Ethical Implications of Modifying Lethal Injection Protocols

Teresa Zimmers and colleagues argue that it is difficult to conceive how lethal injection research activities could be carried out in a fashion consistent with ethical norms

Upregulating the positive affect system in anxiety and depression: Outcomes of a positive activity intervention

BackgroundResearch suggests that the positive affect system may be an important yet underexplored treatment target in anxiety and depression. Existing interventions primarily target the negative affect system, yielding modest effects on measures of positive emotions and associated outcomes (e.g., psychological well-being). The objective of the present pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new transdiagnostic positive activity intervention (PAI) for anxiety and depression.MethodTwenty-nine treatment-seeking individuals presenting with clinically impairing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression were randomly allocated to a 10-session protocol comprised of PAIs previously shown in nonclinical samples to improve positive thinking, emotions, and behaviors (e.g., gratitude, acts of kindness, optimism; n = 16) or a waitlist (WL) condition (n = 13). Participants were assessed at pre- and posttreatment, as well as 3- and 6-month follow-up, on measures of positive and negative affect, symptoms, and psychological well-being. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02330627 RESULTS: The PAI group displayed significantly larger improvements in positive affect and psychological well-being from pre- to posttreatment compared to WL. Posttreatment and follow-up scores in the PAI group were comparable to general population norms. The PAI regimen also resulted in significantly larger reductions in negative affect, as well as anxiety and depression symptoms, compared to WL. Improvements across all outcomes were large in magnitude and maintained over a 6-month follow-up period.ConclusionsTargeting the positive affect system through a multicomponent PAI regimen may be beneficial for generating improvements in positive emotions and well-being, as well as reducing negative affect and symptoms, in individuals with clinically impairing anxiety or depression

The Genetic and Functional Analysis of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Spectrum

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the spectrum of associated conditions, affect 2-4% of the population worldwide. Although heritability studies in OCD have shown a 3 - 12 times increased risk for first degree relatives, the identification of the underlying risk-conferring genetic variation using classic genetic association studies has proven to be difficult. The possibility of a larger contribution of rare genetic variants to the risk of psychiatric disorder has been suggested by several successful studies. We expect that a spectrum of risk allele frequencies exists, which includes not only common variation but also a substantial amount of rare genetic variants that contribute to OCD. This thesis is aimed at identifying and functionally characterizing rare genetic variation in the OCD spectrum. Identified statistically significant variants were scrutinized for changes related to synaptic function using high content screening and subsequent functional analyses. Identifying the genetic profile of rare variants found in the OCD spectrum cohort combined with the functional impact that these variants have has provided insight into the etiology of the OCD spectrum. With these approaches a foundation can be laid for the development of a predictive model of the OCD spectrum

SOCIAL MOVEMENT SPLINTERING: AN EXAMINATION OF STOCKTON STANDS WITH MINNEAPOLIS AND NEWS MEDIA REPRESENTATION

The phenomenon surrounding news media’s power to alter group identity and group cohesion is something that rarely a point of focus in communication studies. In this study I worked with a local social movement group called Stockton Stands with Minneapolis. This group illustrated the importance of maintaining shared values. Utilizing relational Interviewing, SSWM members provided evidence showing the connection between news media and group success. News media has had a role in shaping group members’ understanding of SSWM and activism. SSWM has faced internal conflict as a result of negative news representation. SSWM is a relatively small and young (2 ½ years) group when compared to more established groups and movements (such as black lives matter and #MeToo), the impact of losing any amount of membership to news representation is important and deserves attention. Therefore, in this paper I argue researchers must go beyond the conventional protest paradigm and media effects research that has commonly only examined the impact of the outgroup. There is a need for a new area of focus within media effects and activist representation, one that examines the impact of news media through multiple lenses of analysis. I argue this area would benefit from incorporating theories and concepts across the communications studies discipline. Utilizing research from the fields of media effects, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication can bring new insights to already existing understandings of activism and activist success. To help lead the charge into this new area of focus; I introduce a new paradigm and research approach called social movement splintering

Summaries from the XVIII World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, Athens, Greece, 3-7 October 2010

Item does not contain fulltextThe XVIIIth World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, sponsored by The International Society of Psychiatric Genetics took place in Athens, Greece on October 3-7, 2010. Approximately 950 participants gathered to discuss the latest findings in this rapidly advancing field. The following report was written by junior travel awardees, as well as others who were volunteers from student meeting attendees. Each was assigned sessions as rapporteurs. This report represents some of the areas covered in oral presentation during the conference, and reports on some of the notable major new findings described at this 2010 World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics.37 p

Characterization of SLITRK1 Variation in Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a syndrome characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors or mental acts that a person feels compelled to perform. Twin studies, family studies, and segregation analyses provide compelling evidence that OCD has a strong genetic component. The SLITRK1 gene encodes a developmentally regulated stimulator of neurite outgrowth and previous studies have implicated rare variants in this gene in disorders in th