9 research outputs found
Decision-making (in)flexibility in gambling disorder
Background:
Behavioral flexibility âthe ability to dynamically readjust our behavior in response to reward contingency changesâ is often investigated using probabilistic reversal learning tasks (PRLT). Poor PRLT performance has been proposed as a proxy for compulsivity, and theorized to be related to perseverative gambling. Previous attempts to measure inflexibility with the PRLT in patients with gambling disorder have, however, used a variety of indices that may conflate inflexibility with more general aspects of performance in the task.
Methods:
Trial-by-trial PRLT acquisition and reacquisition curves in 84 treatment-seeking patients with gambling disorder and 64 controls (non-gamblers and non-problem recreational gamblers) were analyzed to distinguish between (a) variability in acquisition learning, and (b) reacquisition learning in reversed contingency phases. Complementarily, stay/switch responses throughout the task were analyzed to identify (c) premature switching, and (d) sensitivity to accumulated negative feedback.
Results and interpretation:
Even after controlling for differences in acquisition learning, patients were slower to readjust their behavior in reversed contingency phases, and were more prone to maintain their decisions despite accumulated negative feedback. Inflexibility in patients with gambling disorder is thus a robust phenomenon that could predate gambling escalation, or result from massive exposure to gambling activities.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Government (PSI2017-85488-P: Ministerio de EconomĂa y Competitividad, SecretarĂa de Estado de InvestigaciĂłn, Desarrollo e InnovaciĂłn, Convocatoria 2017 de Proyectos I+ D de Excelencia, Spain, co-funded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, FEDER, European Commission; and PSI2013-45055: Ministerio de EconomĂa y Competitividad, SecretarĂa de Estado de InvetigaciĂłn, Desarrollo e InnovaciĂłn, Convocatoria 2013 de Proyectos I+ D de Excelencia). Additionally, JFN was supported by a grant from the Spanish Government (PSI2017-85159-P. Ministerio de Ciencia, InnovaciĂłn y Universidades). Funding agencies had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication
Burnout syndrome and job satisfaction in spanish and argentinean health workers
Se realizĂł un estudio transversal sobre Burnout y satisfacciĂłn laboral a 107 profesionales del ĂĄmbito sanitario hispanohablantes de España y Argentina. MĂ©dicos, enfermeros y auxiliares respondieron al cuestionario MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) y al Inventario de SatisfacciĂłn Laboral (ISL *66). Los objetivos del estudio fueron, por una parte, investigar la prevalencia de Burnout en España y Argentina, asĂ como tambiĂ©n, comprobar si existe relaciĂłn entre el Burnout y la SatisfacciĂłn Laboral. Se hallĂł una mayor prevalencia de Burnout en el personal sanitario español frente al argentino, y no se encontrĂł correlaciĂłn entre Burnout y satisfacciĂłn laboral en el personal sanitario de ambos paĂses. Una posible explicaciĂłn de estos resultados se encuentra en la coyuntura macroeconĂłmica de los paĂses en los Ășltimos años.A cross-sectional study of burnout and job satisfaction for 107 health professionals of
the speaking area of Spain and Argentina was conducted. Doctors, nurses and auxiliary answered two questionnaires: the MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) and job
satisfaction inventory (ISL * 66). The aims of the study were to investigate the
prevalence of Burnout in Spain and
Argentina and to study if there is a relation
between Burnout and Job Satisfaction. It was found more prevalence of Burnout in
Spanish health professionals than in Argentinean and it was not found any correlation between Burnout and Job Satisfaction in both countries. A possible explanation of these results could be found in the macroeconomic conjuncture of both countries.ReiDoCrea. Departamento de PsicologĂa Social. Universidad de Granada
Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries
Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18â30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave
policies and womenâs political representation partially explained cross-national
variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically
larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national
variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in womenâs (rather than menâs) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to menâs higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, menâs leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed
Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries
Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18â30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and womenâs political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in womenâs (rather than menâs) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to menâs higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, menâs leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed.Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 CountriespublishedVersio
Gender gap in parental leave intentions: Evidence from 37 countries
This is the final version. Available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.âŻDespite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To
identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute
to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18â30years old) planning to
have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that
varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take
longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and womenâs political representation partially
explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically
larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to
both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by
cross-national variations in womenâs (rather than menâs) leave intentions. Financially generous leave
and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to menâs higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with
leave intentions in men. Rather, menâs leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes.
Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster
gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed.SSHRC Insight Development GrantSSHRC Insight GrantEconomic and Social Research CouncilState Research AgencyGuangdong 13th-five Philosophy and Social Science Planning ProjectNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaSwiss National Science FoundationSwiss National Science FoundationCenter for Social Conflict and Cohesion StudiesCenter for Intercultural and Indigenous ResearchSSHRC Postdoctoral FellowshipSlovak Research and Development AgencySwiss National Science FoundationCanada Research ChairsSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of CanadaOntario Ministry of Research and InnovationHSE University, RFFaculty of Arts, Masaryk Universit
Impulsivity traits and gambling cognitions associated with gambling preferences and clinical status
Impulsivity (and related traits reward/punishment sensitivity and tolerance to delayed rewards) and gambling cognitions have been linked to gambling. However, their independent associations with gambling preferences and clinical status have never been dissociated. The current study applied a data-driven strategy to identify gambling preferences, based on gambling frequency in several modalities. The two resulting factors were used to classify gambling disorder patients (GDPs) and non-problem recreational gamblers (RGs) into Type I (preferring cards, casino games and skill-based bets) and Type II (preferring slot machines, lotteries/pools and bingo). Participants were assessed in impulsivity, delay discounting, reward/punishment sensitivity, gambling-related cognitions, gambling severity, gambling frequency and average amount gambled per episode. GDPs scored higher than RGs in positive and negative urgency, delay discounting, reward sensitivity and intensity of gambling-related cognitions, but less in lack of perseverance. Additionally, Type II gamblers had greater difficulties delaying gratification, whereas Type I gamblers showed higher cognitive distortion and reward sensitivity levels. In practical terms, the finding that some characteristics are equally pervasive in disordered gamblers independently of their preferences (affect-driven impulsivity), whereas others (distorted cognitions, reward sensitivity, delay discounting) are more prominent in one type or the other, provides a basis to establish targetsâ priority in therapy. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Grou
Trait and neurobiological underpinnings of negative emotion regulation in gambling disorder
Background and Aims
Gambling disorder is characterized by poor regulation of negative emotions and impulsive behaviours. This study aimed to (1) compare gambling disorder patients (GDPs) and healthy controls (HCs) in self-report and brain activation measures of emotion regulation; and (2) establish its relationship with negative emotion-driven impulsivity.
Design
Two cross-sectional caseâcontrol studies including GDPs and HCs.
Setting and Participants
GDPs and HCs were recruited from specialized gambling clinics in Andalusia (Spain), where they were following out-patient treatment, and from the community, respectively. Study 1 included 41 GDPs and 45 HCs [All males; Mage = 35.22, 33.22; standard deviation (SD) = 11.16, 8.18; respectively]. Study 2 included 17 GDPs and 21 HCs (16/20 males; Mage = 32.94, 31.00; SD = 7.77, 4.60; respectively).
Measurements
In study 1, we compared both groups on suppression and re-appraisal emotion regulation strategies [Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)]. In study 2, we compared GDPs with HCs on brain activation associated with down-regulation of negative emotions in a cognitive re-appraisal task, measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In both studies, we correlated the measures of emotion regulation with mood-related impulsivity indicated by negative urgency (UPPS-P impulsive behaviour scale).
Findings
GDPs relative to HCs showed higher levels of emotional suppression [F = 4.525; P = 0.036; means difference MHCsâMGDPs = â2.433, 95% confidence interval (CI) = â4.706, â0.159] and higher activation of the premotor cortex and middle frontal gyrus during negative emotion regulation in the fMRI task [P †0.005, cluster size (CS) > 50 voxels]. Negative urgency correlated positively with emotional suppression (r = 0.399, 95% CI = 0.104, 0.629, one-tailed P = 0.005) and middle frontal gyrus activation during negative emotion regulation (P †0.005, CS > 50) in GDPs.
Conclusions
Gambling disorder is associated with greater use of emotional suppression and stronger pre-motor cortex and middle frontal gyrus activation for regulating negative emotions, compared with healthy controls. Emotional suppression use and middle frontal gyrus activation during negative emotion regulation are linked with negative emotion-driven impulsivity in this disorder.Depto. de Personalidad, EvaluaciĂłn y PsicologĂa ClĂnicaFac. de PsicologĂaTRUEpu
Atheroma plaque, metabolic syndrome and inflammation in patients with psoriasis
Background: Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular risk factors. Although the prevalence of comorbidities and cardiovascular events has been described in patients with psoriasis, few studies have examined subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. Objective: Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of atheroma plaques in patients with severe psoriasis compared with control subjects and to analyze the association with metabolic syndrome, homocysteine levels and inflammatory parameters. Patients and Methods: This case-control study included 133 patients, 72 with psoriasis and 61 controls consecutively admitted to the outpatient clinic in Dermatology Departments (Granada, Spain.) Results: Carotid atheroma plaques were observed in 34.7% of the psoriatic patients versus 8.2% of the controls (p=0.001) and metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 40.3% of the psoriatic patients versus 13.1% of the controls (p<0.001). Significantly higher mean values of insulin, aldosterone, homocysteine and acute phase parameters (fibrinogen, D-dimer, C reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) were found in psoriatic patients. Binary logistic regression showed a strong association between psoriasis and atheroma plaque and metabolic syndrome after controlling for confounding variables. Limitations: The absence of longitudinal quantification of metabolic syndrome parameters and intima-media thickness in psoriatic patients. Conclusion: The chronic inflammation and hyper-homocysteinemia found in psoriatic patients may explain the association with atheroma plaque and metabolic syndrome. Cardiovascular screening by metabolic syndrome criteria assessment and carotid ultrasound in psoriasis may be useful to detect individuals at risk and start preventive treatment against the development of cardiovascular disease.Peer Reviewe
Increased gene expression of Toll-like receptor 4 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with psoriasis
Backgroundâ A role for the innate immune system in driving the autoimmune T cell cascade in psoriasis has been proposed. Toll-like receptors-(TLR)-2 and -4 play a role in inflammation, atherosclerosis, and their specific role in psoriasis remains unclear. Objectiveâ To evaluate TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from psoriatic patients. Methodsâ Changes in TLR2/4 gene expressions were evaluated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, from twenty-one patients with severe psoriasis, and analysed whether there was any correlation with cytokine plasma levels (T-helper 0-, T-helper 1-, T-helper 2- or regulatory T cells-type), or Calprotectin and with S100A8 and S100A9 gene expression levels. Eleven non-psoriatic healthy controls were analysed. Resultsâ A clear increase in TLR4 gene expression was observed (3.84â±â0.93, nâ=â21) together with a moderate increase in TLR2 expression (1.522â±â0.31, nâ=â21). Both TLR4 and TLR2 gene expressions were significantly augmented in psoriatic patients compared with controls (all Pâ<â0.001). Correlations between TLR2 and S100A9 gene expressions (râ=â0.5145, Pâ=â0.0170, nâ=â21); and between TLR2 expression and plasma interleukin-2 (râ=â0.5667, Pâ=â0.0074); interleukin-4 (râ=â0.4766, Pâ=â0.0289), interleukin-10 (râ=â0.4355, Pâ=â0.0484) and interleukin-13 (râ=â0.4603, Pâ=â0.0358), were found. When patients with atheroma plaque were considered (nâ=â7), both TLR4 (3.47â±â0.99, Pâ=â0.0156) and TLR2 (1.63â±â0.31, Pâ=â0.0156) expressions were significantly increased vs. controls and correlated with plasma TNF-α (râ=â0.8929, Pâ=â0.0123, in both cases). Conclusionâ Differential TLR4/2 gene expressions on psoriatic peripheral blood mononuclear cells and correlations with regulatory and/or proinflammatory cytokines and/or damage-associated molecular pattern molecule S100A9 emphasize innate immune response role in psoriasis.Peer Reviewe