225 research outputs found
Potions for Emotions: Do self-reported individual differences in negative-emotional drinking predict alcohol consumption in the laboratory following exposure to a negative experience?
Effects of depressive symptoms and peripheral DAT methylation on neural reactivity to alcohol cues in alcoholism
In alcohol-dependent (AD) patients, alcohol cues induce strong activations in
brain areas associated with alcohol craving and relapse, such as the nucleus
accumbens (NAc) and amygdala. However, little is known about the influence of
depressive symptoms, which are common in AD patients, on the brain’s
reactivity to alcohol cues. The methylation state of the dopamine transporter
gene (DAT) has been associated with alcohol dependence, craving and
depression, but its influence on neural alcohol cue reactivity has not been
tested. Here, we compared brain reactivity to alcohol cues in 38 AD patients
and 17 healthy controls (HCs) using functional magnetic resonance imaging and
assessed the influence of depressive symptoms and peripheral DAT methylation
in these responses. We show that alcoholics with low Beck’s Depression
Inventory scores (n=29) had higher cue-induced reactivity in NAc and amygdala
than those with mild/moderate depression scores (n=9), though subjective
perception of craving was higher in those with mild/moderate depression
scores. We corroborated a higher DAT methylation in AD patients than HCs, and
showed higher DAT methylation in AD patients with mild/moderate than low
depression scores. Within the AD cohort, higher methylation predicted craving
and, at trend level (P=0.095), relapse 1 year after abstinence. Finally, we
show that amygdala cue reactivity correlated with craving and DAT methylation
only in AD patients with low depression scores. These findings suggest that
depressive symptoms and DAT methylation are associated with alcohol craving
and associated brain processes in alcohol dependence, which may have important
consequences for treatment. Moreover, peripheral DAT methylation may be a
clinically relevant biomarker in AD patients
Effects of interpretation bias modification on unregulated and regulated emotional reactivity
Cue avoidance training and inhibitory control training for the reduction of alcohol consumption: a comparison of effectiveness and investigation of their mechanisms of action
Which executive functioning deficits are associated with AD/HD, ODD/CD and comorbid AD/HD+ODD/CD?
Item does not contain fulltextThis study investigated (1) whether attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is associated with executive functioning (EF) deficits while controlling for oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD), (2) whether ODD/CD is associated with EF deficits while controlling for AD/HD, and (3)~whether a combination of AD/HD and ODD/CD is associated with EF deficits (and the possibility that there is no association between EF deficits and AD/HD or ODD/CD in isolation). Subjects were 99~children ages 6–12 years. Three putative domains of EF were investigated using well-validated tests: verbal fluency, working memory, and planning. Independent of ODD/CD, AD/HD was associated with deficits in planning and working memory, but not in verbal fluency. Only teacher rated AD/HD, but not parent rated AD/HD, significantly contributed to the prediction of EF task performance. No EF deficits were associated with ODD/CD. The presence of comorbid AD/HD accounts for the EF deficits in children with comorbid AD/HD+ODD/CD. These results suggest that EF deficits are unique to AD/HD and support the model proposed by R. A. Barkley (1997).17 p
Online computer or therapist-guided cognitive behavioral therapy in university students with anxiety and/or depression: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Erasmus Language students in a British University – a case study
Students’ assessment of their academic experience is actively sought by Higher Education institutions, as evidenced in the National Student Survey introduced in 2005. Erasmus students, despite their growing numbers, tend to be excluded from these satisfaction surveys, even though they, too, are primary customers of a University. This study aims to present results from bespoke questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with a sample of Erasmus students studying languages in a British University. These methods allow us insight into the experience of these students and their assessment as a primary customer, with a focus on language learning and teaching, university facilities and student support. It investigates to what extent these factors influence their levels of satisfaction and what costs of adaptation if any, they encounter. Although excellent levels of satisfaction were found, some costs affect their experience. They relate to difficulties in adapting to a learning methodology based on a low number of hours and independent learning and to a guidance and support system seen as too stifling. The results portray this cohort’s British University as a well-equipped and well-meaning but ultimately overbearing institution, which may indicate that minimising costs can eliminate some sources of dissatisfaction
Modifying Threat-related Interpretive Bias in Adolescents
Socially anxious feelings sharply increase during adolescence and such feelings have been associated with interpretive biases. Studies in adults have shown that interpretive biases can be modified using Cognitive Bias Modification procedures (CBM-I) and subsequent effects on anxiety have been observed. The current study was designed to examine whether the CBM-I procedure has similar effects in adolescents. Unselected adolescents were randomly allocated to either a positive interpretation training (n = 88) or a placebo-control condition (n = 82). Results revealed that the training was successful in modifying interpretations and effects generalized to a new task. The interpretive bias effects were most pronounced in individuals with a threat-related interpretive bias at pre-test. No effects on state anxiety were observed. The current findings are promising with regard to applying bias modification procedures to adolescents, while further research is warranted regarding emotional effects
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