Mining association language patterns using a distributional semantic model for negative life event classification

AbstractPurposeNegative life events, such as the death of a family member, an argument with a spouse or the loss of a job, play an important role in triggering depressive episodes. Therefore, it is worthwhile to develop psychiatric services that can automatically identify such events. This study describes the use of association language patterns, i.e., meaningful combinations of words (e.g., <loss, job>), as features to classify sentences with negative life events into predefined categories (e.g., Family, Love, Work).MethodsThis study proposes a framework that combines a supervised data mining algorithm and an unsupervised distributional semantic model to discover association language patterns. The data mining algorithm, called association rule mining, was used to generate a set of seed patterns by incrementally associating frequently co-occurring words from a small corpus of sentences labeled with negative life events. The distributional semantic model was then used to discover more patterns similar to the seed patterns from a large, unlabeled web corpus.ResultsThe experimental results showed that association language patterns were significant features for negative life event classification. Additionally, the unsupervised distributional semantic model was not only able to improve the level of performance but also to reduce the reliance of the classification process on the availability of a large, labeled corpus

An exploration of executive function, its theoretical construction, and challenges encountered in its understanding and measurement: did neuropsychology get this right?

Section A argued for the importance of cognitive models in providing a theoretical foundation for complex neuropsychological constructs such as ‘executive function’ (EF). It consisted of a narrative review of 29 existing cognitive models of EF, which were reviewed, critiqued, and then integrated into a novel, unified model of EF. This unified account brought together the affective, motivational and attentional processes involved in goal-driven behaviour. Clinical implications were discussed, alongside recommendations for future research in this area. Section B applied a content analysis to systematically examine the ways that EF is described, explained and understood by currently available neuropsychological assessment measures and textbooks, and evaluate these in accordance with current evidence on EF. A total of 29 texts were included. Categories were derived from the current evidence base, including the ‘unified model’ of EF presented in Section A, as well as inductively from the texts. Results suggested that the majority of assessments and textbooks were unlikely to provide such an integrated account, however, there were exceptions. New leads for further theoretical development, and clinical implications were discusse

Music in Health and Diseases

It is well recognized that music is a unique and cost-effective solution for the rehabilitation of patients with cognitive deficits. However, music can also be used as a non-invasive and non-pharmacological intervention modality not only for the management of various disease conditions but also for maintaining good health overall. Music-based therapeutic strategies can be used as complementary methods to existing diagnostic approaches to manage cognitive deficits as well as clinical and physiological abnormalities of individuals in need. This book focuses on various aspects of music and its role in enhancing health and recovering from a disease. Chapters explore music as a healing method across civilizations and measure the effect of music on human physiology and functions

Beliefs about 'stroke' and 'its effects': a study of their association with emotional distress

Emotional distress (symptoms of depression and anxiety) and emotional disorders are commonly experienced following stroke and negatively influence recovery and survival rates. Past research suggests that depressive symptoms are not directly related to lesion location and are only weakly related to actual functional and social losses. Patients' own subjective beliefs have been underresearched. This thesis was developed using cognitive theory, past research on emotional adaptation to emotional disability and observations from piloting. The main study aimed to investigate distress and a set of beliefs about 'stroke' and 'its effects', and to longitudinally test associations between specific beliefs and distress, taking into account relevant background variables. Supplementary studies aimed to explore emotional distress and disorder and relevant beliefs.A consecutive series of 89 patients, without severe cognitive or communication impairment, were interviewed one month (baseline) after admission to a stroke unit and 81 were interviewed again at nine months (follow-up).In the main study, distress was measured using global Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale scores. Specific beliefs about 'stroke' and 'its effects' investigated were: Attributions (Casual controllability, 'Why me?', 'Found meaning?'); Negative self-evaluations (Acceptance of disability, Negative identity change, Shame); Beliefs in recovery and recurrence (Recovery locus of control, Confidence in recovery, Recurrence fear). Background variables measured were: Demographics, Stroke severity, Disability, Pre-stroke depression, Social support and Life events.The first supplementary study used the structured clinical interview (SCID) for DSMIV to assess depressive disorder (major or minor) and common anxiety disorders (generalised anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, post traumatic stress disorder) and, additionally, as a means for exploring relevant beliefs. The second supplementary study involved further qualitative interviews with sixty participants at baseline to explore their own experiences and main concerns.Associations were found between distress and most belief variables at baseline, follow-up and across time. Backward linear regression analyses for distress were used to study belief variables taking background variables into account. At baseline and follow-up these analyses supported the statistical significance of associations between distress and negative self-evaluative beliefs and recurrence fear. Across time, a role for causal controllability and acceptance of disability was supported. However, these results also highlighted the pervasive influence of a pre-stroke history of depression and of initial distress levels across time.The SCID interview identified that many patients met criteria for depressive disorder (33% at one and 30% at nine months) or anxiety disorder (35% at one and 33% at nine months) but also yielded information regarding specific stroke-related beliefs relevant to distress versus adaptation. The qualitative interviews provided insight into patients' idiosyncratic concerns. This extended the main findings, for example by illustrating the varied nature of recurrence fear beliefs and highlighting individuals' needs to give as well as receive social support.The SCID interview identified that many patients met criteria for depressive disorder (33% at one and 30% at nine months) or anxiety disorder (35% at one and 33% at nine months) but also yielded information regarding specific stroke-related beliefs relevant to distress versus adaptation. The qualitative interviews provided insight into patients' idiosyncratic concerns. This extended the main findings, for example by illustrating the varied nature of recurrence fear beliefs and highlighting individuals' needs to give as well as receive social support.Emotional distress (symptoms of depression and anxiety) and emotional disorders are commonly experienced following stroke and negatively influence recovery and survival rates. Past research suggests that depressive symptoms are not directly related to lesion location and are only weakly related to actual functional and social losses. Patients' own subjective beliefs have been underresearched. This thesis was developed using cognitive theory, past research on emotional adaptation to emotional disability and observations from piloting. The main study aimed to investigate distress and a set of beliefs about 'stroke' and 'its effects', and to longitudinally test associations between specific beliefs and distress, taking into account relevant background variables. Supplementary studies aimed to explore emotional distress and disorder and relevant beliefs.A consecutive series of 89 patients, without severe cognitive or communication impairment, were interviewed one month (baseline) after admission to a stroke unit and 81 were interviewed again at nine months (follow-up).In the main study, distress was measured using global Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale scores. Specific beliefs about 'stroke' and 'its effects' investigated were: Attributions (Casual controllability, 'Why me?', 'Found meaning?'); Negative self-evaluations (Acceptance of disability, Negative identity change, Shame); Beliefs in recovery and recurrence (Recovery locus of control, Confidence in recovery, Recurrence fear). Background variables measured were: Demographics, Stroke severity, Disability, Pre-stroke depression, Social support and Life events.The first supplementary study used the structured clinical interview (SCID) for DSMIV to assess depressive disorder (major or minor) and common anxiety disorders (generalised anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, post traumatic stress disorder) and, additionally, as a means for exploring relevant beliefs. The second supplementary study involved further qualitative interviews with sixty participants at baseline to explore their own experiences and main concerns.Associations were found between distress and most belief variables at baseline, follow-up and across time. Backward linear regression analyses for distress were used to study belief variables taking background variables into account. At baseline and follow-up these analyses supported the statistical significance of associations between distress and negative self-evaluative beliefs and recurrence fear. Across time, a role for causal controllability and acceptance of disability was supported. However, these results also highlighted the pervasive influence of a pre-stroke history of depression and of initial distress levels across time.The SCID interview identified that many patients met criteria for depressive disorder (33% at one and 30% at nine months) or anxiety disorder (35% at one and 33% at nine months) but also yielded information regarding specific stroke-related beliefs relevant to distress versus adaptation. The qualitative interviews provided insight into patients' idiosyncratic concerns. This extended the main findings, for example by illustrating the varied nature of recurrence fear beliefs and highlighting individuals' needs to give as well as receive social support.This study provides qualified support for cognitive theory of distress following stroke by demonstrating associations between distress and beliefs concerning 'stroke' and 'its effects' in the short- and longer-term aftermath of stroke. Over and above measures of disability, a personal sense of being unable to accept reduced capability, which some went so far to describe as 'uselessness', was related to higher levels of distress and disorder. Fear of recurrent stroke was common. Belief in the controllability of risk factors tended to be low; however a greater initial sense of causal controllability appeared protective against distress across time. These results have implications for the development of interventions to address the high prevalence of emotional distress and disorder following stroke

Recent Changes in Drug Abuse Scenario: The Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Phenomenon

copyright 2019 by the authors. Articles in this book are Open Access and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. The book as a whole is distributed by MDPI under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND.Final Published versio