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In organizational studies, the concept of resilience has recently become more and more prominent. In order to explain how organizations can survive and thrive in the face of adversity or turbulence, it is considered to be a very promising concept. PERMA model intervention is a Positive Psychology Intervention which has been found fruitful in enhancing mental health, well-being and resilience as well. In this study, the resilience of private sector bankers was calculated and PERMA model intervention was used to enhance it in the experimental group. For this objective, 8o subjects were chosen as sample and divided equally into experimental and control groups. Resilience Scale (Wagnild & Young, 1993) was used to assess resilience. 2 week long intervention was given to the experimental group. t-test was found to be 2.70851 with p-value of .004152 which was found significant at 0.05 level. This proved the hypothesis formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The use of the recreational drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has increased over the past decade, concomitantly leading to a higher incidence of GHB use disorder. Evidence-based treatment interventions are hardly available and cognitive effects of long-term GHB use remain elusive. In order to study the development of GUD and the causal effects of chronic GHB consumption, a GHB self-administration model is required. Experimental approach: Long Evans rats had access to GHB in their home cage according to a two-bottle choice procedure for 3 months. Intoxication and withdrawal symptoms were assessed using an automated sensor-based setup for longitudinal behavioral monitoring. Rats were trained in an operant environment according to a fixed ratio (FR) 1, 2, and 4 schedule of reinforcement. Addiction-like behaviors were assessed through progressive ratio-, non-reinforced-, and quinine-adulterated operant tests. In addition, the novel object recognition test and elevated plus maze test were performed before and after GHB self-administration to assess memory performance and anxiety-like behavior, respectively. Key results: All rats consumed pharmacologically relevant levels of GHB in their home cage, and their intake remained stable over a period of 3 months. No clear withdrawal symptoms were observed following abstinence. Responding under operant conditions was characterized by strong inter-individual differences, where only a subset of rats showed high motivation for GHB, habitual GHB-seeking, and/or continued responding for GHB despite an aversive taste. Male rats showed a reduction in long-term memory performance 3 months after home-cage GHB self-administration. Anxiety-like behavior was not affected by GHB self-administration. Conclusion and implications: The GHB self-administration model was able to reflect individual susceptibility for addiction-like behavior. The reduction in long-term memory performance upon GHB self-administration calls for further research into the cognitive effects of chronic GHB use in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "economon" (i:'ka.nə.muhn; plural: economa) is introduced here to describe an economic unit composed of two participants engaged in mutually reinforcing operant behavior. Economa are basic building blocks of transactional behavior that aggregate in social networks called economies. In a drug-addiction economon, operant behavior by one participant (the "supplier") provides an addictive drug as a reinforcer to the second participant (a "Person with Substance Use Disorder; PwSUD"). Reciprocal operant behavior by the PwSUD usually provides money as a reinforcer to the supplier. After defining the features of the drug-addiction economon, this article discusses its implications for (1) prevalence and virulence of drug addiction, (2) opportunities for drug-addiction research in general, (3) the "brain-disease model of addiction" in particular, and (4) factors that mitigate harm or promote risk of drug addiction. The economon model is intended to provide a novel perspective on the uniquely human disorder of drug addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a debilitating physiological and psychiatric disorder which affects individuals globally. The current pharmacological interventions to treat AUD are limited, and hence there is an urgent need for a novel pharmacological therapy which can be effective and safe across the population. Objective: We aimed to investigate a novel neutral cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1R) antagonist, AM6527, in several preclinical models of ethanol consumption using male and female C57BL6/J mice. Methods: Independent groups of male and female mice were subjected to repeated cycles of drinking in the dark (DID), or intermittent access to alcohol (IAA) procedures. Twenty minutes prior to ethanol access in each procedure, animals were treated with intraperitoneal injections of either 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg of AM6527 or its respective vehicle. Acamprosate (100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) or its respective vehicle was used as a positive control. Separate groups of male mice were subjected to a chain schedule of ethanol reinforcement to gain access to ethanol wherein completion of a fixed interval (FI; 5 min) schedule (link 1: "Seeking") was reinforced with continuous access to ethanol (fixed ratio; FR1) for up to 1.8 g/kg (link 2: "consumption"). All the animals were treated with 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg of AM6527 or its respective vehicle 20 mins prior to the start of the FI chain of the procedure. Separately, AM6527 was also evaluated in male and female mice undergoing acute ethanol withdrawal following 8 weeks of intermittent or continuous access to 20% ethanol drinking. Results: In both DID and IAA procedures, AM6527 reduced ethanol consumption in a dose-related manner in both male and female mice. AM6527 produced no tolerance in the DID procedure; mice treated with 3 mg/kg of AM6527 for 3 weeks continuously drank significantly smaller amounts of ethanol as compared to vehicle-treated mice over a period of three DID cycles. Moreover, in the IAA procedure, AM6527 caused an increase in water intake over the 24-h period. Acamprosate transiently reduced ethanol intake in male mice in both the DID and the IAA procedures but failed to produce any significant effect in female mice. AM6527 also produced a decrease in the FI responding ("ethanol seeking") in animals trained to self-administer ethanol. Lastly, AM6527 mitigated neurological withdrawal signs, i.e., handling induced convulsions (HIC) in mice undergoing acute ethanol withdrawal. Conclusions: Current findings support previous studies with CB1R neutral antagonist in reducing voluntary ethanol intake and seeking behavior. Based on results shown in this work, AM6527 can be developed as a first in class CB1R neutral antagonist to treat AUD in both males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present investigation delves into the effectiveness of two distinct therapeutic modalities, namely Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) and Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI), in tackling issues of mistrust and alienation among homeless females. Methods: The methodology employed in this study was of a semi-experimental nature, characterized by an experimental design utilizing a pre-test/post-test approach with a control group. Participant selection was carried out through a random sampling technique, resulting in the recruitment of 60 individuals who were subsequently allocated randomly into three groups, each comprising 20 participants. Data collection utilized the Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) instrument. To assess the research hypotheses, multivariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were conducted. Results: Following a meticulous analysis of post-intervention outcomes, a notable discrepancy in scores between the MBT and PPI cohorts was observed. Specifically, the MBT cohort exhibited a significant enhancement in contrast to the control group, while no substantial variance was detected between the PPI cohort and the control group. Conclusions: As a result, it is deduced from this study that MBT surpasses PPI significantly in alleviating the mistrust and alienation schema prevalent in homeless women. In view of these findings, it is recommended that organizations supporting homeless women, particularly single mothers, contemplate the implementation of the Mentalization-Based Treatment strategy to augment their cognitive schemas and foster psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behaviour analysis has been subject to considerable criticism in recent years. This paper sets out to discuss key values, concepts and perspectives in the field that are essential for current behaviour analytic practice, while highlighting and acknowledging necessary improvements for practice and training. These include the importance of behaviour analysts (BAs) focusing on social validity outcomes; the value of consumer opinions, alongside collaborative and relationship-based practice; the importance of proactive, function-based interventions that take into account learning histories; and the use of system-wide, quality of life interventions, including capable environments. This paper highlights areas where behaviour analysis needs further focus to ensure adherence to the underpinning values of the science and to continue to evolve as a science of behaviour grounded in clear and modern humanist values. This paper additionally reflects on the later development of behaviour analysis in the UK and Ireland and the influence of positive behavioural support (PBS) in graduate teaching and service application to develop values-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes from the perspective of Service‐Dominant Logic how value is generated through supply chain integration. The inclusion of the Service‐Dominant Logic together with the Transaction Costs Economy and the Resource Based View allows exploring ways of explaining the generation of value that have been seldom studied. In particular, the role of specific resources, governance form, and information sharing are analyzed in the Spanish mining and manufacture of nonmetallic mineral products industry. The hypotheses generated are tested with structural equation modeling. The sample size was 276 cases. The findings support the importance of governance form and relation‐specific resources as operant resources, as well as the importance of the latter in amplifying the governance form's effect. Five operant resources are identified: information sharing, governance form, relation‐specific resources, trust, and relational commitment. These resources outline three ways of value generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work has demonstrated the importance of the prelimbic cortex (PL) in contextual control of operant behavior. However, the associated neural circuitry responsible for providing contextual information to the PL is not well understood. In Pavlovian fear conditioning the ventral hippocampus (vH) and its projection to the PL have been shown to be important in supporting the effects of context on learning. The present experiments used chemogenetic inhibition of the direct vH-PL projection or the vH to determine involvement in expression of contextspecific operant behavior. Rats were injected with an inhibitory DREADD (hM4Di) or mCherry-only into the vH, and subsequently trained to perform a lever press response for a food pellet in a distinct context. The DREADD ligand clozapinen-oxide (CNO) was then delivered directly into the PL (experiment 1) and then systemically (experiment 2) prior to tests of the response in the training context as well as an equally familiar but untrained context. vH (systemic CNO) but not vH-PL (intra-PL CNO) inhibition was found to attenuate operant responding in its acquisition context. A third experiment, using the same rats, showed that chemogenetic inhibition of vH also reduced Pavlovian contextual fear. The present results suggest that multisynapatic connections between the vH and PL may be responsible for integration of contextual information with operant behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sex is an important factor in the progression and treatment of alcohol addiction, and therapeutic approaches may have to be tailored to potential sex differences. This highlights the importance of understanding sex differences in behaviors that reflect key elements of clinical alcohol addiction, such as continued use despite negative consequences ("compulsive use"). Studies in experimental animals can help provide an understanding of the role sex plays to influence these behaviors. Methods: Large populations of genetically heterogeneous male and female Wistar rats were tested in an established model of compulsive alcohol self-administration, operationalized as alcohol responding despite contingent foot shock punishment. We also tested baseline (fixed ratio, unpunished) operant alcohol self-administration, motivation to self-administer alcohol (progressive ratio), and temporal discounting for alcohol reward. In search of predictors of compulsivity, animals were screened for novelty-induced place preference, anxiety-like behavior, pain sensitivity and corticosterone levels. The estrous cycle was monitored throughout the study. Results: Unpunished self-administration of alcohol did not differ between males and females when alcohol intake was corrected for body weight. Overall, females showed higher levels of compulsive responding for alcohol. Compulsive response rates showed bimodal distributions in male but not in female rats when intermediate shock intensities were used (0.2 and 0.25 mA); at higher shock intensities, responding was uniformly suppressed in both males and females. We also found less steep discounting in females when alcohol was devalued by delaying its delivery. Males exhibited a stronger motivation to obtain alcohol under unpunished conditions, while females showed higher corticosterone levels at baseline. Factor analysis showed that an underlying dimension related to stress and pain predicted compulsivity in females, while compulsivity in males was predicted by a reward factor. We did not find differences in alcohol-related behaviors throughout the various stages of the estrous cycle. Conclusions: Our results suggest that mechanisms promoting compulsivity, a key feature of alcohol addiction, likely differ between males and females. This underscores the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in both preclinical and clinical research, and has potential treatment implications in alcohol addiction. Plain language summary: Sex plays an important role in the progression and treatment of alcohol addiction. While men show a higher prevalence of alcohol addiction, women are more susceptible to the adverse effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, women often rely on heavy drinking as a maladaptive coping mechanism to alleviate stress and anxiety, driven by negative affect. On the other hand, men are more likely to report heavy drinking and relapse in response to positive emotions and social influences. These sex-based differences underline the importance of understanding how vulnerability to alcohol addiction and its treatment varies in males and females. We used genetically heterogeneous rats to explore the behavioral traits that contribute to compulsivity, a key clinical feature of alcohol addiction. We found that motivation to self-administer alcohol was higher in males, while females showed higher compulsive alcohol self-administration. In males, motivation to self-administer alcohol showed a significant correlation with compulsivity, while in females compulsivity was predicted by higher basal corticosterone levels. These findings underlie the importance of sex-specific factors in compulsive alcohol self-administration, with potential prevention and treatment implications in alcohol addiction. Highlights: Male rats showed a higher motivation to obtain alcohol. Females showed higher levels of compulsive responding for alcohol and a less steep discounting when alcohol was devalued by delaying its delivery. In males compulsivity was predicted by a reward factor, while in females by stress-pain factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People's reasons for goal pursuit strongly relate to well-being. An important concept that captures differences in the reasons for goal pursuit is the goal-striving reasons framework. Until today, it remains unclear whether the goal-striving reasons framework relates differently to the well-being of particular groups of people. Using the positive-activity model as a guiding framework, the paper at hand analyses a number of person-related characteristics which are relevant in a goal-setting context and are assumed to change the relationship between goal-striving reasons and well-being. Employing a large cumulative data set the person-related characteristics comprise of demographic variables (age, gender, managerial status) and selected well-being related variables (assertiveness, burnout, engagement, goal progress). Using correlation analyses in conjunction with Fisher's z-test the results show that contrary to older employees (aged 24 or older) the goal-striving reasons of younger people are not related to their well-being. Women's self-esteem reasons are more strongly related to well-being than they are for men. People's goal-striving reasons are more strongly associated with well-being for people with high levels of assertiveness, low levels of burnout, or high levels of engagement. The findings have implications for the delivery of the Happiness through Goal Setting Training, a Positive Psychology Intervention based on the goal-striving reasons framework, as it identifies various alterations of the training to cater for the needs of these subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of specific Facebook activities (e.g., posting photos, comparing oneself to others) on body image (e.g., perceived attractiveness, weight concerns) and self-esteem (e.g., self-worth, confidence) among Taiwanese junior high school students to understand the potential psychological effects of these activities on adolescents. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 384 Taiwanese junior high school students completed self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS software to explore the relationships between Facebook usage, body image, and self-esteem. Our study reveals that gender, grade, and BodyMass Index (BMI) play a crucial role in shaping body image, with a positive correlation between body image and self-esteem. Interestingly, Facebook usage does not moderate the relationship between body image and self-esteem among these students. These findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing adolescent self-esteem and body image, shedding light on a complex issue. Our research has important implications for targeted interventions in psychology, education, and sociology to improve adolescent mental health. By understanding social media's influence on self-perception and self-esteem, we can develop strategies to mitigate adverse effects and promote healthier online behaviors. These applications underscore the practical relevance of our findings and their potential to inform and improve current practices. Our study breaks new ground by providing fresh insights into social media's effects on body image and self-esteem among Taiwanese adolescents. By highlighting Facebook usage's non-moderating role, our research contributes to a broader understanding of social media's psychological impact and encourages further exploration of this complex and vital area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Previous studies in socially housed monkeys examining acquisition of cocaine self-administration under fixed-ratio (FR) schedules of reinforcement found that subordinate males and dominant females were more vulnerable than their counterparts. Objectives: The present studies extended these findings in two ways: (1) to replicate the earlier study, in which female monkeys were studied after a relatively short period of social housing (~ 3 months) using cocaine-naïve female monkeys (n = 9; 4 dominant and 5 subordinate) living in well-established social groups (~ 18 months); and (2) in male monkeys (n = 3/social rank), we studied cocaine acquisition under a concurrent schedule, with an alternative, non-drug reinforcer available. Results: In contrast to earlier findings, subordinate female monkeys acquired cocaine reinforcement (i.e., > saline reinforcement) at significantly lower cocaine doses compared with dominant monkeys. In the socially housed males, no dominant monkey acquired a cocaine preference (i.e., > 80% cocaine choice) over food, while two of three subordinate monkeys acquired cocaine reinforcement. In monkeys that did not acquire, the conditions were changed to an FR schedule with only cocaine available and after acquisition, returned to the concurrent schedule. In all monkeys, high doses of cocaine were chosen over food reinforcement. Conclusions: The behavioral data in females suggests that duration of social enrichment and stress can differentially impact vulnerability to cocaine reinforcement. The findings in socially housed male monkeys, using concurrent food vs. cocaine choice schedules of reinforcement, confirmed earlier social-rank differences using an FR schedule and showed that vulnerability could be modified by exposure to cocaine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the overall effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions on internet addiction (IA) in youth. Method: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from their inception to April 1, 2023 were searched in Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, and WanFang Data. Two reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results: Sixty-six studies performed from 2007 to 2023, with a total of 4,385 participants, were identified. The NPIs included group counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, sports intervention, combined interventions, eHealth, educational intervention, positive psychology intervention, sand play intervention, and electrotherapy. The results revealed that NPIs significantly reduced IA levels (standardized mean difference, SMD: -2.01, 95% confidence interval, CI: -2.29 to -1.73, I² = 93.0%), anxiety levels (SMD: -1.07, 95%CI: -1.41 to -0.73, I² = 72.4%), depression levels (SMD: -1.11, 95%CI: -1.52 to -0.7, I² = 84.3%), and SCL-90 (SMD: -0.75, 95%CI: -0.97 to -0.54, I² = 27.7%). Subgroup analysis stratified by intervention measure showed that cognitive behavioral therapy, group counseling, sports intervention, combined intervention, educational intervention, positive psychology intervention, sandplay intervention, and mobile health were all effective in relieving symptoms of IA except electrotherapy. Conclusion: NPIs appear to be effective in the treatment of IA in youth, which would act as an alternative treatment of IA. Further studies with larger sample sizes and robust designs are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progressive ratio (PR) lever-press task serves as a benchmark for assessing goal-oriented motivation. However, a well-recognized limitation of the PR task is that only a single data point, known as the breakpoint, is obtained from an entire session as a barometer of motivation. Because the breakpoint is defined as the final ratio of responses achieved in a PR session, variations in choice behavior during the PR task cannot be captured. We addressed this limitation by constructing four reinforcement learning models: a simple Q-learning model, an asymmetric model with two learning rates, a perseverance model with choice traces, and a perseverance model without learning. These models incorporated three behavioral choices: reinforced and non-reinforced lever presses and void magazine nosepokes, because we noticed that male mice performed frequent magazine nosepokes during PR tasks. The best model was the perseverance model, which predicted a gradual reduction in amplitudes of reward prediction errors (RPEs) upon void magazine nosepokes. We confirmed the prediction experimentally with fiber photometry of extracellular dopamine (DA) dynamics in the ventral striatum of male mice using a fluorescent protein (genetically encoded GPCR activation-based DA sensor: GRABDA2m). We verified application of the model by acute intraperitoneal injection of low-dose methamphetamine (METH) before a PR task, which increased the frequency of magazine nosepokes during the PR session without changing the breakpoint. The perseverance model captured behavioral modulation as a result of increased initial action values, which are customarily set to zero and disregarded in reinforcement learning analysis. Our findings suggest that the perseverance model reveals the effects of psychoactive drugs on choice behaviors during PR tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separable striatal circuits have unique functions in Pavlovian and instrumental behaviors but how these roles relate to performance of sequences of actions with and without associated cues are less clear. Here, we tested whether dopamine transmission and neural activity more generally in three striatal subdomains are necessary for performance of an action chain leading to reward delivery. Male and female Long‐Evans rats were trained to press a series of three spatially distinct levers to receive reward. We assessed the contribution of neural activity or dopamine transmission within each striatal subdomain when progression through the action sequence was explicitly cued and in the absence of cues. Behavior in both task variations was substantially impacted following microinfusion of the dopamine antagonist, flupenthixol, into nucleus accumbens core (NAc) or dorsomedial striatum (DMS), with impairments in sequence timing and numbers of rewards earned after NAc flupenthixol. In contrast, after pharmacological inactivation to suppress overall activity, there was minimal impact on total rewards earned. Instead, inactivation of both NAc and DMS impaired sequence timing and led to sequence errors in the uncued, but not cued task. There was no impact of dopamine antagonism or reversible inactivation of dorsolateral striatum on either cued or uncued action sequence completion. These results highlight an essential contribution of NAc and DMS dopamine systems in motivational and performance aspects of chains of actions, whether cued or internally generated, as well as the impact of intact NAc and DMS function for correct sequence performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify and map barriers and facilitators to the acceptance of pain neuroscience education for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions. Introduction: Pain neuroscience education aims to reconceptualize the understanding of the biology of pain. This includes the acknowledgment of physiological and psychological processes relevant to pain experiences to ultimately change maladaptive beliefs and behaviors. Pain neuroscience education in chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions has been demonstrated to positively influence relevant treatment outcomes. Inclusion criteria: Only qualitative studies will be included. The population will include patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and healthcare providers involved in pain management. The phenomenon of interest encompasses educational interventions on the biology and psychology of pain, which aim to reconceptualize patients' understanding of pain. Methods: A comprehensive search strategy will be conducted on MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, PsycInfo, and CINHAL. Two reviewers will independently conduct the study selection process, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis. Discrepancies will be resolved by a third reviewer. The assessment of methodological quality will be guided by JBI's critical appraisal checklist for qualitative research. Qualitative data synthesis will follow the JBI SUMARI meta-aggregation approach. Considerations of the certainty in the results will be reported in accordance with a ConQual Summary of Findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the needs of convicts is a critical issue for the design of the intervention. Nonetheless, in the information reported by convicts in penitentiary evaluation, simulation (malingering) and dissimulation (denial of symptoms, social desirability, and both) must be suspected. Thus, a field study with the aim of estimating the prevalence rate of the distortions and its effects in the needs reported by convicts was designed. A total of 624 men convicted for intimate partner violence reported their needs in the MMPI-2 in the reception phase of a penitentiary intervention program. Results: tion consisting in denial of symptoms,.112 [.087,.137], social desirability,.223 [.190,.256], and the combination of both two,.120 [.095,.145]. The effects in denial of symptoms emerged in the information of less depressive (i.e., lack of interest in activities, excessive sensitivity, lack of sociability), paranoid (i.e., interpersonal sensitivity and perceptiveness), psychasthenic (i.e., general subjective distress and negative affect), schizoid (i.e., alienation, chaotic interpersonal relations, and disruptive cognitive processes), and hypomanic (i.e., hyperactivity, irritability, and sensation seeking) symptoms. Likewise, social desirability dissimulators detailed significantly less depressive, psychopathic (i.e., less general social maladjustment), paranoid, psychasthenic, schizoid, and hypomanic symptoms. Similarly, the whole dissimulators (combining denial of symptoms and social desirability responses) informed less depressive, psychopathic, paranoid, psychasthenic, schizoid, and hypomanic symptoms, and fewer problems of social introversion. Conversely, they related significantly more symptoms of hysteria (i.e., physical complaints). Distortions introduced by convicts in self-reports must be controlled to design effective correctional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate how psychotherapists who follow the psychoanalytic theoretical orientation experience individual online sessions. Twelve professionals participated: seven women and five men, aged between 27 and 68 years old, with an average clinical experience of 17.3 years, based in the Southeastern region of Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were employed to assess their experiences. The data collected between October 2021 and June 2022 were analyzed using Bardin's (2008) method and interpreted considering psychoanalytic literature. The findings encompassed experiences before Resolution 04/2020 of the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology, preconceptions, preparations, resources utilized, subjective impacts, and future perspectives regarding this mode of practice. The study indicated that the participants navigated and continued to navigate new territories, confirming that remote therapy is an important resource that will persist even after the pandemic subsides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate how psychotherapists who follow the psychoanalytic theoretical orientation experienced individual online sessions. Twelve professionals participated: seven women and five men, aged between 27 and 68 years old, with an average clinical experience of 17.3 years, based in the Southeastern region of Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were employed to access their experiences. The data collected between October 2021 and June 2022 were analyzed using Bardin's (2008) method and interpreted in light of psychoanalytic literature. The findings encompassed experiences prior to Resolution 04/2020 of the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology, preconceptions, preparations, resources utilized, subjective impacts, and future perspectives regarding this mode of practice. The study indicated that the participants navigated and continue to navigate new territories, confirming that remote therapy is an important resource that will persist even after the pandemic subsides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the distinction between goal-directed behavior and habitual behavior in operant behavior. It explains that goal-directed behavior is influenced by the current value of its reinforcing consequence, while habits occur independently of that value. The article discusses various studies that examine the characteristics and measurement of habits, as well as their persistence and susceptibility to change. It also presents alternative frameworks for understanding habits and goal-directed behavior. The article highlights the evolving understanding of habits and their role in behavior. [Extracted from the article]

Operant behavior can reflect the influence of goal‐directed and habitual processes. These can be distinguished by changes to response rate following devaluation of the reinforcing outcome. Whether a response is goal directed or habitual depends on whether devaluation affects response rate. Response rate can be decomposed into frequencies of bouts and pauses by analyzing the distribution of interresponse times. This study sought to characterize goal‐directed and habitual behaviors in terms of bout‐initiation rate, within‐bout response rate, bout length, and bout duration. Data were taken from three published studies that compared sensitivity to devaluation following brief and extended training with variable‐interval schedules. Analyses focused on goal‐directed and habitual responding, a comparison of a habitual response to a similarly trained response that had been converted back to goal‐directed status after a surprising event, and a demonstration of contextual control of habit and goal direction in the same subjects. Across experiments and despite responses being clearly distinguished as goal directed and habitual by total response rate, analyses of bout‐initiation rate, within‐bout rate, bout length, and bout duration did not reveal a pattern that distinguished goal‐directed from habitual responding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People achieve important life outcomes of health, financial security, and productivity by repeating operant behavior. To identify whether such operants reflect goal pursuit or habit, the present research introduces a new paradigm that yields objective measures of learning and controls for the motivations of goal pursuit. In two experiments, participants practiced a sequential task of making sushi and then completed a test of the strength of cue–response (habit) associations in memory. Finally, they repeated the sushi task without instructions while under cognitive load (designed to impede deliberation about goals). As predicted, greater task practice yielded stronger cue–response associations, which in turn promoted task success. Practice did not improve performance by enhancing goal intentions or other task motivations. We conclude that repetition facilitates performance by creating mental associations that automatically activate practiced, habitual responses upon perception of recurring context cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An examination of innate behavior and its possible origins suggests parallels with the formation of habitual behavior. Inflexible but adaptive responses—innate reflexive behavior, Pavlovian conditioned responses, and operant habits—may have evolved from variable behavior in phylogeny and ontogeny. This form of "plasticity‐first" scientific narrative was unpopular post‐Darwin but has recently gained credibility in evolutionary biology. The present article seeks to identify originating events and contingencies contributing to such inflexible but adaptive behavior at both phylogenic and ontogenic levels of selection. In ontogeny, the development of inflexible performance (i.e., habit) from variable operant behavior is reminiscent of the genetic accommodation of initially variable phylogenic traits. The effects characteristic of habit (e.g., unresponsiveness to reinforcer devaluation) are explicable as the result of a conflict between behaviors at distinct levels of selection. The present interpretation validates the practice of seeking hard analogies between evolutionary biology and operant behavior. Finding such parallels implies the validity of a claim that organismal behavior, both innate and learned, is a product of selection by consequences. A complete and coherent account of organismal behavior may ultimately focus on functional selective histories in much the same way evolutionary biology does with its subject matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voluntary behaviors (operants) can come in two varieties: Goal‐directed actions, which are emitted based on the remembered value of the reinforcer, and habits, which are evoked by antecedent cues and performed without the reinforcer's value in active memory. The two are perhaps most clearly distinguished with the reinforcer‐devaluation test: Goal‐directed actions are suppressed when the reinforcer is separately devalued and responding is tested in extinction, and habitual behaviors are not. But what is the function of habit learning? Habits are often thought to be strong and unusually persistent. The present selective review examines this idea by asking whether habits identified by the reinforcer‐devaluation test are more resistant to extinction, resistant to the effects of other contingency change, vulnerable to relapse, resistant to the weakening effects of context change, or permanently in place once they are learned. Surprisingly little evidence supports the idea that habits are permanent or more persistent. Habits are more context‐specific than goal‐directed actions are. Methods that make behavior persistent do not necessarily work by encouraging habit. The function of habit learning may not be to make a behavior strong or more persistent but to make it automatic and efficient in a particular context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many researchers have tackled the question of how behavior is influenced by its outcomes. Some have adopted a nonmechanistic (functional) perspective that attempts to describe the influence of outcomes on behavior. Others have adopted a mechanistic (cognitive) perspective that attempts to explain the influence of outcomes on behavior. Orthogonal to this distinction, some have focused on the influence of outcomes that a behavior had in the past, whereas others also consider the influence of outcomes that a behavior might have in the future. In this article, we relate these different perspectives with the goal of reducing misunderstandings and fostering collaborations between researchers who adopt different perspectives on the common question of how behavior is influenced by its outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education during the pandemic assumed the challenge of adapting its formative contents to the virtual environment with consequent achievement of effective learning; in this context, it was proposed to evaluate the perception of learning in a subject of psychological intervention, formative research and social responsibility in a non-probabilistic sample of 277 psychology students from 19 to 48 years old, using the mixed method and non-experimental design, with the Scale of Perceived Learning in the Curricular Experience of Intervention Programs in Psychology and three open-ended questions. The results reflect a high evaluation of the course structure and the teaching role at 67.4% and 70.8%; higher perception of learning in private university students (U= 9414.000 and p=0.001); no distinction according to sex, age or occupation and the qualitative analysis recognizes the reinforcement of creativity, the acquisition of leadership and theoretical-practical competences, added to a satisfactory personal experience. These findings revalue the curricular experiences in virtuality, towards the achievement of formative-professional learning objectives in psychology students who are sensitive to replication in different higher education careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In humans, frustrating experiences are known to trigger relapse events and individuals with higher frustration intolerance show increased risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs). Despite this clear relationship, frustration-related behavior is seldom studied concurrently with self-administration behavior in rodent models. A major obstacle has been the lack of robust, quantitative assays of frustration-related operant behavior thus far. In previous work, we identified increased bar press (BP) durations in response to frustrating conditions in rats self-administering natural or drug rewards. Here, to propose BP durations as a measure of frustration-related behavior, we conducted an operant successive negative contrast (oSNC) study and found that increases in BP durations are observed in the absence of increased effort, providing evidence that this is a psychological phenomenon. Moreover, we assess the viability of widespread use of BP duration measurements as a behavioral tool by quantifying performance as it pertains to sensitivity, robustness, replicability, and sex differences. We conclude that increases in BP durations are a highly sensitive psychological response to frustrating conditions and that this measure is robust, replicable, and applicable to both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prioritizing positivity is effective in enhancing positive emotional experiences in everyday life. While a measure of prioritizing positivity is imperative for positive psychology interventions, no scale has been developed to measure this construct for Italian speakers. The current study developed and examined the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the Prioritizing Positivity Scale (I-PPS). Italian participants (N = 501) completed self-report measures of the I-PPS, broad personality, related psychological constructs, and indicators of well-being. Results showed strong evidence for a unidimensional model with factor loadings ranging from 0.67 to 0.82. Correlations in the expected directions were found between the I-PPS and broad personality traits, related psychological constructs, and well-being. Gender and language measurement invariance of the I-PSS revealed strict invariance between genders and metric invariance between the English (N = 642) and Italian versions. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence that the I-PPS has adequate psychometric properties. As such, the scale could be used in future studies to advance theories, design experiments, and measure the efficacy of positive psychology interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social connections are one of the most profound influences on an individual's happiness. This review article delves into various studies to explore this intricate relationship between social interactions, mental well-being, and our pursuit of happiness. It also dives into the wide world algorithms of social media and how they can create hindrances in creating worthy social connections creating social isolation. It borrows results and derivatives from many crucial types of research like “the Harvard Study of Adult Development”, which stresses the pivotal role of social connections in contributing to a happy life. Furthermore, exploration is made based on research conducted on the interventions of positive psychology to combat social isolation due to increasing digital platforms. The article follows a comprehensive approach in illustrating a variety of studies concerning the social media paradox. This probes into navigating multifaceted interplay between social connections, happiness, and Social media Platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined whether both dispositional mindfulness without mindfulness training and mindfulness resulting from longer-term mindfulness training are positively associated with pre-adolescents' well-being, via enhanced executive functioning (EF) and emotion regulation. EF was assessed in a GoNoGo task via behavioral performance and event-related potentials. Study 1 (N = 62) investigated associations of dispositional mindfulness without mindfulness training with EF, well-being and emotion regulation; longitudinal Study 2 with an active control group compared the effects of long-term mindfulness training (N = 28) with a positive psychology intervention (N = 15). Dispositional mindfulness without training was associated with lower EF, unrelated to emotion regulation and the relationship with well-being was mixed. Long-term mindfulness training was positively related to EF and well-being (reduced negative affect), but was uncorrelated with emotion regulation and mindfulness scores. Taken together, long-term mindfulness training was found to have mixed effects. Further research is required in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows that the labour market integration of refugees is often problematic. Little is known about what kind of measures are effective to help them integrate into the labour market. In the Netherlands, a positive psychology intervention "Mosaic" for Syrian refugees was developed to support their economic participation. This study aims to assess the effect of "Mosaic" on the economic participation and work‐related attitudes of Syrian refugees. "Mosaic" was implemented in six municipalities by conducting an RCT with a waiting list control group. The results show that in the short term, the intervention group realizes a significantly larger increase in hours spent on an internship as well as substantially larger gains in confidence to find work in the future. In the long term, the intervention group experiences larger confidence gains related to finding a job that fits their education and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mental well‐being and personal recovery are important treatment targets for patients with bipolar disorder (BD). The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8‐week group multicomponent positive psychology intervention (PPI) for euthymic patients with BD as an adjunct to treatment as usual (TAU) compared to TAU alone. Methods: Patients with BD were randomized to receive TAU (n = 43) or the PPI in addition to TAU (n = 54). The primary outcome was well being measured with the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form. Personal recovery was measured with the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery. Data were collected at baseline, mid‐treatment, post‐treatment and 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up. Life chart interviews were conducted at 12 months to retrospectively assess recurrence of depression and mania. Results: Significant group‐by‐time interaction effects for well‐being and personal recovery were found favouring the PPI. At post‐treatment, between‐group differences were significant for well‐being (d = 0.77) and personal recovery (d = 0.76). Between‐group effects for well‐being were still significant at 6‐month follow‐up (d = 0.72). Effects on well‐being and personal recovery within the intervention group were sustained until 12‐month follow‐up. Survival analyses showed no significant differences in time to recurrence. Conclusions: The multicomponent PPI evaluated in this study is effective in improving mental well‐being and personal recovery in euthymic patients with BD and would therefore be a valuable addition to the current treatment of euthymic BD patients. The fact that the study was carried out in a pragmatic RCT demonstrates that this intervention can be applied in a real‐world clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To explore the effects of social support and positive psychological intervention on subjective well-being and depression of left-behind children. 70 left-behind children with depression tendency participated in this study and were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a two-year-long psychological intervention of social support in 269 social support activities about 8 themes and positive psychological quality cultivation group counseling with a total of 128h for 64 frequencies. We found that after a consecutive positive psychology intervention and group counseling, the level of subjective well-being of left-behind children significantly improved, and the level of depression decreased significantly. These results showed that both sufficient and diversified social support approaches and the cultivation of positive psychological qualities may significantly improve the subjective well-being of left-behind children and relieve or eliminate their depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain-associated approach and avoidance behaviours are critically involved in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Empirical research suggests a key role of operant learning mechanisms, and first experimental paradigms were developed for their investigation within a controlled laboratory setting. We introduce a new Virtual Reality paradigm to the study of pain-related behaviour and investigate pain experiences on multiple dimensions. The paradigm evaluates the effects of three-tiered heat-pain stimuli applied contingent versus non-contingent with three types of arm movements in naturalistic virtual sceneries. Behaviour, self-reported pain-related fear, pain expectancy and electrodermal activity were assessed in 42 healthy participants during an acquisition phase (contingent movement-pain association) and a modification phase (no contingent movement-pain association). Pain-associated approach behaviour, as measured by arm movements followed by a severe heat stimulus, quickly decreased in-line with the arm movement-pain contingency. Slower effects were observed in fear of movement-related pain and pain expectancy ratings. During the subsequent modification phase, the removal of the pain contingencies modified all three indices. In both phases, skin conductance responses resemble the pattern observed for approach behaviour, while skin conductance levels equal the pattern observed for the self-ratings. Our findings highlight a fast reduction in approach behaviour in the face of acute pain and inform about accompanying psychological and physiological processes. We discuss strength and limitations of our paradigm for future investigations with the ultimate goal of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in chronic pain development, maintenance, and its therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the popularity of fiber photometry (FP), its integration with operant behavior paradigms is progressing slowly. This can be attributed to the complex protocols in operant behavior – resulting in a combination of diverse non-predictable behavioral responses and scheduled events, thereby complicating data analysis. To overcome this, we developed Pyfiber, an open-source python library which facilitates the merge of FP with operant behavior by relating changes in fluorescent signals within a neuronal population to behavioral responses and events. Pyfiber helps to 1. Extract events and responses that occur in operant behavior, 2. Extract and process the FP signals, 3. Select events of interest and align them to the corresponding FP signals, 4. Apply appropriate signal normalization and analysis according to the type of events, 5. Run analysis on multiple individuals and sessions, 6. Collect results in an easily readable format. Pyfiber is suitable for use with many different fluorescent sensors and operant behavior protocols. It was developed using Doric lenses FP systems and Imetronic behavioral systems, but it possesses the capability to process data from alternative systems. This work sets a solid foundation for analyzing the relationship between different dimensions of complex behavioral paradigms with fluorescent signals from brain regions of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which seriously affects the treatment, recovery, and prognosis of patients. Objective: To observe the effect of empowerment psychological intervention on the status of PTSD in ICU patients. Methods: A total of 86 patients with PTSD who were treated in ICU from July 2019 to December 2021 were divided into two groups according to the intervention method. The control group (n = 43) used routine psychological intervention, while the intervention group (n = 43) used empowerment psychological intervention led by specialist nurses. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality of the patients. The Resilience Questionnaire (CD-RISC) was used to evaluate the resilience of the patients, and the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Self- Rating Scale (PTSD-SS) was used to assess the severity of the symptoms. The Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Inventory (HAMA and HAMD) was adapted to assess the degree of anxiety and depression, and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) was adapted to evaluate the posttraumatic growth of the patients. Results: After the intervention, the total CD-RISC score and its tenacity, self-improvement, and optimism scores in the two groups were all higher than before, and the total PSQI score and its sleep quality, time, efficiency and impairment, as well as hypnotic drugs, daytime dysfunction and time to sleep were lower than before, and the CD-RISC score in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group, PSQI score was lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). After the intervention, PTSD-SS scores and anxiety-depression scores were lower, and PTGI scores were higher in both groups than before (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The empowerment psychological intervention led by specialist nurses applied to ICU patients with PTSD can improve their psychological resilience and sleep quality, reduce negative emotions, alleviate clinical symptoms, and promote post-traumatic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) interfaces between taste and feeding systems and is also an important hub for relaying distress information and threats. Despite that the PBN sends projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a heterogeneous brain region that regulates motivational behaviors, the function of the PBN-to-VTA connection remains elusive. Here, by using male mice in several behavioral paradigms, we discover that VTA-projecting PBN neurons are significantly engaged in contextual fear, restraint or mild stress but not palatable feeding, visceral malaise, or thermal pain. These results suggest that the PBN-to-VTA input may relay negative emotions under threat. Consistent with this notion, optogenetic activation of PBN-to-VTA glutamatergic input results in aversion, which is sufficient to override palatable feeding. Moreover, in a palatable food-reinforced operant task, we demonstrate that transient optogenetic activation of PBN-to-VTA input during food reward retrieval disengages instrumental food-seeking behaviors but spares learned action–outcome association. By using an activity-dependent targeting approach, we show that VTA DA neurons are disengaged by the PBN afferent activation, implicating that VTA non-DA neurons may mediate PBN afferent regulation. We further show that optogenetic activation of VTA neurons functionally recruited by the PBN input results in aversion, dampens palatable feeding, and disengages palatable food self-administration behavior. Finally, we demonstrate that transient activation of VTA glutamatergic, but not GABAergic, neurons recapitulates the negative regulation of the PBN input on food self-administration behavior. Together, we reveal that the PBN-to-VTA input conveys negative affect, likely through VTA glutamatergic neurons, to disengage instrumental food-seeking behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective teacher training programs entail cultivating not only professional teaching competencies but also promoting psychological strengths. However, there is a lack of investigation into how different modes of delivering psychological interventions influence well‐being outcomes in the teaching profession, such as preschool educators. This study examines the effects of different technologically driven modes of implementing a PROSPER‐based psychological intervention on positivity, relationship, outcome, strengths, purpose, engagement, and resilience. One hundred twenty‐eight pre‐service preschool teachers were randomly assigned to (1) the full intervention (i.e., online workshop and smartphone app); (2) the online workshop; (3) the smartphone app; and (4) the wait‐list control group. The results demonstrated that the online workshop mode yielded the strongest intervention effects on well‐being outcomes: positivity, purpose, engagement, and resilience. Although the smartphone app mode did not significantly improve psychological outcomes, combining this approach with the online workshop format appeared to have positive retention effects on positivity at the Time 3 follow‐up. The findings suggest that the traditional mode of implementing positive psychological interventions could be more effective than the smartphone app‐based mode in bolstering pre‐service teachers' well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of positive psychology intervention (PPI) activities can increase subjective well‐being. Still, there is variability in the impact of various PPI activities across people. In two studies, we examine strategies for personalizing a program of PPI activities to efficiently increase subjective well‐being. In Study 1 (N = 516), we examined participants' beliefs about and employment of various PPI activity selection strategies. Participants favored self‐selection over weakness‐based, strength‐based, or random activity assignments. When making activity selections for themselves, they reported using the weakness‐based strategy the most. The tendency to make weakness‐based activity selections related to negative affect whereas strengths‐based activity selections related to positive affect. In Study 2 (N = 112), we randomly assigned participants to complete a set of five PPI activities allocated either randomly, based on their skill weaknesses, or based on their self‐selections. Completing life‐skills lessons significantly increased subjective well‐being from baseline to post‐test. Furthermore, we found evidence for added benefits in terms of subjective well‐being, broad well‐being outcomes, and skills improvement of the weakness‐based and self‐selection personalization strategies compared with the random assignment of these activities. We discuss the implications for research, practice, and the well‐being of individuals and societies offered by the science of PPI personalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence of operant behavior when disrupted tends to be positively related to how often reinforcers were delivered in the past. Behavioral momentum theory describes this finding as the outcome of Pavlovian processes. That is, the relation between discriminative stimuli and reinforcers that were delivered in their presence strengthens behavior, thereby making it more likely to persist. If only the story were that simple. A growing number of findings challenge the basic tenets of behavioral momentum theory. Some even call into question whether Pavlovian relations contribute to persistence in the first place. In this paper, I will review behavioral momentum theory and some of the data that have been problematic for the theory. I will argue that despite these very real challenges, the theory provides important utility not only to basic analyses of response persistence but also to clinical interventions directed at long‐term reductions in problem behavior. It, for example, has set the stage for the development of alternative conceptual analyses of resistance to change, two of which will be highlighted for readers. Moreover, behavioral momentum theory may tell us something important about the reasons it continues to have an influence on the field, despite the challenging data that deter it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In recent years, health psychology has received significant attention within the health sector, due to its application to understanding influences on health and well‐being and translation of health psychology into interventions to support behaviour change. The number of health psychologists in public health and healthcare settings is growing but remains limited, and is it unclear why. This study aimed to explore the views of potential and current employers of health psychologists, to elucidate barriers and facilitators of employing health psychologists in healthcare settings. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were carried out to explore the experiences of working with and/or employing health psychologists. Opportunities and barriers were explored for increasing access to health psychology expertise in the NHS and public health. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Fifteen participants took part in interviews. Participants were mid‐senior‐level professionals working in varied healthcare settings and/or academic institutions. The majority had experience of health psychology/working with health psychologists, whilst others had limited experience but an interest in employing health psychologists. Three key themes were identified: (1) the organizational fit of health psychologists, (2) perception of competition for roles and (3) ideas for changing hearts, minds and processes. Conclusion: Barriers exist to employing health psychologists in healthcare settings. These barriers include misunderstandings of the role of health psychologists and the need to preserve other disciplines due to perceived competition. Recommendations for change included showcasing the benefits and skills of health psychologists and having transparent conversations with employees and multi‐disciplinary colleagues about roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practices and overt behaviors of leaders are the immediate causes of their impact on organizations; they also dominate discussions on effective leadership and frequently shape the content of leadership development programs. However, understanding these practices is at best a necessary but not a complete explanation for effective leadership and its development. This paper delves into three categories of "personal leadership resources" that are instrumental in explaining the behavior of particularly effective leaders. These resources are often termed "dispositions," a label sometimes used interchangeably with traits, abilities, personal leadership resources, and components of a leader's personal "capital." The emphasis of this section is on three categories of resources (social, psychological, and ethical), primarily identified through systematic research methods. For each category, the paper outlines the conceptual framework used to view its dispositions and explains how each specific disposition within the category contributes to a leader's effectiveness. Additionally, the paper reviews evidence regarding how each disposition aids leaders in achieving valuable organizational outcomes. The final section discusses implications for research and leadership development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Adolescents have been identified as the group who struggle most with successful adjustment to closed loop technology. This study aims to identify the psychological constructs that should form part of a positive psychology intervention to assist with the adjustment to closed loop technology among adolescents living with type 1 diabetes. Method: Qualitative document analysis was employed to integrate findings from two documents: a published ongoing intervention study and a recent phenomenological study by the authors. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes from the documents. Findings: The following themes were identified as important psychological constructs that aid adjustment: the importance of knowledge and education; the process of positive adjustment to closed loop technology; a positive outlook; and building a relationship with diabetes. Conclusion: Interventions are needed to assist adolescents in their adjustment to closed loop technology. The psychological constructs identified served as a starting point in designing an effective, evidence-based intervention grounded in data and theory. Knowledge and education, responsibility, identity, positive affect, gratitude, support, and trust are psychological constructs that need to be included in an intervention program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study endeavored to systematically integrate and quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of interpersonal psychological interventions for postpartum depression patients. Four electronic databases Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science were employed for literature retrieval, and the search time was from the inception of the database to May 30, 2022. Literature screening and data extraction were performed independently by two researchers. A total of 528 studies were screened, and 9 of them were finally included. There were 1012 subjects, 518 of them were assigned in experimental group and 494 in control. Evidence from interpersonal psychological interventions indicated that the data on postpartum depression, satisfaction with family, and social support in both groups after intervention included: depression score [MD = −2.80, 95%CI (−3.86 to −1.74), P < 0.05], satisfaction score [MD = 8.41, 95%CI (1.49 to −15.33), P < 0.05], and social support score [MD = 1.83, 95%CI (−2.10 to −5.76)] of postpartum depression patients. P values < 0.05 indicated substantial improvement as compared to control. During the research process, it is impossible for the experimental group and the researchers to use double-blind trials simultaneously, which may present a Hawthorne effect, but this can be avoided by general psychological intervention for the control. Interpersonal psychotherapy could improve depression in patients with postpartum depression, but the appropriate intervention time was between 4 and 8 weeks, and it also improved satisfaction with family of patients, and the longer the intervention, the higher the satisfaction with the family. • Evaluated the impact of interpersonal psychology interventions on PPD • Take an online and group format to provide guidance to clinicians • First comprehensive evaluation of the treatment cycle and frequency of PPD [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The network approach poses an alternative focus to understand psychological constructs as emerging from mutual interactions among indicators. Network psychometrics has been applied to psychopathology to unravel the connections between symptoms, but it can also be applied to the study of well-being. The role of character strengths in mental health is at the forefront of research attention. Previous findings suggest that heart character strengths are more predictive of mental health than mind character strengths. Nevertheless, researchers have rarely applied the network approach in this context. The present study examines, from the network approach, the connections between heart and mind character strengths and mental health. Building upon the dual-factor model of mental health, positive (i.e., happiness and life satisfaction) and negative indicators (i.e., depression) were included in the assessment of this construct. A sample of 597 Spanish undergraduates (M = 23.52; SD = 5.25; 75.6% females) completed cross-sectional self-report measures. Network analysis was used to estimate a network composed of two communities: character strengths and mental health. We used centrality analysis to calculate the importance of each node and bridge centrality to examine the interactions between the communities. The results indicated that the heart strengths of love, zest, hope, and gratitude reported the highest bridge strength centrality, suggesting that they played an intermediary role activating and deactivating components of mental health. Adopting the network approach to explore the connections between character strengths and mental health can help design focused intervention strategies in psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This pilot study aims to explore the potential of a positive psychology intervention (PPI) in enhancing the subjective well-being of older individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to dementia. Design and Setting: A randomized trial was conducted, initially recruiting 51 participants aged 65 and above from the Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders in Thessaloniki, Greece. The study employed a control-experimental group setup. To ensure randomization, each participant was assigned a unique number, and a random number generator was used for group allocation. Participants: A total of 41 eligible participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were included in the study after screening. Intervention: The intervention consisted of a 3-week positive psychology program (PPI) where the PERMA Profiler questionnaire was administered at three intervals: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one month after completion. Main Outcome Measures: The subjective well-being of participants. Results: The analysis, conducted mainly through mixed-measures ANOVAs, supported the study's hypotheses, revealing that the 3-week PPI led to increased PERMA model scores and overall well-being, which persisted even after one month. Conversely, non-participants experienced declines in most domains except for Positive Emotion and Meaning, which demonstrated improvement and recovery during follow-up. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential of PPI in enhancing the subjective well-being of older adults with amnestic MCI, with implications for addressing dementia-related challenges. Further investigation is warranted to pinpoint PPI effects on MCI and tailor interventions for improved subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US-led, rules-based order enables China to pursue a peaceful international power transition by leveraging the agenda-setting power. The agenda that China proposes is development, and the lever to promote the agenda is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI helps China publicize the development agenda, co-opt the existing US-led system, showcase China's material success, legitimize its creation of new international institutions, and attract supporters of its calls to revise the current US-led order. Since Washington wants to avoid its competition with China turning apocalyptic, the most sensible US countermeasure is keeping China inside this rules-based order and competing to set its agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to evaluate the organizational commitment and job satisfaction in relation to organizational silence and perceived leadership behavior among radiology technicians. A total of 269 radiology technicians were included in this study. Participants completed the questionnaire form on study instruments including Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ), Instrumental Leadership Scale (ILS), and Organizational Silence Scale (OSS) to assess job satisfaction, organizational commitment, instrumental leadership and organizational silence, respectively. Organizational commitment scores were significantly higher in private vs. public sector employees (3.61(0.63) vs. 3.47(0.65), p<0.05). High job satisfaction was significantly predicted by the lower education (B:-1.67), higher instrumental leadership behavior (B:13.58), and lower organizational silence (B:-0.91), while high organizational commitment was significantly predicted by the high instrumental leadership behavior (B:0.20) and high job satisfaction (B:0.03). Our findings revealed job satisfaction and organizational commitment of radiology technicians to be at moderate levels and to be positively correlated with each other. The job satisfaction and instrumental leadership were the significant predictors of organizational commitment, emphasizing the role of job satisfaction as an antecedent rather than a consequence of organizational commitment. Instrumental leadership was the common predictor of both organizational commitment and job satisfaction, while organizational silence predicted poor job satisfaction among radiology technicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are a tool for "remote control" of defined neuronal populations during behavior. These receptors are inert unless bound by an experimenter-administered designer drug, commonly clozapine-n-oxide (CNO). However, questions have emerged about the suitability of CNO as a systemically administered DREADD agonist. Objectives: Second-generation agonists such as JHU37160 (J60) have been developed, which may have more favorable properties than CNO. Here we sought to directly compare effects of CNO (0, 1, 5, & 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and J60 (0, 0.03, 0.3, & 3 mg/kg, i.p.) on operant food pursuit. Methods: Male and female TH:Cre + rats and their wildtype (WT) littermates received cre-dependent hM4Di-mCherry vector injections into ventral tegmental area (VTA), causing inhibitory DREADD expression in VTA dopamine neurons of TH:Cre + rats. All rats were trained to stably lever press for palatable food on a fixed ratio 10 schedule, and doses of both agonists were tested on separate days in counterbalanced order. Results: All three CNO doses reduced operant rewards earned in rats with DREADDs, and no CNO dose had behavioral effects in WT controls. The highest J60 dose tested significantly reduced responding in DREADD rats, but this dose also increased responding in WTs, indicating non-specific effects. The magnitude of CNO and J60 effects in TH:Cre + rats were correlated and were present in both sexes. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the usefulness of directly comparing DREADD agonists when optimizing behavioral chemogenetics, and highlight the importance of proper controls, regardless of the DREADD agonist employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]