The joint role of impulsivity and distorted cognitions in recreational and problem gambling: A cluster analytic approach

The Pathways Model (Blaszczynski & Nower, 2002) posits that problem gambling is a heterogeneous disorder with distinct subgroups (behaviorally conditioned gamblers, emotionally vulnerable gamblers, and antisocial-impulsivist gamblers). Impulsivity traits and gambling-related cognitions are recognized as two key psychological factors in the onset and maintenance of problem gambling. To date, these constructs have been explored separately, and their joint role in determining problem gambling subtypes has received little attention. The goal of our study was to identify subgroups of gamblers based on impulsivity traits and gambling-related cognitions, and to determine whether this approach is consistent with the Pathways model. Gamblers from the community (N = 709) and treatment-seeking pathological gamblers (N = 122) completed questionnaires measuring gambling habits, disordered gambling symptoms, gambling-related cognitions, and impulsivity traits. Cluster analyses revealed that three clusters globally aligned with the pathways proposed by Blaszczynski & Nower (2002). Two other clusters emerged: (1) impulsive gamblers without cognitive-related cognitions; and (2) gamblers without impulsivity or gambling-related cognitions. Gamblers with both heightened impulsive traits and gambling-related cognitions had more severe problem gambling symptoms. We successfully identified, based on an a priori theoretical framework, different subtypes of gamblers that varied in terms of problem gambling symptoms and clinical status. The diversity of the cluster profiles supports the development of personalized prevention strategies and psychological interventions

Anthropologie du changement social

Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan, directeur d’études et Giorgio Blundo, maître de conférences Autour du terrain Ce séminaire a été consacré à l’examen des principaux savoir-faire et biais propres à l’enquête de terrain en anthropologie du changement social, dont l’intérêt pour de nouveaux objets (les administrations et les cultures professionnelles, la corruption politique, la décentralisation, l’État au quotidien, la santé publique...) nécessite, outre le recours aux méthodes éprouvées de la di..

Anthropologie du changement social

Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan, directeur d’étudeset Giorgio Blundo, maître de conférences L’enquête socio-anthropologique de terrain Ce séminaire a porté sur les principaux problèmes que pose l’enquête de terrain, d’un point de vue méthodologique, et quant au lien entre données empiriques et énoncés interprétatifs. Plus généralement, il s’est interrogé sur la « posture » adoptée par le chercheur menant des enquêtes, ce qui renvoie à une sorte de « grounded epistemology » (épistémologie issue ..

Constipation is independently associated with delirium in critically ill ventilated patients

International audienceDelirium is a central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction reported in up to 80 % of intensive care unit (ICU) patients associated with negative short- and long-term outcomes [1, 2]. Gastrointestinal motility disorders are frequent in ICU patients leading to frequent delayed passage of stools [3]. Because there is a bi-directional communication between the CNS and the digestive tract [4], we believed it relevant to test the hypothesis that constipation and delirium are related in ICU patients

Positive and Negative Urgency as a single coherent construct: Evidence from a large‐scale network analysis in clinical and non‐clinical samples

Aims: Negative and positive urgency are emotion-related impulsivity traits that are thought to be transdiagnostic factors in psychopathology. However, it has recently been claimed that these two traits are closely related to each other and that considering them separately might have limited conceptual and methodological value. The present study aimed to examine whether positive and negative urgency constructs constitute separate impulsivity traits. Methods: In contrast to previous studies that have used latent variable approaches, this study employed an item-based network analysis conducted in two different samples: a large sample of non-clinical participants (N = 18,568) and a sample of clinical participants with psychiatric disorders (N = 385). Results: The network analysis demonstrated that items denoting both positive and negative urgency cohere as a single cluster of items termed “general urgency” in both clinical and non-clinical samples, thereby suggesting that differentiating positive and negative urgency as separate constructs is not necessary. Conclusion: These findings have important implications for the conceptualization and assessment of urgency and, more broadly, for future research on impulsivity, personality, and psychopathology

Memory deficits in a juvenile rat model of type 1 diabetes are due to excess 11β-HSD1 activity, which is upregulated by high glucose concentrations rather than insulin deficiency

Aims/hypothesis: Children with diabetes may display cognitive alterations although vascular disorders have not yet appeared. Variations in glucose levels together with relative insulin deficiency in treated type 1 diabetes have been reported to impact brain function indirectly through dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. We have recently shown that enhancement of glucocorticoid levels in children with type 1 diabetes is dependent not only on glucocorticoid secretion but also on glucocorticoid tissue concentrations, which is linked to 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) activity. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction and memory alteration were further dissected in a juvenile rat model of diabetes showing that excess 11β-HSD1 activity within the hippocampus is associated with hippocampal-dependent memory deficits. Here, to investigate the causal relationships between diabetes, 11β-HSD1 activity and hippocampus-dependent memory deficits, we evaluated the beneficial effect of 11β-HSD1 inhibition on hippocampal-related memory in juvenile diabetic rats. We also examined whether diabetes-associated enhancement of hippocampal 11β-HSD1 activity is due to an increase in brain glucose concentrations and/or a decrease in insulin signalling. Methods: Diabetes was induced in juvenile rats by daily i.p. injection of streptozotocin for 2 consecutive days. Inhibition of 11β-HSD1 was obtained by administrating the compound UE2316 twice daily by gavage for 3 weeks, after which hippocampal-dependent object location memory was assessed. Hippocampal 11β-HSD1 activity was estimated by the ratio of corticosterone/dehydrocorticosterone measured by LC/MS. Regulation of 11β-HSD1 activity in response to changes in glucose or insulin levels was determined ex vivo on acute brain hippocampal slices. The insulin regulation of 11β-HSD1 was further examined in vivo using virally mediated knockdown of insulin receptor expression specifically in the hippocampus. Results: Our data show that inhibiting 11β-HSD1 activity prevents hippocampal-related memory deficits in diabetic juvenile rats. A significant increase (53.0±9.9%) in hippocampal 11β-HSD1 activity was found in hippocampal slices incubated in high glucose conditions (13.9 mmol/l) vs normal glucose conditions (2.8 mmol/l) without insulin. However, 11β-HSD1 activity was not affected by variations in insulin concentration either in the hippocampal slices or after a decrease in hippocampal insulin receptor expression. Conclusions/interpretation: Together, these data demonstrate that an increase in 11β-HSD1 activity contributes to memory deficits observed in juvenile diabetic rats and that an excess of hippocampal 11β-HSD1 activity stems from high glucose levels rather than insulin deficiency. 11β-HSD1 might be a therapeutic target for treating cognitive impairments associated with diabetes

The Addiction-Susceptibility TaqIA/Ankk1 Controls Reward and Metabolism Through D2 Receptor-Expressing Neurons

Background: A large body of evidence highlights the importance of genetic variants in the development of psychiatric and metabolic conditions. Among these, the TaqIA polymorphism is one of the most commonly studied in psychiatry. TaqIA is located in the gene that codes for the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 kinase (Ankk1) near the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) gene. Homozygous expression of the A1 allele correlates with a 30% to 40% reduction of striatal D2R, a typical feature of addiction, overeating, and other psychiatric pathologies. The mechanisms by which the variant influences dopamine signaling and behavior are unknown. Methods: Here, we used transgenic and viral-mediated strategies to reveal the role of Ankk1 in the regulation of activity and functions of the striatum. Results: We found that Ankk1 is preferentially enriched in striatal D2R-expressing neurons and that Ankk1 loss of function in the dorsal and ventral striatum leads to alteration in learning, impulsivity, and flexibility resembling endophenotypes described in A1 carriers. We also observed an unsuspected role of Ankk1 in striatal D2R-expressing neurons of the ventral striatum in the regulation of energy homeostasis and documented differential nutrient partitioning in humans with or without the A1 allele. Conclusions: Overall, our data demonstrate that the Ankk1 gene is necessary for the integrity of striatal functions and reveal a new role for Ankk1 in the regulation of body metabolism.Altérations du système de récompense dans l'anorexie mentaleRole du biostatus en acides gras polyinsaturés dans les troubles de contrôle exécuti

Towards a cross-cultural assessment of binge-watching: Psychometric evaluation of the “watching TV series motives” and “binge-watching engagement and symptoms” questionnaires across nine languages

In view of the growing interest regarding binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of television (TV) series in a single sitting) research, two measures were developed and validated to assess binge-watching involvement (“Binge-Watching Engagement and Symptoms Questionnaire”, BWESQ) and related motivations (“Watching TV Series Motives Questionnaire”, WTSMQ). To promote international and cross-cultural binge-watching research, the present article reports on the validation of these questionnaires in nine languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Hungarian, Persian, Arabic, Chinese). Both questionnaires were disseminated, together with additional self-report measures of happiness, psychopathological symptoms, impulsivity and problematic internet use among TV series viewers from a college/university student population (N = 12,616) in 17 countries. Confirmatory factor, measurement invariance and correlational analyses were conducted to establish structural and construct validity. The two questionnaires had good psychometric properties and fit in each language. Equivalence across languages and gender was supported, while construct validity was evidenced by similar patterns of associations with complementary measures of happiness, psychopathological symptoms, impulsivity and problematic internet use. The results support the psychometric validity and utility of the BWESQ and WTSMQ for conducting cross-cultural research on binge-watching

Etat des lieux de la recherche d'informations médicales sur Internet par les familles de patients hospitalisés en réanimation et impact sur la relation médecin-famille (une étude prospective multicentrique)

Introduction: Internet procure aux familles un accès aux informations médicales. Les caractéristiques de ce recours et son impact sur la relation médecin-famille n'ont jamais été évalué en réanimation. Méthodes: Etude prospective réalisée pendant un an dans 3 services de réanimation. Un questionnaire était remis après un entretien médical aux familles de patients hospitalisés plus de 48 heures. Un autre questionnaire était donné au médecin ayant conduit l'entretien. Résultats: Il y a eu 243 questionnaires récupérés, parmi lesquels le recours à Internet était de 44%. Il était plus fréquent si les patients ou leurs familles étaient plus jeunes, avec un niveau d'études plus élevé, si les patients étaient hospitalisés avant la réanimation et si l'entretien médical était plus long. Les principaux motifs de consultation d'Internet étaient la vérification des informations données par le médecin et la survenue de questions après l'entretien, et concernaient surtout le diagnostic et le pronostic de la pathologie. Les informations retrouvées étaient concordantes avec celles reçues en réanimation. Dans le cas contraire 99% des familles faisaient davantage confiance aux médecins. La moitié d'entre elles estimait que les informations étaient de bonne qualité et la majorité rapportait qu'Internet avait un bénéfice sur leur compréhension et leur relation avec l'équipe médicale. Conclusion: Seule la moitié des familles a consulté Internet mais son impact leur semble plutôt bénéfique. Nos résultats suggèrent que les médecins devraient jouer un rôle de guide sur Internet auprès des patients.Purpose: The Internet provides to families an access to the medical information. The characteristics of this practice and its impact on the family-clinician relationship in intensive care units (ICU) has never been evaluated. Methods: This prospective study has been realized during one year in three french ICU. A questionnaire has been given to th patients' families hospitalized more than 48 hours. Another questionnaire was given to the doctor who conducted the meeting. Results: A total of 243 questionnaires were returned. Among them, 44% of families searched for health information on the Internet. It was more frequent if the patient or his family were younger, with a higher level of education, if the patient was hospitalized before ICU admission and if meetings with families were longer. The main reasons for having visited internet websites were the control of the information received in ICU but also the occurrence of questions after the meeting. Researches done by families concerned mainly the diagnosis and the prognosis of the patient's disease. Most informations found on the Internet were in agreement with those received in ICU. Otherwise, 99% of families were more confident in doctors. Barely half families appraised the information found on the Internet to be of good quality. However, the majority thought that using the Internet was beneficial for their understanding and for their relation with the medical team. Conclusion: Barely half families used the Internet in this study, but for them, Internet seemed to have a good impact on the family-clinician relationship. Doctors should probably accept the patient's investment and provide advices to help them in their research.RENNES1-BU Santé (352382103) / SudocSudocFranceF