4 weeks. The isolated groups were separated into isolated sedentary, isolated with environmental enrichment, and isolated with both enrichment and exercise conditions. Behaviors related to depression, anxiety, and sociality were investigated using the forced swim test (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM), and a social crowding stressor (SCS), respectively. cFos expression was evaluated in stress-related circuitry following the SCS. Both enrichment and enrichment with exercise protected against depression-relevant behaviors in the FST and social behavioral disruptions in the SCS, but only enrichment with exercise protected against anxiety-related behaviors in the EPM and altered cFos expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in isolated prairie voles. Enrichment may alleviate emotion-related and social behaviors, however physical exercise may be an important component of environmental strategies for protecting against anxiety-related behaviors and reducing neural activation as a function of social stress.

Chronic stress during early life, such as exposure to social conflict or deficits in parental care, can have persistent adverse behavioural effects. Offspring in a rodent model of maternal depression and early life stress have increased susceptibility to maternal depression themselves, suggesting a pathway by which maternal stress could be intergenerationally inherited. The overall aim of this study was to explore the genetic regulatory pathways underlying how maternal social stress and reduced care mediates stress-related behavioural changes in offspring across generations. This study investigated a social stress-based rat model of postpartum depression and the intergenerational inheritance of depressed maternal care where F0 (dams exposed to male intruder stress during lactation) and F1 offspring are directly exposed to social stress. RNASeq was used to investigate genome-wide transcriptome changes in the hippocampus of F1 and F2 generations. Transcriptome analyses revealed differential expression of 69 genes in the F1 generation and 14 in the F2 between controls versus social stress differences. Many of these genes were receptors and calcium-binding proteins in the F1 and involved in cellular oxidant detoxification in F2. The present data identify and characterize changes in the neural expression of key genes involved in the regulation of depression maintained between the generations, suggesting a potential neural pathway for the intergenerational transmission of depressed maternal care and maternal anxiety in the CSS model. Further work is needed to understand to what extent these results are due to molecular germline inheritance and/or the social propagation of deficits in maternal care.

Objective Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals who report greater minority stress (e.g., discrimination) are at an elevated risk for multiple health problems. However, few studies have examined physiological mechanisms that might link minority stress to health. This study tested how cardiovascular and cortisol responses to a laboratory-induced social stressor differed when that stressor contained an additional minority stress component. Method LGB adults (n = 141; 51% male, 49% female) participated in a social stress task in which they were interviewed by a prerecorded confederate. Participants were randomized to receive information that their interviewer held either antigay or progay social/political beliefs. Cardiovascular reactivity and salivary cortisol were assessed at baseline, during the task, and during recovery. Results All participants experienced significant task-related increases in heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). However, participants in the antigay condition had greater increases in HR and SBP during the task and smaller decreases in SBP during recovery. Salivary cortisol increased significantly only in the antigay condition. High frequency heart rate variability (hfHRV) was constant throughout the stress task for participants in the progay condition but decreased significantly during the task for participants in the antigay condition. Conclusions Minority stress has the potential to affect LGB individuals' health through cardiovascular and endocrine mechanisms. Moreover, its physiological signature may differ from other social stress in ways that have implications for health and emotion regulation more broadly. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Cognitive alterations putatively contribute to the risk for suicide in individuals with psychosis. Yet, a comprehensive assessment of social-and general-cognitive abilities in a large sample is lacking. Methods: Seven-hundred -fifteen individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder performed tasks of facial emotion recognition, Theory of Mind, and general cognitive functioning (sustained attention, set-shifting, IQ-tests and verbal learning) as part of the Genetic-Risk-and-Outcome-of-Psychosis (GROUP) study. Presence of past suicide attempt/s and/or current suicidal ideation was reported by 261 individuals and 454 individuals reported no suicide attempt or ideation. We used general linear models to investigate group differences in task performance. All analysis were controlled for age, sex, education, and psychotic symptom severity. Results: Individuals with suicide attempt and/or ideation showed better performance on the facial emotion recognition task and lower performance on tasks of sustained attention and verbal learning, compared to individuals without suicide attempt and/or ideation, without a clear effect of attempt or ideation. Theory of Mind performance was also better for individuals with suicide attempt and/or ideation, with largest differences between individuals who reported both attempts and ideation compared to individuals without suicide attempt and/or ideation. No effect of suicide attempt and/or ideation was found on misperception of facial emotions, IQ and set-shifting. Overall, effect sizes were small. Conclusion: Higher sensitivity to social-emotional cues together with weakened attentional control and learning capacity was observed in individuals with psychosis and suicide attempt and/or ideation. This may suggest that insufficient capacity for regulating perceived social stress contributes to suicidal thoughts and behavior. (c) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).