Facial expressions and ambivalence: Looking for conflict in all the right faces

ABSTRACT: The present study examined the impact of conflict over emotional expression on the nonverbal communication process between romantic partners. Fifty-four romantically involved female undergraduate students who scored within the upper or lower 30 th percentile range on the Ambivalence over the Expression of Emotion Questionnaire (AEQ; KEY WORDS: ambivalence; conflict over expression; emotional expression; facial expressions; nonverbal communication. Ambivalence over the expression of emotion (AEE) is a personality construct found to relate to interpersonal difficulties in romantic relationMarnin J. Heisel is a faculty member in th

SPARKLE (Subtypes of ischaemic stroke classification system), Incorporating measurement of carotid plaque burden: A new validated tool for the classification of ischemic stroke subtypes

Background: Previous classification systems of acute ischemic stroke (Causative Classification System, CCS, of acute ischemic stroke, Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment, TOAST) established the diagnosis of large artery disease (LAD) based on the presence or absence of carotid stenosis. However, carotid plaque burden is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular risk than stenosis. Our objective was to update definitions of ischemic stroke subtypes to improve the detection of LAD and to assess the validity and reliability of a new classification system: SPARKLE (Subtypes of Ischaemic Stroke Classification System). Methods: In a retrospective review of clinical research data, we compared three stroke subtype classifications: CCS, TOAST and SPARKLE. We analyzed a random sample of 275 patients presenting with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in an Urgent TIA Clinic in London, Ont., Canada, between 2002 and 2012. Results: There was substantial overall agreement between SPARKLE and CCS (κ = 0.75), with significant differences in the rate of detection of LAD, cardioembolic and undetermined causes of stroke or TIA. The inter-rater reliability of SPARKLE was substantial (κ = 0.76) and the intra-rater reliability was excellent (κ = 0.91). Conclusion: SPARKLE is a valid and reliable classification system, providing advantages compared to CCS and TOAST. The incorporation of plaque burden into the classification of LAD increases the proportion of cases attributable to LAD and reduces the proportion classified as being of \u27undetermined\u27 etiology. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Testing Online Meaning-Centered Groups in Promoting Psychological Well-Being and Reducing Distress in Ontario Retirement Home Residents

Given the negative impacts of the COVID pandemic on older adults and substantial negative health outcomes associated with loneliness and social isolation, we are proposing to adapt, initially evaluate, and disseminate Online Meaning-Centered Groups (OMG) for older Retirement Home residents in Ontario, Canada. OMG will be adapted from MCMG, a Meaning-Centered Men’s Group we developed for men struggling with the transition to retirement (Heisel et al., 2016, 2018, 2020), with the intent of promoting social interaction and support, reducing psychological distress, and promoting resident psychological well-being

International study of definitions of English-language terms for suicidal behaviours: a survey exploring preferred terminology

Objectives Explore international consensus on nomenclatures of suicidal behaviours and analyse differences in terminology between high-income countries (HICs) and low/middle-income countries (LMICs).Design An online survey of members of the International Organisation for Suicide Prevention (IASP) used multiple-choice questions and vignettes to assess the four dimensions of the definition of suicidal behaviour: outcome, intent, knowledge and agency.Setting International.Participants Respondents included 126 individuals, 37 from 30 LMICs and 89 from 33 HICs. They included 40 IASP national representatives (65% response rate), IASP regular members (20% response rate) and six respondents from six additional countries identified by other organisations.Outcome measures Definitions of English-language terms for suicidal behaviours.Results The recommended definition of ‘suicide’ describes a fatal act initiated and carried out by the actors themselves. The definition of ‘suicide attempt’ was restricted to non-fatal acts with intent to die, whereas definition of ‘self-harm’ more broadly referred to acts with varying motives, including the wish to die. Almost all respondents agreed about the definitions of ‘suicidal ideation’, ‘death wishes’ and ‘suicide plan’. ‘Aborted suicide attempt’ and ‘interrupted suicide attempt’ were not considered components of ‘preparatory suicidal behaviour’. There were several differences between representatives from HICs and LMICs.Conclusion This international opinion survey provided the basis for developing a transcultural nomenclature of suicidal behaviour. Future developments of this nomenclature should be tested in larger samples of professionals, including LMICs may be a challenge

Predictors of suicide ideation among older adults with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder (BD) carries the greatest risk of death by suicide of all psychiatric conditions as 25%-50% of those with BD will make one or more suicide attempt, and about 15% will intentionally end their lives. Among young adults with BD, substance misuse, medication non-adherence, age at onset, and comorbid psychiatric conditions each predict self-harm. It is currently unclear if these same factors or others predict suicide ideation among older adults with BD.We recruited a global sample of 220 older adults with BD over 19 days using socio-demographically targeted, social media advertising and online data collection (Mean = 58.50, SD = 5.42; range 50 to 81 years). Path analyses allowed us to identify direct and indirect predictors of suicide ideation among older adults with BD.Cognitive failures (perception, memory, and motor function), depressive symptoms, alcohol misuse, and dissatisfaction with life as direct predictors of suicide ideation; duration of BD symptoms and medication non-adherence emerged as indirect predictors. Of note, the significant impact of sleep on suicide ideation is indirect via depressive symptoms, cognitive failures, medication non-adherence and life dissatisfaction.As with young adults with BD, alcohol misuse and medication non-adherence emerged as significant predictors of suicide ideation. In addition, cognitive failures directly and indirectly predict suicide ideation in this sample of older adults with BD. Population aging and treatment efficacy are leading to ever growing numbers of older adults with BD. Both direct and indirect predictors of suicide ideation need to be considered in future BD research and treatment planning

Path analytic model of predictors of suicide ideation among older adults with bipolar disorder.

<p><i>Note</i>. Suicide ideation = GSIS, Depressive S_x = PHQ-9, Alcohol misuse = AUDIT, R_x adherence = MAS, Cognitive failures = CFQ, Sleep quality = PSQI, Life satisfaction = SWL. Parameters expressed as maximum likelihood estimates (standardized solution). Parenthetical numbers indicate significance levels for parameter estimates (statistically significant critical ratios values > |1.96|).</p

Direct and indirect predictors of suicide ideation among older adults with bipolar disorder (standardized coefficients).

<p>Direct and indirect predictors of suicide ideation among older adults with bipolar disorder (standardized coefficients).</p

Descriptive statistics and study variables.

<p>Descriptive statistics and study variables.</p