The interplay between childhood trauma, hopelessness, depressive symptoms, and mental pain in a large sample of patients with severe mental disorders: A network analysis

Background: Mental pain represents a significant risk factor for suicidal behavior in severe mental disorders. The present study aims to investigate the interplay between childhood traumatic experiences, hopelessness, depressive symptoms and mental pain, using a network analysis approach in a large transdiagnostic sample of participants living in the community. Methods: The present investigation was conducted using data gathered in a multicentric observational cross-section study organized as a joint project, including different Italian research and clinical settings. Considering the assessment tools adopted in the study, 12 different variables were included as nodes in the EBICglasso network analysis. Stability of the edges and of centrality indices were assessed using bootstrap procedures, considering case-dropping and node-dropping procedures. Results: A total of 2147 participants were included in the analysis. Mental pain represents a central feature in a complex network of relationships, including traumatic experiences, hopelessness, and depressive symptoms. More in deatail, mental pain and, to a lesser extent, affective and cognitive depressive symptoms emerged as the most central and influential nodes of the network, highlighting the strong link existing between these aspects and their importance in the lives of people with mental disorders. Conclusions: Results confirm the importance of mental pain as a transdiagnostic feature, requiring careful assessment and consideration in all patients, beyond the diagnostic categories and regardless of suicide risk. Assessing and managing the presence and severity of mental pain should be taken into account in clinical practice, in the perspective of providing significant clinical benefits, as well as relevant research insight

“When my Autism Broke”: A Qualitative Study Spotlighting Autistic Voices on Menopause

Autistic women often struggle with the onset of menstruation, a key transition point in the female reproductive lifespan. Presently, there is no research investigating how autistic people navigate the menopausal transition, and whether it poses additional challenges in addition to those already faced by neurotypical women. As a preliminary participatory study in this area, we conducted an online focus group with seven autistic individuals, aged 49-63 years (median=64.5 years) and assigned female at birth, to explore the state of knowledge about the menopause in autism, difficulties the menopause might bring, support that might be needed, and what questions require scientific investigation. Thematic analysis of the discussion generated three themes: 1)Lack of knowledge and understanding; 2)Cracking the mask and adaptive functioning; and 3)Finding support. Themes suggested a lack of professional knowledge, understanding and communication about menopause for autistic people, and an absence of support. Menopause was discussed as heightening pre-existing and generating new cognitive, social, emotional and sensory difficulties. This study illustrates the need for greater focus of attention towards how autistic people cope with the major life transition of menopause

Coping Self-Efficacy as a Potential Moderator of the Relationship Between Sexual Orientation and Negative Mental Health Outcomes

Sexual minority individuals (i.e., those who identify as a sexual orientation other than heterosexual) have consistently been linked to an increased risk of negative mental health outcomes. The process of coping can impact the content and severity of said outcomes, and one’s ability to cope is often predicted by the concept known as coping self-efficacy (i.e., one’s belief in his or her ability to cope). This study aimed to assess the effects of sexual orientation, coping self-efficacy, and their interactions on mental health by looking at different aspects of coping self-efficacy as potential moderating variables. Self-perceptions of coping skills were assessed across three domains; problem-solving, stopping of unpleasant thoughts and emotions, and garnering social support. Mental health variables were evaluated by using measures assessing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts/behaviors (STBs), and alcohol use. Archival data were collected via a large single time point survey. Data were gathered from a community sample consisting of members of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF), an organization dedicated to protecting the sexual freedom and privacy rights of consenting adults. Hypotheses were tested through t-tests, analyses of variance, and general linear modeling. Results evidenced an increased prevalence of mental health symptoms among sexual minority individuals when compared to heterosexual counterparts

Daily Eastern News: February 21, 2000

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2000_feb/1013/thumbnail.jp

Comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and educational classification among in-patient populations of children and adolescents

This thesis is an ex post facto study of an in-patient population of 39 adolescents between the ages of twelve and eighteen at a New Jersey State Psychiatric Hospital for Adolescents and 74 pre-adolescents and adolescents between the ages of seven and fifteen at a Private Residential School in New Jersey. Of this population of N=113, n=48 were determined to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with an incidence rate of 42.5%. Significant co-morbidity of ADHD and Depression, Conduct Disorder/Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, and Learning Disabilities were found. The incidence of co-morbidity of ADHD and Educational Classification was found to be significantly higher than the incidence researched among more diverse population groups as represented by the New Zealand (Anderson et. al., 1985) and Puerto Rico (Bird et. al., 1988) large population surveys. The ranked correlation between ADHD and Educational Classification was found to be r=.985 (P≥.01), and between ADHD, Classification and Other Behavioral Disorders was found to be r=.854 (P≥.01) This procedure supports the premise of utilizing Child Study Teams to provide data to plan globally and programmatically as well as to prepare individual education plans

Summer Course Catalog [1996]

Summer Course Catalog, 1996https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/sumcat/1062/thumbnail.jp

Patent: Methods of Treating FGF21-Associated Disorders

The invention relates to the identification of new polypeptide and protein variants of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) that have improved pharmaceutical properties. Also disclosed are methods for treating FGF21-associated disorders, includ ing metabolic conditions