Electrophysiological correlates of emotional source memory in high-trait-anxiety individuals

The interaction between recognition memory and emotion has become a research hotspot in recent years. Dual process theory posits that familiarity and recollection are two separate processes contributing to recognition memory, but further experimental evidence is needed. The present study explored the emotional context effects on successful and unsuccessful source retrieval amongst 15 high-trait-anxiety college students by using event-related potentials (ERPs) measurement. During study, a happy, fearful, or neutral face picture first was displayed, then a Chinese word was superimposed centrally on the picture and subjects were asked to remember the word and the corresponding type of picture. During the test participants were instructed to press one of four buttons to indicate whether the displayed word was an old or new word. And then, for the old word, indicate whether it had been shown with a fearful, happy, or neutral face during the study. ERPs were generally more positive for remembered words than for new words and the ERP difference was termed as an old/new effect. It was found that, for successful source retrieval (it meant both the item and the source were remembered accurately) between 500 and 700 ms (corresponding to a late positive component, LPC), there were significant old/new effects in all contexts. However, for unsuccessful source retrieval (it meant the correct recognition of old items matched with incorrect source attribution), there were no significant old/new effects in happy and neutral contexts, though significant old/new effects were observed in the fearful context. Between 700 and 1200 ms (corresponding to a late slow wave, LSW), there were significant old/new effects for successful source retrieval in happy and neutral contexts. However, in the fearful context, the old/new effects were reversed, ERPs were more negative for successful source retrieval compared to correct rejections. Moreover, there were significant emotion effects for successful source retrieval at this time window. Further analysis showed ERPs of old items were more negative in fearful context than in neutral context. The results showed that early unsuccessful fearful source retrieval processes (related to familiarity) were enhanced, but late successful fearful source retrieval processes during source retrieval monitoring (related to recollection) were weakened. This provided preliminary evidence for the dual processing theory

Psychometric properties of the Italian versions of the Gambling Urge Scale (GUS) and the Gambling Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (GRSEQ)

Gambling urges and gambling refusal self-efficacy beliefs play a major role in the development and maintenance of problem gambling. This study aimed to translate the Gambling Urge Scale (GUS) and the Gambling Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (GRSEQ) from English to Italian (GUS-I, GRSEQ-I) and to test their factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, concurrent validity, and gender differences in 513 individuals from the Italian community. Factor structure and construct validity were tested through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, internal consistency through Cronbach’s alpha, concurrent validity through correlations with gambling-related cognitions (GRCS-I), probable pathological gambling (SOGS-I), and gambling functioning (GFA-R-I). Results confirmed that the 6 items of the GUS-I load highly on one dimension of Gambling Urge, and each of the 26 items of the GRSEQ-I load highly on their relevant sub-dimension, among the following: situations/thoughts, drugs, positive emotions, negative emotions. Both scales are internally consistent and show concurrent validity with gambling-related cognitions, probable pathological gambling, and gambling functioning. Males score higher than females at the GUS-I; females score higher than males at the GRSEQ-I. The findings from the present study suggest that the GUS-I and the GRSEQ-I are internally consistent and valid scales for the assessment of gambling urges and gambling refusal self-efficacy in Italian individuals from the community, with significant repercussions in terms of assessment, prevention, and intervention

Targeting poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity for cancer therapy

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a ubiquitous protein modification found in mammalian cells that modulates many cellular responses, including DNA repair. The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family catalyze the formation and addition onto proteins of negatively charged ADP-ribose polymers synthesized from NAD+. The absence of PARP-1 and PARP-2, both of which are activated by DNA damage, results in hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation and alkylating agents. PARP inhibitors that compete with NAD+ at the enzyme’s activity site are effective chemo- and radiopotentiation agents and, in BRCA-deficient tumors, can be used as single-agent therapies acting through the principle of synthetic lethality. Through extensive drug-development programs, third-generation inhibitors have now entered clinical trials and are showing great promise. However, both PARP-1 and PARP-2 are not only involved in DNA repair but also in transcription regulation, chromatin modification, and cellular homeostasis. The impact on these processes of PARP inhibition on long-term therapeutic responses needs to be investigated

Cognitive and psychosocial variables predicting gambling behavior in a clinical sample

Previous studies have mostly examined cognitive and psychosocial variables that are critical to the cognitive behavioral conceptualization of Problem Gambling (PG) in community samples. This study aimed to assess whether cognitive and psychosocial variables (gambling refusal self-efficacy, gambling cognitions, gambling urges, comorbid negative psychological states, comorbid substance use/misuse, life satisfaction and quality of life) can predict gambling behaviour in a clinical sample. One hundred and thirty-nine volunteers for a PG self-help cognitive behaviour treatment program participated. Results showed that only perceived gambling refusal self-efficacy, cognitions of inability to stop gambling, hazardous drinking behaviors, and poor quality of life related to one's environment, significantly predicted SOGS and/or CPGI scores. Significant interactions between gender and a number of variables including gambling cognitions (especially gambling expectancies), gambling refusal self-efficacy as well as quality of life related to physical or environmental health predicted gambling behaviour in this clinical sample

Treatment planning for problem gamblers

Treatment dropout and relapse among problem gamblers (PGs) are high. Due to the heterogeneity of PGs, one form of treatment (i.e., mono-therapy) may not be sufficient in maintaining PGs in treatment or leading to successful outcomes. This paper aims to provide an overview of the status of the current problem gambling (PG) treatments before discussing tailoring interventions to address this heterogeneity. Although a number of effective pharmacological and psychological interventions exist for treating PG, currently there is no one treatment specifically recommended. Thus, treatment programs need to be tailored to individual needs. This requires good assessment of the problem behaviour and associated factors (e.g., risk and protective factors, gambling consequences, and comorbid psychological problems). Pictorial case formulations showing causal and maintenance factors would aid in choosing relevant techniques to address these factors. Treatment goals, controlled gambling versus abstinence, need to be decided with clients prior to commencing treatment. Given the high dropout rate among PGs, and depending on clients' willingness to make changes, what is initially covered in treatment is vital. Different combinations of interventions need to be chosen depending on clients' presenting problems. Treatment suggestions for different types of PGs are discussed. Finally, good measures (assessing symptoms, cognitions and behaviours) are required to track progress and evaluate outcomes

Cognitive-behavioral group therapy for heterogeneous anxiety and mood disorders in a psychiatric hospital outpatient clinic

Recent literature has shown that group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for individuals with heterogeneous anxiety disorders. However, these studies have used a narrow range of outcome measures, and have not included global measures such as quality of life. In addition, heterogeneous mood disorders have not been well researched. The aim of this study was to replicate and extend on previous studies by assessing the effectiveness of group CBT treatment programs designed for use with heterogeneous anxiety or depressive disorders. Global outcome measures of quality of life and social functioning were assessed in addition to outcome measures of anxiety and mood symptoms. There were 173 patients who completed either group CBT for anxiety disorders or for depressive disorders. Symptom measures and quality of life measures were used to determine treatment effectiveness. Results demonstrated that the treatments were effective in reducing overall symptom severity and improving quality of life. Treatment gains were maintained to 12 month follow-up. However, the degree of change was considerably lower than that found in comparable trials with diagnostically homogenous samples. Overall, group CBT for heterogeneous diagnostic populations was effective but requires further investigation and refinement

Voices of adolescents on school engagement

A limited number of empirical studies have been conducted to explore how students perceive school engagement and the factors influencing their engagement in school, particularly amongst Asian students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand school engagement from the perspectives of twenty-two secondary school students through two group interviews. Analysis was conducted using thematic analysis yielding themes based on deductive reasoning. Findings showed that the concept of school engagement was complex with relationships with peers and teachers emerging as the most dominant theme. The second most prominent theme was school participation and rules, followed by academic pursuits. The theme of school-contextual factors also emerged. Interestingly, a negative valence to school engagement was found. The findings of this study have the potential to inform researchers and practitioners in the on-going efforts to examine the concept of school engagement to further improve school system wide practices