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Abstract: Background: To date there has been no research investigating moderators of response to micronutrient treatment of mental illness, specifically baseline nutrient levels. Method: We conducted analyses of data from a randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) of 80 adults (≥16years) with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), whereby participants were treated acutely (8weeks) with micronutrients or placebo followed by an open-label (OL) phase of 8weeks whereby all participants received micronutrients. To ensure that all participants had been exposed to the micronutrients for 8weeks, only those 64 who had adhered to the treatment protocol and completed 8weeks on nutrients were included in the data analysis: 34 from the group that had been randomized to the micronutrient arm, and 30 from the group that had been randomized to the placebo group and hence had only received nutrients in the OL phase. Six outcomes were examined: change in ADHD symptoms (self/clinician), ADHD responder, Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I), change in mood, and change in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Demographic, developmental and psychiatric history, current clinical characteristics, and baseline nutrient levels were all considered as putative predictors. Results: There were significant changes in all outcome variables after 8weeks exposure to the micronutrients. Among the nutrients recorded at baseline, substantial deficiencies (27%) were only observed for vitamin D. However, other than an association showing that higher iron at baseline was correlated with higher baseline depression scores, baseline nutrient levels were not correlated with baseline psychiatric variables/current clinical characteristics. Regression analyses revealed that higher baseline ferritin and lower baseline copper and vitamin D levels were associated with a better response to treatment for some but not all outcomes. None of the other nutrient levels was found to be associated with outcome, including zinc, vitamin B12, iron, and folate. There were no childhood risk factors, demographic variables or clinical correlates that contraindicated micronutrient treatment; more severe symptoms at baseline and greater number of developmental risk factors predicted greater treatment response. Conclusions: Further research looking at nutrients more broadly is required to confirm these initial observations about ferritin, vitamin D and copper; however, the results suggest that serum nutrient levels have limited value for identifying who will respond to treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sixty youth (16-19 years) from two youth prison sites participate in a prospective study examining criminal offending and learning disabilities (LD), completing measures of estimated IQ, attention, reading, and mathematical and oral language abilities. Prevalence rates of LDs exceed those of international studies, with 91.67% of the offenders showing significant difficulties in at least one area of achievement (defined as 1 SD or more below the normative mean), the mean reading comprehension score falling at the 4th percentile. Four years post assessment, recidivism rates among released youth (n = 51) are investigated. After the investigators control for other known risk factors (including delinquency and estimated IQ), reading comprehension predicts future offending across measures, capturing rate, seriousness, and persistence of offending post release. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The September, 2010, 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, provided an opportunity to study the after-effects of a major earthquake where death and injury were absent. It created a natural experiment into the protective effects on well-being of taking EMPowerplus (EMP+), a micronutrient supplement, in a group of 33 adults diagnosed with ADHD who had been assessed prior to the earthquake. Fortuitously, 16 were currently taking the supplement as part of on-going research at the time of the quake, while 17 were not (they had completed their trial of EMP+ or were waiting to begin consumption). The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42) which had been administered at varying times before the earthquake on recruitment into the micronutrient study was re-administered by telephone 7-10 and again 14-18 days post-earthquake to volunteer, earthquake-exposed participants. A modified Brinley plot analysis of the individual DASS-42 scores showed that the 16 participants on the nutritional supplement were more resilient to the effects of the earthquake than the 17 individuals not taking the supplement. This effect was particularly marked for Depression scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between reading difficulties (RD) and psychosocial problems is well-documented; however, less is known about possible protective factors. This study explored the possible protective functions of two socio-cognitive abilities (theory of mind and emotion understanding) in children with RD. Participants were 21 children with RD, and a matched group of 21 typically-achieving peers aged 9-11 years. Psychosocial problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Faux Pas Stories and the Diagnostic Assessment of Nonverbal Accuracy provided measures of theory of mind and emotion understanding respectively. Confirming previous findings, RD were significantly correlated with higher levels of psychosocial problems. Moreover, lower theory of mind scores predicted higher levels of psychosocial problems. Consistent with our hypothesis, emotion understanding moderated the link between RD and psychosocial problems. These findings provide evidence of the possible protective functions of socio-cognitive abilities for children with RD, and highlight the need for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), inflated responsibility (IR) beliefs and thought-action fusion (TAF) are two cognitive schema argued to contribute to obsessions and compulsions. We investigated whether IR and TAF are OCD-specific or whether they occur in other anxiety disorders. Adults diagnosed with OCD (n = 20) or other anxiety disorders (n = 21), and non-clinical controls (n = 22) completed measures of OCD symptomatology and severity, TAF, appraisals and interpretations of responsibility, and depression. IR was more prominent in those with OCD as compared with those with other anxiety disorders, with correlational analyses confirming that a high sense of personal responsibility was associated with high levels of obsessionality even after controlling for depression. No group differences, however, emerged between the clinical groups on measures of TAF, both groups showing elevated TAF compared with controls. Indeed, TAF and obsessional symptoms were correlated only in the presence of negative affect. These results suggest that although IR may be higher in those with OCD compared with other anxiety disorders, TAF is not specific to OCD. Results are discussed in the context of cognitive appraisal models of OCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship among creativity, ADHD symptomatology, temperament, and psychosocial functioning by comparing four groups of children aged 10-12 years: (1) 29 ADHD children without creativity, (2) 16 highly creative children displaying ADHD symptomatology, (3) 18 highly creative children without ADHD symptomatology, and (4) 30 normal controls. Children completed the TTCT, Child Depression Inventory, Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Parents completed the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory, Family Environment Scale, and the parent version of the Kastan Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire. Parents completed the Conner's Rating Scales and Child Behavior Checklist, and teachers completed the Child Behaviour Checklist. Results showed that the presence of ADHD symptomatology in creative children was related to their temperamental characteristics, and parent reports of children's levels of anxiety and depression. However, family environment and mother's attributions did not appear to be related to the presence of ADHD symptomatology in creative children. These findings have implications for the development and management of creative children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionEmerging evidence indicates that gut microbiota-targeted interventions may lead to improvements in cognition. We assessed whether a prebiotic-rich dietary intervention, probiotic supplement, or synbiotic combination of both would improve human cognition, as part of the ‘Gut Feelings’ trial.An 8-week, 2 × 2 factorial randomised controlled trial was conducted on 118 adults with low mood and potential for dietary improvement. Treatment arms: (1) probiotic supplement and diet-as-usual (probiotic group); (2) high-prebiotic diet and placebo supplement (prebiotic diet group); (3) probiotic supplement and high-prebiotic diet (synbiotic group); and (4) placebo supplement and diet-as-usual (placebo group). At baseline and 8-weeks, the Cogstate Brief Battery was administered, testing processing speed, attention, visual learning, and working memory. Data were analysed using Bayesian linear regression.We found weak evidence that the probiotic improved working memory (Cohen’s d = −0.32, 95% CI: –0.67, 0.03; posterior probability [post. prob] of benefit: 96%). For the other treatments, there was little or no evidence of cognitive improvement. We found weak evidence that the prebiotic diet impaired processing speed (d = 0.25, 95% CI: –0.02, 0.51; post. prob of harm: 97%). There was little indication of a synergistic interaction between the probiotic and prebiotic diet.We found suggestive evidence of a probiotic-induced improvement in working memory, and prebiotic-induced impairment in processing speed. However, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding any cognitive benefit or harm induced by the probiotic, prebiotic diet, or synbiotic treatments. Larger intervention studies are recommended, with inclusion of neuroimaging or electrophysiology measures.Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617000795392; registered 31 May 2017). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Untreated antenatal depression and anxiety can be associated with short and long term health impacts on the pregnant woman, her infant and the rest of the family. Alternative interventions to those currently available are needed. This clinical trial aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of a broad-spectrum multinutrient formula as a treatment for symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant women and to determine the impact supplementation has on the general health and development of the infant.Methods: This randomised, controlled trial will be conducted in Canterbury, New Zealand between April 2017 and June 2022. One hundred and twenty women aged over 16 years, between 12 and 24 weeks gestation and who score ≥ 13 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) will be randomly assigned to take the intervention (n = 60) or an active control formula containing iodine and riboflavin (n = 60) for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, participants can enter an open-label phase until the birth of their infant and naturalistically followed for the first 12 months postpartum. Infants will be followed until 12 months of age. Randomisation will be computer-generated, with allocation concealment by opaque sequentially numbered envelopes. Participants and the research team including data analysts will be blinded to group assignment. The EPDS and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale of Improvement (CGI-I) will be the maternal primary outcome measures of this study and will assess the incidence of depression and anxiety and the improvement of symptomatology respectively. Generalized linear mixed effects regression models will analyse statistical differences between the multinutrient and active control group on an intent-to-treat basis. A minimum of a three-point difference in EPDS scores between the groups will identify clinical significance. Pregnancy outcomes, adverse events and side effects will also be monitored and reported.Discussion: Should the multinutrient formula be shown to be beneficial for both the mother and the infant, then an alternative treatment option that may also improve the biopsychosocial development of their infants can be provided for pregnant women experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.Trial Registration: Trial ID: ACTRN12617000354381 ; prospectively registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on 08/03/2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines potential impact of diet and nutrition on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Topics discussed include the use of elimination diets in ADHD symptom management particularly among children, the link between ADHD and certain food allergies, and the hyperactivity levels in children following sugar consumption.

It has been widely hypothesized that both diet and the microbiome play a role in the regulation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviour. However, there has been very limited scientific investigation into the potential biological connection. We performed a 10-week pilot study investigating the effects of a broad spectrum micronutrient administration on faecal microbiome content, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The study consisted of 17 children (seven in the placebo and ten in the treatment group) between the ages of seven and 12 years, who were diagnosed with ADHD. We found that micronutrient treatment did not drive large-scale changes in composition or structure of the microbiome. However, observed OTUs significantly increased in the treatment group, and showed no mean change in the placebo group. The differential abundance and relative frequency of Actinobacteria significantly decreased post- micronutrient treatment, and this was largely attributed to species from the genus Bifidobacterium. This was compensated by an increase in the relative frequency of species from the genus Collinsella. Further research is required to establish the role that Bifidobacterium contribute towards neuropsychiatric disorders; however, these findings suggest that micronutrient administration could be used as a safe, therapeutic method to modulate Bifidobacterium abundance, which could have potential implications for modulating and regulating ADHD behaviour. Our pilot study provides an initial observation into this area of research, and highlights an interesting avenue for further investigation in a larger cohort. Furthermore, these novel results provide a basis for future research on the biological connection between ADHD, diet and the microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Many smokers do not achieve abstinence using current smoking cessation options. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated a novel nutritional supplement to assist with quitting smoking.Methods: Following a baseline phase where cigarettes per day and nicotine dependence were measured, participants (n = 107) were randomized to placebo (n = 50) or micronutrient conditions (n = 57). A 4-week pre-quit phase permitted titration up to 12 capsules/day. During the quit phase (12 weeks), participants were registered with a public Quitline while consuming micronutrients or placebo. Carbon monoxide levels were measured to confirm smoking cessation.Results: Forty-five (42%) participants completed the trial. Treatment and placebo groups did not differ on the primary outcome of continuous abstinence at 12 weeks using intention-to-treat analysis; however, 28% of the micronutrient-treated group had quit versus 18% for placebo (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.71 to 4.48), with number needed to treat = 10. Comparison of cigarette consumption (cigarettes per day) between micronutrient and placebo groups showed that those taking micronutrients reported reduced consumption throughout the trial, notably at pre-quit weeks 1 and 4, and at quit phase week 4. There were no serious adverse events, blinding was successful, and there were no substantive group differences in side effects or dropout rate.Conclusion: This is the first RCT investigating the impact of micronutrients on smoking reduction, finding that micronutrients reduced harm through reduction in number of cigarettes smoked relative to placebo. The small sample and high dropout rate limit confidence in the conclusions and generalizability of the study; however, assessed by number needed to treat, micronutrients are comparable to other smoking cessation treatments but with fewer side effects. Future research using larger and longer trials including cost-effectiveness and biomarker measures is encouraged.Implications: Micronutrients are being increasingly studied for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, but direct application of micronutrients as a treatment for addictions is novel. There is extensive evidence that micronutrients alleviate stress. Given that tobacco smoking is often used to cope with stress, taking micronutrients may moderate the stress of withdrawal and increase the chance of a successful quit attempt. This study is the first known RCT to investigate the use of micronutrients to support smoking cessation. Treatments that are safe, effective, relatively inexpensive, and readily available are needed and micronutrient supplements offer one such possible alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown micronutrient capsules can reduce stress in clinical and nonclinical recipients. However, as individuals can struggle with taking capsules, the objective of this double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of treating stress and well-being using an alternative delivery methodology: a powder that is absorbed via the oral mucosa. Seventy-two mild–severely stressed students, assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale–21 (DASS-21), were randomized to placebo or micronutrients and took one powder pouch per day for 4 weeks. Seven (10%) dropped out with no group differences. Symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, sleep, diet, and side effects were measured with online questionnaires every 2 weeks. There were no group differences on the primary outcome measures of stress (DASS-21; d = 0.15, p = .525) and self-reported improvement (Modified Clinical Global Impressions–Improvement scale), with 17.1% of the micronutrient and 16.2% of the placebo group identifying themselves as “much” to “very much” improved. However, the micronutrient group experienced statistically significantly greater reduction in irritability (d = 0.54, p = .024) and anger (d = 0.62, p = .011) relative to placebo, measured with the Affective Reactivity Scale and the Abbreviated Profile of Mood States, respectively. No group differences were found on remaining measures, with both groups showing significant improvements. There were significantly more headaches and drowsiness reported in the micronutrient group. Belief in treatment assignment was significantly correlated to self-reported improvement (r = −0.247, p = .049). To conclude, the micronutrients were no better than placebo in reducing stress; nonetheless, the significant benefit on irritability requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety and depression are increasingly burdening society. We investigated whether micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), improve anxiety and depression symptoms in an adult community setting. Participants (n = 150) describing functionally-impairing symptoms of anxiety/depression randomly received micronutrients or placebo for 10 weeks. Primary outcome measures were Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale (CGI I). They were monitored online with regular phone contact with a clinical psychologist. Linear mixed-effects modelling showed significant improvements in both groups, with the micronutrient group improving significantly more quickly on both the PHQ-9 (t = − 2.17, p = 0.03) and the GAD-7 (t = −2.23, p = 0.03). Subsequent models with covariates showed that participant characteristics moderated time-by-group interactions; micronutrients provided fastest improvement relative to placebo for younger participants, those from lower socioeconomic groups and those who had previously tried psychiatric medication. On the CGI I, there were no group differences at end-point ((F 1,148) = 1.36, p = 0.25, d = 0.19, 95 % CI [−0.13 to 0.51]), with 49 % of the micronutrient and 44 % of the placebo groups being identified responders. Participants on micronutrients had significantly increased bowel motions compared with placebo. There was no increased suicidal ideation, no serious adverse events and the blind was adequately maintained. Drop out was low at 8.7 %. The improvement under placebo and lack of formal diagnoses limit generalizability. Despite limited clinician contact, all participants improved significantly, though improvements were faster with micronutrients. Participants in some subgroups demonstrated a lower response to placebo, identifying where micronutrients may offer greatest potential as an intervention. • More safe and efficacious treatments are needed for mental health conditions, particularly anxiety and depression. • Micronutrients present a possible intervention for symptoms of anxiety and depression. • This study is the first of its kind exploring micronutrients as a treatment for symptoms of anxiety and depression. • Participants taking micronutrients improved more quickly during the trial. • There were differential improvements for various participant subgroups, indicating micronutrient benefits could be targeted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Role of dietary supplementation in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder" by Priya Rajyaguru and Miriam Cooper.

Objective: To explore risk behaviors in adults with ADHD, testing the possible mediating role of reward sensitivity and temporal discounting. Method: 66 adults (43 men, 23 women; 18-65 years) completed clinical interviews and self-report measures of ADHD symptoms, risk-taking behaviours/risky experiences and experimental measures of temporal discounting and reward sensitivity. Results: ADHD symptom severity in adults was significantly associated with self-reported life-time histories of risk-taking behaviours, including alcohol abuse, nicotine abuse, illicit drug abuse, and perpetration of violence; as well as experience of risky sexual situations and violence victimisation (all p values <0.05). The relationships between violence, nicotine use and ADHD symptom severity were significantly and differentially mediated by motivational variances (p values < .05), including temporal discounting and reward sensitivity. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that motivational variances (reward sensitivity; temporal discounting) may provide a mechanism for understanding the greater risk of harm to adults with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective: To investigate the impact of a 36- ingredient micronutrient formula consisting mainly of minerals and vitamins on adults with ADHD and severe mood dysregulation (SMD). Method: Fourteen medication-free adults with ADHD and SMD completed an 8-week open-label trial; pre and post measures of psychiatric symptoms and tests of processing speed, memory and executive functioning were conducted. A matched control group of 14 non-ADHD adults not taking the formula were assessed on the same neurocognitive tests 8 weeks apart in order to estimate the impact of practice effects. Results: Side effects were transitory and mild. Significant improvements were noted across informants (self, observer, clinician) on measures of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, mood, quality of life, anxiety, and stress all with medium to very large effect sizes. Significant improvement was also observed in the ADHD group, but not the control group, across a range of verbal abilities including verbal learning, verbal cognitive flexibility and fluency, and verbal inhibition. Conclusions: Micronutrients remain an intriguing and yet understudied option for the treatment of mental illness. Possible mechanisms of action will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic use of nutrient-based 'nutraceuticals' and plant-based 'phytoceuticals' for the treatment of mental disorders is common; however, despite recent research progress, there have not been any updated global clinical guidelines since 2015. To address this, the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Disorders (CANMAT) convened an international taskforce involving 31 leading academics and clinicians from 15 countries, between 2019 and 2021. These guidelines are aimed at providing a definitive evidence-informed approach to assist clinicians in making decisions around the use of such agents for major psychiatric disorders. We also provide detail on safety and tolerability, and clinical advice regarding prescription (e.g. indications, dosage), in addition to consideration for use in specialised populations. The methodology was based on the WFSBP guidelines development process. Evidence was assessed based on the WFSBP grading of evidence (and was modified to focus on Grade A level evidence – meta-analysis or two or more RCTs – due to the breadth of data available across all nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals across major psychiatric disorders). The taskforce assessed both the 'level of evidence' (LoE) (i.e. meta-analyses or RCTs) and the assessment of the direction of the evidence, to determine whether the intervention was 'Recommended' (+++), 'Provisionally Recommended' (++), 'Weakly Recommended' (+), 'Not Currently Recommended' (+/−), or 'Not Recommended' (−) for a particular condition. Due to the number of clinical trials now available in the field, we firstly examined the data from our two meta-reviews of meta-analyses (nutraceuticals conducted in 2019, and phytoceuticals in 2020). We then performed a search of additional relevant RCTs and reported on both these data as the primary drivers supporting our clinical recommendations. Lower levels of evidence, including isolated RCTs, open label studies, case studies, preclinical research, and interventions with only traditional or anecdotal use, were not assessed. Amongst nutraceuticals with Grade A evidence, positive directionality and varying levels of support (recommended, provisionally recommended, or weakly recommended) was found for adjunctive omega-3 fatty acids (+++), vitamin D (+), adjunctive probiotics (++), adjunctive zinc (++), methylfolate (+), and adjunctive s-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) (+) in the treatment of unipolar depression. Monotherapy omega-3 (+/−), folic acid (−), vitamin C (−), tryptophan (+/−), creatine (+/−), inositol (−), magnesium (−), and n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) (+/−) and SAMe (+/−) were not supported for this use. In bipolar disorder, omega-3 had weak support for bipolar depression (+), while NAC was not currently recommended (+/−). NAC was weakly recommended (+) in the treatment of OCD-related disorders; however, no other nutraceutical had sufficient evidence in any anxiety-related disorder. Vitamin D (+), NAC (++), methylfolate (++) were recommended to varying degrees in the treatment of the negative symptoms in schizophrenia, while omega-3 fatty acids were not, although evidence suggests a role for prevention of transition to psychosis in high-risk youth, with potential pre-existing fatty acid deficiency. Micronutrients (+) and vitamin D (+) were weakly supported in the treatment of ADHD, while omega-3 (+/−) and omega-9 fatty acids (−), acetyl L carnitine (−), and zinc (+/−) were not supported. Phytoceuticals with supporting Grade A evidence and positive directionality included St John's wort (+++), saffron (++), curcumin (++), and lavender (+) in the treatment of unipolar depression, while rhodiola use was not supported for use in mood disorders. Ashwagandha (++), galphimia (+), and lavender (++) were modestly supported in the treatment of anxiety disorders, while kava (−) and chamomile (+/−) were not recommended for generalised anxiety disorder. Ginkgo was weakly supported in the adjunctive treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia (+), but not supported in the treatment of ADHD (+/−). With respect to safety and tolerability, all interventions were deemed to have varying acceptable levels of safety and tolerability for low-risk over-the-counter use in most circumstances. Quality and standardisation of phytoceuticals was also raised by the taskforce as a key limiting issue for firmer confidence in these agents. Finally, the taskforce noted that such use of nutraceuticals or phytoceuticals be primarily recommended (where supportive evidence exists) adjunctively within a standard medical/health professional care model, especially in cases of more severe mental illness. Some meta-analyses reviewed contained data from heterogenous studies involving poor methodology. Isolated RCTs and other data such as open label or case series were not included, and it is recognised that an absence of data does not imply lack of efficacy. Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders. However several had only a weak endorsement for potential use; for a few it was not possible to reach a clear recommendation direction, largely due to mixed study findings; while some other agents showed no obvious therapeutic benefit and were clearly not recommended for use. It is the intention of these guidelines to inform psychiatric/medical, and health professional practice globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III) is a test which is currently used in New Zealand both clinically and in research to measure receptive vocabulary skills (Phillips, McNaughton, & MacDonald, 2004; Reese & Read, 2000; Stockman, 2000). This research investigated issues of cultural bias by comparing PPVT-III scores obtained by 46 Māori children from three different age groups (5-11 years) with scores from the standardisation sample. Results revealed that the PPVT-III appeared to be suitable for use with Māori as a receptive vocabulary measure, although a number of suggestions were made as to ways in which the administration and interpretation of PPVT-III test scores could be adjusted when working with Māori in order to minimise the impact of cultural bias. Additional research is required to establish whether changes to potentially culturally biased items may improve the validity of the PPVT-III for use with Māori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Selective attention has durable consequences for behavior and neural activation. Negative priming (NP) effects are assumed to reflect a critical inhibitory component of selective attention. The performance of adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was assessed across two conceptually based NP tasks within a selective attention procedure. Comorbidity (non-comorbid ADHD vs. comorbid ADHD) and subtype (ADHD combined vs. ADHD inattentive) were considered key issues. Results found NP effects to differ as a function of comorbidity but not subtype. Findings are discussed in light of functional neuroimaging evidence for neuronal enhancement for unattended stimuli relative to attended stimuli that strongly complements an inhibitory-based explanation for NP. Implications for the ‘AD’ in ADHD and contemporary process models of the disorder are considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The Theory? Diet Causes Violence. The Lab? Prison," by J. Bohannon in the September 25, 2009 issue.

Background and Aims: We investigated the effects of high dose dietary micronutrient supplementation or placebo on the human gut microbiome in pregnant women who had moderate symptoms of antenatal depression. There is a significant absence of well-controlled clinical studies that have investigated the dynamic changes of the microbiome during pregnancy and the relationship among diet, microbiome and antenatal depression. This research is among the first to provide an insight into this area of research., Methods: This 12 - week study followed a standard double blinded randomised placebo-controlled trial (RCT) design with either high dose micronutrients or active placebo. Matching stool microbiome samples and mood data were obtained at baseline and post-treatment, from participants between 12 and 24 weeks gestation. Stool microbiome samples from 33 participants (17 in the placebo and 16 in the treatment group) were assessed using 16s rRNA sequencing. Data preparation and statistical analysis was predominantly performed using the QIIME2 bioinformatic software tools for 16s rRNA analysis., Results: Microbiome community structure became increasingly heterogenous with decreased diversity during the course of the study, which was represented by significant changes in alpha and beta diversity. This effect appeared to be mitigated by micronutrient administration. There were less substantial changes at the genus level, where Coprococcus decreased in relative abundance in response to micronutrient administration. We also observed that a higher abundance of Coprococcus and higher alpha diversity correlated with higher antenatal depression scores., Conclusions: Micronutrient treatment appeared to support a more diverse (alpha diversity) and stable (beta diversity) microbiome during pregnancy. This may aid in maintaining a more resilient or adaptable microbial community, which would help protect against decreases or fluctuations that are observed during pregnancy., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests, financial or otherwise., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Elevated inflammation has been associated with adverse mood states, such as depression and anxiety, and antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamin C, have been associated with decreased inflammation and improved mood. In the current study comprising a cohort of pregnant women with depression and anxiety, we hypothesised that elevated inflammation would be associated with adverse mood states and inversely associated with vitamin C status and that multinutrient supplementation would optimise vitamin concentrations and attenuate inflammation. Sixty-one participants from the NUTRIMUM trial had blood samples collected between 12 and 24 weeks gestation (baseline) and following 12 weeks of daily supplementation with a multinutrient formula containing 600 mg of vitamin C or active placebo. The samples were analysed for inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines) and vitamin C content and were related to scales of depression and anxiety. Positive correlations were observed between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and all of the mood scales administered ( p < 0.05), including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity Scale, the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). CRP correlated weakly with GAD-7 ( p = 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between CRP and the vitamin C status of the cohort ( p = 0.045), although there was no association of the latter with the mood scales ( p > 0.05). Supplementation with the multinutrient formula resulted in a significant increase in the vitamin C status of the cohort ( p = 0.007) but did not affect the inflammatory biomarker concentrations ( p > 0.05). In conclusion, greater systemic inflammation was associated with worse mood states; however, 12-week multinutrient supplementation did not alter inflammatory biomarker concentrations. Nevertheless, the vitamin C status of the cohort was improved with supplementation, which may aid pregnancy and infant outcomes.

Background: Preliminary evidence supports the use of dietary interventions and gut microbiota-targeted interventions such as probiotic or prebiotic supplementation for improving mental health. We report on the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effects of a high-prebiotic dietary intervention and probiotic supplements on mental health., Methods: "Gut Feelings" was an 8-week, 2 × 2 factorial RCT of 119 adults with moderate psychological distress and low prebiotic food intake. Treatment arms: (1) probiotic supplement and diet-as-usual (probiotic group); (2) high-prebiotic diet and placebo supplement (prebiotic diet group); (3) probiotic supplement and high-prebiotic diet (synbiotic group); and (4) placebo supplement and diet-as-usual (placebo group). The primary outcome was assessment of total mood disturbance (TMD; Profile of Mood States Short Form) from baseline to 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression, stress, sleep, and wellbeing measures., Results: A modified intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed effects models revealed that the prebiotic diet reduced TMD relative to placebo at 8 weeks [Cohen's d = -0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.18, -0.03; p = 0.039]. There was no evidence of symptom improvement from the probiotic ( d = -0.19, 95% CI = -0.75, 0.38; p = 0.51) or synbiotic treatments ( d = -0.03, 95% CI = -0.59, 0.53; p = 0.92). Improved anxiety, stress, and sleep were noted in response to the prebiotic diet while the probiotic tentatively improved wellbeing, relative to placebo. No benefit was found in response to the synbiotic intervention. All treatments were well tolerated with few adverse events., Conclusion: A high-prebiotic dietary intervention may improve mood, anxiety, stress, and sleep in adults with moderate psychological distress and low prebiotic intake. A synbiotic combination of high-prebiotic diet and probiotic supplement does not appear to have a beneficial effect on mental health outcomes, though further evidence is required. Results are limited by the relatively small sample size., Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372753, identifier ACTRN12617000795392., Competing Interests: JS has received either presentation honoraria, travel support, clinical trial grants, book royalties, or independent consultancy payments from: Integria Healthcare and MediHerb, Pfizer, Scius Health, Key Pharmaceuticals, Taki Mai, Fiji Kava, Noetic Foundry, FITBioCeuticals, Blackmores, Soho-Flordis, Healthworld, HealthEd, HealthMasters, Kantar Consulting, Angelini Pharmaceuticals, Grunbiotics, Polistudium, Australian Natural Therapeutics Group, Research Reviews, Elsevier, Chaminade University, International Society for Affective Disorders, Complementary Medicines Australia, SPRIM, Terry White Chemists, ANS, Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research, Sanofi-Aventis, Omega-3 Centre, the National Health and Medical Research Council, CR Roper Fellowship. CN has served as a consultant for Lundbeck, Grunbiotics, Servier, Janssen-Cilag, and Eli Lilly, received research grant support from Wyeth and Lundbeck, and speaker honoraria from Servier, Lundbeck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Organon, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag, Astra-Zeneca, and Pfizer. JR has received research funding in last 5 years from Health Research Council (NZ), Waterloo Foundation, Vic Davis Memorial Trust, UC Foundation, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, GAMA Foundation, Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care, and book royalties from Harper Collins. FJ is supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant (#1194982). She has received: (1) competitive Grant/Research support from the Brain and Behaviour Research Institute, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Rotary Health, the Geelong Medical Research Foundation, the Ian Potter Foundation, The University of Melbourne; (2) industry support for research from Meat and Livestock Australia, Woolworths Limited, the A2 Milk Company, Be Fit Foods, Bega Dairy; (3) philanthropic support from the Fernwood Foundation, Wilson Foundation, the JTM Foundation, the Serp Hills Foundation, the Roberts Family Foundation, the Waterloo Foundation and; (4) travel support and speakers honoraria from Sanofi-Synthelabo, Janssen Cilag, Servier, Pfizer, Network Nutrition, Angelini Farmaceutica, Eli Lilly, Metagenics, and The Beauty Chef. FJ has written two books for commercial publication. JH is Chief Research Officer for ProbioticAdvisor.com. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Freijy, Cribb, Oliver, Metri, Opie, Jacka, Hawrelak, Rucklidge, Ng and Sarris.)