When do children learn how to select a portion size?

The reduction of portion sizes supports weight-loss. This study looks at whether children have a conceptual understanding of portion size, by studying their ability to manually serve a portion size that corresponds to what they eat. In a clinical setting, discussion around portion size is subjective thus a computerised portion size tool is also trialled, with the portion sizes chosen on the screen being compared to amounts served manually. Children (n=76) age 5-6, 7-8 and 10-11 were asked to rate their hunger (VAS scale), liking (VAS scale) and ‘ideal portion size for lunch’ of eight interactive meal images using a computerised portion size tool. Children then manually self-served and consumed a portion of pasta. Plates were weighed to allow for the calculation of calories served and eaten. A positive correlation was found between manually served food portions and the amount eaten (r =.53, 95%CI [.34, .82, P<.001), indicating that many children were able to anticipate their likely food intake prior to meal onset. A regression model demonstrates that age contributes to 9.4% of the variance in portion size accuracy (t(68)= -2.3, p=.02). There was no relationship between portion size and either hunger or liking. The portion sizes chosen on the computer at lunchtime correlated to the amount manually served overall (r=.34, 95%CI [.07, .55], p<.01), but not in 5-6-year-old children. Manual portion-size selection can be observed in five-year olds and from age seven, children’s ‘virtual’ responses correlate with their manual portion selections. The application of the computerised portion-size tool requires further development but offers considerable potential

Video Game Addiction in Gambling Disorder: Clinical, Psychopathological, and Personality Correlates

Objective. We studied the prevalences of video game use (VGU) and addiction (VGA) in gambling disorder (GD) patients and compared them with subjects with non-video game use (non-VGU) in relation to their gambling behavior, psychopathology, and personality characteristics. Method. A sample of 193 GD patients (121 non-VGU, 43 VGU, and 29 VGA) consecutively admitted to our pathological gambling unit participated in the study. Assessment. Measures included the video game dependency test (VDT), symptom checklist-90-revised, and the temperament and character inventory-revised, as well as a number of other GD indices. Results. In GD, the observed prevalence of VG (use or addiction) was 37.3% (95% CI:30.7% ÷ 44.3),VGU 22.3% (95% CI:17.0% ÷ 28.7), and VGA 15% (95% CI:10.7% ÷ 20.7). Orthogonal polynomial contrast into logistic regression showed positive linear trends for VG level and GD severity and other measures of general psychopathology. After structural equation modeling, higher VG total scores were associated with younger age, general psychopathology, and specific personality traits, but not with GD severity. Patients' sex and age were involved in the mediational pathways between personality traits and VG impairment. Conclusions. GD patients with VG are younger and present more dysfunctional personality traits, and more general psychopathology. The presence of VG did not affect the severity of GD

Video Game Addiction in Gambling Disorder: Clinical, Psychopathological, and Personality Correlates

Objective: We studied the prevalences of video game use (VGU) and addiction (VGA) in gambling disorder (GD) patients and compared them with subjects with non-video game use (non-VGU) in relation to their gambling behavior, psychopathology, and personality characteristics. Method: A sample of 193 GD patients (121 non-VGU, 43 VGU, and 29 VGA) consecutively admitted to our pathological gambling unit participated in the study. Assessment: Measures included the video game dependency test (VDT), symptom checklist-90-revised, and the temperament and character inventory-revised, as well as a number of other GD indices. Results: In GD, the observed prevalence of VG (use or addiction) was 37.3% (95%CI:30.7% ÷ 44.3),VGU 22.3% (95%CI:17.0% ÷ 28.7), and VGA 15% (95%CI:10.7% ÷ 20.7). Orthogonal polynomial contrast into logistic regression showed positive linear trends for VG level and GD severity and other measures of general psychopathology. After structural equation modeling, higher VG total scores were associated with younger age, general psychopathology, and specific personality traits, but not with GDseverity. Patients" sex and age were involved in the mediational pathways between personality traits and VG impairment. Conclusions: GD patients with VG are younger and present more dysfunctional personality traits, and more general psychopathology. The presence of VG did not affect the severity of G

Jeu pathologique et troubles liés à l’utilisation de substances : effets de l’incidence à un jeune âge et de la personnalité

Objectifs : Comparer la consommation de substances, les comportements de jeu et les traits de personnalité de deux groupes d’individus ayant un trouble de jeu pathologique (patients jeunes et adultes) ; explorer l’apport du sexe, de l’âge et des traits de personnalités sur la consommation de substances et évaluer la capacité de prédire la consommation de substances à partir de l’âge et des traits de personnalité.Méthodes : L’échantillon était formé de 428 patients ayant un trouble de jeu pathologique (TJP), divisés en deux groupes selon l’âge (55 jeunes patients [âge ≤ 25 ans] et 373 patients d’âge moyen à avancé [âge > 25 ans]). Tous les patients ont été admis dans un département de psychiatrie et diagnostiqués selon les critères du DSM-IV. En outre, d’autres évaluations cliniques, dont le Diagnostic Questionnaire for Pathological Gambling en vertu des critères du DSM-IV, le South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) et le Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), ont été utilisées pour examiner les comportements de jeu, la consommation de substances et la personnalité.Résultats : À la comparaison des deux groupes d’âge, nous avons observé des différences statistiquement significatives pour plusieurs variables sociodémographiques. En outre, les plus jeunes patients ayant un TJP présentaient un taux plus élevé de consommation de substances (p = 0,010). Pour ce qui est des traits de personnalité, des différences ont été remarquées seulement à l’échelle de recherche de nouveautés (RN) où les patients plus jeunes obtenaient des cotes élevées (p = 0,006). Des cotes plus élevées (p =0,022) à l’échelle de recherche de nouveautés (RN) et plus basses (p = 0,028) à l’échelle d’auto-transcendance représentaient des traits de personnalité ayant une interrelation significative avec la consommation de tabac (p = 0,003). Toutefois, seul l’âge était associé à la consommation d’autres substances (p =0,003).Conclusions : Les résultats confirment que le trouble de jeu pathologique (TJP) est souvent concomitant avec la consommation de substances. L’interrelation du TJP et de la consommation de tabac, d’alcool et d’autres substances entraîne une gamme d’implications cliniques et liées à la personnalité, particulièrement chez les populations jeunes. Puisque plusieurs études ont démontré que le taux de TJP est plus élevé chez les jeunes, le début précoce du trouble est souvent lié à une gravité accrue et à une persistance des problèmes de jeu. En outre, la présence d’un double diagnostic (consommation de substances) pourrait compliquer la réponse aux traitements. Pour cette raison, l’étude des populations jeunes est d’un intérêt particulier afin de concevoir et de mettre en oeuvre des programmes de traitement qui abordent tous les problèmes liés aux profils cliniques de ce groupe d’âge.Objectives: To compare substance use, gambling behaviors and personality traits between two different groups of individuals with a gambling disorder (young and adult patients); to explore the contribution of sex, age and personality traits on substance use; and to evaluate the capacity of age and personality traits to predict substance use.Methods: The participants were 428 gambling disorder (GD) patients, divided into two groups based on age [55 young participants (age≤25 years) and 373 middle- to old-aged participants (age>25 years)]. All were consecutively admitted to a Psychiatry Department and diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria. In addition, the Diagnostic Questionnaire for Pathological Gambling according to DSM-IV criteria, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), and other clinical measures were used to examine gambling behaviors, substance use and personality.Results: When the two age groups were compared, statistically significant differences were observed in several sociodemographic variables. Furthermore, the younger GD patients presented higher rates of drug use (p=.010). Regarding the personality traits, differences were found only in the Novelty Seeking (NS) scale, where the younger patients presented elevated scores (p=.006). Higher scores (p=.022) in NS and lower ones (p=.028) in Self-Transcendence (ST) were the personality traits significantly associated with tobacco consumption (p=.003). However, only age was associated with other substance use (p=.003).Conclusions: The results confirm that GD often co-occurs with substance use. The association between GD and the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs has a series of clinical and personality implications, particularly for young populations. Since several studies have demonstrated that GD rates are higher among younger individuals, early onset of the disorder is often associated with greater severity and persistence of the gambling problems. In addition, the presence of a dual diagnosis (drug consumption) could complicate the response to treatment. It is therefore of special interest to continue the study of young populations in order to design and implement treatment programs that address all the problems linked to the clinical profiles in this age range.Objetivos: comparar el consumo de sustancias, los comportamientos de juego y los rasgos de personalidad de dos grupos de personas que presentan un problema patológico de juego (pacientes jóvenes y adultos); explorar el aporte del sexo, de la edad y de los rasgos de la personalidad en el consumo de sustancias y evaluar la capacidad predictiva de la edad y de los rasgos de la personalidad sobre el consumo de sustancias.Métodos: la muestra estaba formada por 428 pacientes que presentaban un problema de juego patológico (PJP), divididos en dos grupos según la edad (55 pacientes jóvenes [edad ≤ 25 años] y 373 pacientes de edad promedio a avanzada [edad > 25 años]). Todos los pacientes fueron admitidos en un departamento de psiquiatría y diagnosticados según los criterios del DSM-IV. Se utilizaron además otras evaluaciones clínicas, como el Cuestionario de Diagnóstico del Juego Patológico [Diagnostic Questionnaire for Pathological Gambling] en virtud de los criterios del DSM-IV, el Despistaje del Juego de South Oakelle (SOGS) [South Oaks Gambling Screen] y el Inventario de Temperamento y Carácter Revisado (TCI-R) [Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R)] para examinar los comportamientos de juego, el consumo de sustancias y la personalidad.Resultados: en la comparación de los dos grupos de edad se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en varias variables socio-demográficas. Además, los pacientes más jóvenes con PJP presentaban un porcentaje más elevado de consumo de drogas (p=0,010). Con respecto a los rasgos de la personalidad, se notaron diferencias solamente en la escala de búsqueda de novedades, en la que los pacientes más jóvenes obtenían cotas elevadas (p=0,006). Las cotas más elevadas (p=0,022) en la escala de búsqueda de novedades y las más bajas (p=0,028) en la escala de auto-trascendencia representaban los rasgos de la personalidad que tenían una interrelación significativa con el consumo de tabaco (p=0,003). Sin embargo, solamente la edad estaba relacionada con el consumo de otras sustancias (p=0,003).Conclusiones: los resultados confirman que el problema de juego patológico (PJP) es a menudo concomitante con el consumo de sustancias. La interrelación del PJP y del consumo de tabaco, de alcohol y de otras sustancias tiene como consecuencia una serie de implicaciones clínicas relacionadas con la personalidad, particularmente en los jóvenes. Puesto que numerosos estudios demostraron que el porcentaje de PJP es más elevado entre los jóvenes, el comienzo precoz del problema está ligado a menudo a un aumento de la gravedad y a una persistencia de los problemas de juego. Por otra parte, la presencia de un doble diagnóstico (consumo de sustancias) podría complicar la respuesta a los tratamientos. Por esta razón, el estudio de las poblaciones jóvenes es de particular interés para concebir y poner en práctica programas de tratamiento que aborden todos los problemas relacionados con los perfiles clínicos de este grupo de edad

Video game addiction in gambling disorder: clinical, psychopathological, and personality correlates

Objective: We studied the prevalences of video game use (VGU) and addiction (VGA) in gambling disorder (GD) patients and compared them with subjects with non-video game use (non-VGU) in relation to their gambling behavior, psychopathology, and personality characteristics. Method: A sample of 193 GD patients (121 non-VGU, 43 VGU, and 29 VGA) consecutively admitted to our pathological gambling unit participated in the study. Assessment: Measures included the video game dependency test (VDT), symptom checklist-90-revised, and the temperament and character inventory-revised, as well as a number of other GD indices. Results: In GD, the observed prevalence of VG (use or addiction) was 37.3% (95%CI:30.7% ÷ 44.3),VGU 22.3% (95%CI:17.0% ÷ 28.7), and VGA 15% (95%CI:10.7% ÷ 20.7). Orthogonal polynomial contrast into logistic regression showed positive linear trends for VG level and GD severity and other measures of general psychopathology. After structural equation modeling, higher VG total scores were associated with younger age, general psychopathology, and specific personality traits, but not with GDseverity. Patients" sex and age were involved in the mediational pathways between personality traits and VG impairment. Conclusions: GD patients with VG are younger and present more dysfunctional personality traits, and more general psychopathology. The presence of VG did not affect the severity of G

Jeu pathologique et troubles liés à l’utilisation de substances : effets de l’incidence à un jeune âge et de la personnalité

Objectives: To compare substance use, gambling behaviors and personality traits between two different groups of individuals with a gambling disorder (young and adult patients); to explore the contribution of sex, age and personality traits on substance use; and to evaluate the capacity of age and personality traits to predict substance use. Methods: The participants were 428 gambling disorder (GD) patients, divided into two groups based on age [55 young participants (age≤25 years) and 373 middle- to old-aged participants (age>25 years)]. All were consecutively admitted to a Psychiatry Department and diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria. In addition, the Diagnostic Questionnaire for Pathological Gambling according to DSM-IV criteria, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), and other clinical measures were used to examine gambling behaviors, substance use and personality. Results: When the two age groups were compared, statistically significant differences were observed in several sociodemographic variables. Furthermore, the younger GD patients presented higher rates of drug use (p=.010). Regarding the personality traits, differences were found only in the Novelty Seeking (NS) scale, where the younger patients presented elevated scores (p=.006). Higher scores (p=.022) in NS and lower ones (p=.028) in Self-Transcendence (ST) were the personality traits significantly associated with tobacco consumption (p=.003). However, only age was associated with other substance use (p=.003)

Orexin and sleep quality in anorexia nervosa: Clinical relevance and influence on treatment outcome

Background and aims Orexins/hypocretins are orexigenic peptides implicated in the regulation of feeding behavior and the sleep/wake cycle. Little is known about the functioning of these peptides in anorexia nervosa (AN). The aims of the current study were to evaluate the extent to which orexin-A might be linked to sleep and treatment outcome in AN. Method Fasting plasma orexin-A concentrations were measured in 48 females with AN at the start of a day hospital treatment and in 98 normal-eater/healthy-weight controls. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was administered at the beginning of the treatment as a measure of sleep quality. Other psychopathological variables were evaluated with the Symptom Checklist-Revised (SCL90R) and the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI). Patients were assessed at the start and end of treatment by means of commonly used diagnostic criteria and clinical questionnaires. Results The AN patients presented more sleep disturbances and poorer overall sleep quality than did the healthy controls (p = .026) but there were no global differences between groups in plasma orexin-A concentrations (p = .071). In the AN sample, orexin-A concentrations were associated with greater sleep disturbances (|r| = .30), sleep inefficiency (|r| = .22) and poorer overall sleep (|r| = .22). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that both elevated orexin-A concentrations and inadequate sleep predicted poorer treatment outcome. Conclusion Plasma orexin-A concentrations contribute to poor sleep quality in AN, and both of these variables are associated with therapy response.This manuscript was partially supported by grants from Insti- tuto Salud Carlos III (FIS PI14/290 and CIBERobn) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) a way to build Europe, but also AGAUR de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2014SGR1672) and PROMOSAM (PSI2014-56303-REDT), Spain. CIBEROBN, CIBERSMA and CIBERESP are all initiatives of ISCIII. Sarah Sauchelli is recipient of a pre-doctoral Grant (2013–17) by IDIBELL. José C. Fernández- García is recipient of a research contract from Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS) (B-0033-2014). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or prepa- ration of the manuscript

Moderate-vigorous physical activity across body mass index in females: moderating effect of endocannabinoids and temperament

BACKGROUND: Endocannabinoids and temperament traits have been linked to both physical activity and body mass index (BMI) however no study has explored how these factors interact in females. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to 1) examine differences among distinct BMI groups on daytime physical activity and time spent in moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), temperament traits and plasma endocannabinoid concentrations; and 2) explore the association and interaction between MVPA, temperament, endocannabinoids and BMI. METHODS: Physical activity was measured with the wrist-worn accelerometer Actiwatch AW7, in a sample of 189 female participants (43 morbid obese, 30 obese, and 116 healthy-weight controls). The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised questionnaire was used to assess personality traits. BMI was calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis via the TANITA digital scale. Blood analyses were conducted to measure levels of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-related compounds. Path-analysis was performed to examine the association between predictive variables and MVPA. RESULTS: Obese groups showed lower MVPA and dysfunctional temperament traits compared to healthy-weight controls. Plasma concentrations of 2-arachidonoylglyceryl (2-AG) were greater in obese groups. Path-analysis identified a direct effect between greater MVPA and low BMI (b = -0.13, p = .039) and high MVPA levels were associated with elevated anandamide (AEA) levels (b = 0.16, p = .049) and N-oleylethanolamide (OEA) levels (b = 0.22, p = .004), as well as high Novelty seeking (b = 0.18, p<.001) and low Harm avoidance (b = -0.16, p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Obese individuals showed a distinct temperament profile and circulating endocannabinoids compared to controls. Temperament and endocannabinoids may act as moderators of the low MVPA in obesity

Reduced Plasma Orexin-A Concentrations are Associated with Cognitive Deficits in Anorexia Nerviosa

Orexins/hypocretins are neuropeptides implicated in numerous processes, including food intake and cognition. The role of these peptides in the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains poorly understood. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the associations between plasma orexin-A (OXA) concentrations and neuropsychological functioning in adult women with AN, and a matched control group. Fasting plasma OXA concentrations were taken in 51 females with AN and in 51 matched healthy controls. Set-shifting was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), whereas decision making was measured using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The AN group exhibited lower plasma OXA levels than the HC group. Lower mean scores were obtained on the IGT in AN patients. WCST perseverative errors were significantly higher in the AN group compared to HC. In both the AN and HC group, OXA levels were negatively correlated with WCST non-perseverative errors. Reduced plasma OXA concentrations were found to be associated with set-shifting impairments in AN. Taking into consideration the function of orexins in promoting arousal and cognitive flexibility, future studies should explore whether orexin partly underpins the cognitive impairments found in AN