Linking Parenting and Social Competence in School-Aged Boys and Girls: Differential Socialization, Diathesis-Stress, or Differential Susceptibility?

Girls generally demonstrate superior skill levels in social competence compared to boys. The exact relations of parenting with these gender differences are currently unclear. Gender differences may occur due to exposure to different parenting strategies (differential socialization model) or due to a different impact of similar parenting strategies for boys and girls (differential susceptibility and diathesis-stress model).Objective: In this study we assessed both hypotheses using a multi-method multi-informant approach. We investigated (1) to what extent different parenting strategies mediate the relation between gender and social competence and (2) whether gender and age moderate the relation between parenting strategies and social competence.Design: Parenting strategies were observed during home visits and social competence was assessed using parent and teacher questionnaires and performance-based neurocognitive tasks (N = 98, aged 4 to 8).Results: (1) Parenting strategies did not mediate the relation between gender and social competence. (2) Gender moderated the association between parental questioning style and children’s level of social competence: parents asking fewer questions was associated with poorer social cognitive skills in boys only. Parental supportive presence and intrusiveness were related to aspects of social competence irrespective of gender. Age moderated the relation between parenting and aspects of social competence, though in various (unexpected) directions.Conclusion: Our findings do not support the differential socialization hypothesis and provide partial evidence for a diathesis-stress model as an explanation for parental influence on gender differences in social competence

Working Memory Capacity and Psychotic-Like Experiences in a General Population Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults

Working memory (WM) impairment is a common feature in individuals with schizophrenia and high-risk for psychosis and a promising target for early intervention strategies. However, it is unclear to what extent WM impairment parallels specific behavioral symptoms along the psychosis continuum. To address this issue, the current study investigated the relation of WM capacity with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in a large Swedish population sample (N = 1012) of adolescents and young adults (M = 24.4 years, range 12–35). WM was assessed with two online computer tasks: a task where participants had to identify and remember the location of an odd shape and a task of remembering and following instructions. PLE scores were derived from a translated symptom questionnaire (Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences), which includes positive, negative, and depressive symptom scales. Positive and negative symptom scales were further subdivided into symptom clusters based on factor analyses. The results showed that low WM capacity was modestly associated with increased reports of bizarre experiences (BE) and depressive symptoms, after controlling for age, gender, and global symptom scores. Interestingly, when analyses were repeated for separate age groups, low WM was exclusively associated with a higher frequency of BE for young adults (20–27 years) and with depressive symptoms for older adults (28–35 years). These findings suggest that specific PLEs can be indicative of reduced WM capacity in early adulthood, which in turn may reflect an increased risk for psychosis and a greater need for targeted intervention. In contrast, during adolescence individual differences in cognitive development may influence the strength of the relationships and thereby mask potential vulnerabilities for psychopathology

Integrating neuropsychological research on autism and psychosis to improve clinical outcomes

Although the clinical phenotypes of autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders are considered distinct, there are substantial areas of overlap between both diagnoses. The two conditions co-occur disproportionately often, and research has begun to explore the impact of their simultaneous occurrence on clinically relevant outcomes such as depression and quality of life. In this Review, we describe what is known about the rates of co-occurrence between autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and delineate their unique and shared neuropsychological features regarding sensory processing, cognitive functioning (including language production) and social interactions. Despite this increasing body of literature, critical questions remain about how symptoms of autism and psychosis can best be differentiated, and which treatment options are best suited for people with co-occurring symptoms. We end by providing a research road map to direct efforts towards filling these knowledge gaps

Autistic traits in psychotic disorders: Prevalence, familial risk, and impact on social functioning

BackgroundPrevalence estimates of autistic traits in individuals with psychotic disorders (PD) vary greatly and it is unclear whether individuals with a familial risk (FR) for psychosis have an increased propensity to display autistic traits. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the presence of comorbid autism traits disproportionally affects the cognitive and behavioral aspects of social functioning in PD.MethodsIn total, 504 individuals with PD, 587 unaffected siblings with FR, and 337 typical comparison (TC) individuals (16-50 years) were included. Autistic and psychotic traits were measured with the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE). Social cognition was assessed with the Picture Sequencing Task (PST) and social behavior with the Social Functioning Scale (SFS).ResultsFor PD 6.5% scored above AQ clinical cut-off (≥32), 1.0% for FR, and 1.2% for TC. After accounting for age, sex, and IQ, the PD group showed significantly more autistic traits and alterations in social behavior and cognition, while FR and TC only displayed marginal differences. Within the PD group autistic traits were a robust predictor of social behavior and there were no interactions with positive psychotic symptoms.ConclusionsLevels of autistic traits are substantially elevated in PD and have a profoundly negative association with social functioning. In contrast, autistic traits above the clinical cut-off are not elevated in those with FR, and only marginally on a dimensional level. These findings warrant specific clinical guidelines for psychotic patients who present themselves with autistic comorbidity to help address their social needs

Individual prediction of long-term outcome in adolescents at ultra-high risk for psychosis : Applying machine learning techniques to brain imaging data

An important focus of studies of individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis has been to identify biomarkers to predict which individuals will transition to psychosis. However, the majority of individuals will prove to be resilient and go on to experience remission of their symptoms and function well. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of using structural MRI measures collected in UHR adolescents at baseline to quantitatively predict their long-term clinical outcome and level of functioning. We included 64 UHR individuals and 62 typically developing adolescents (12-18 years old at recruitment). At six-year follow-up, we determined resilience for 43 UHR individuals. Support Vector Regression analyses were performed to predict long-term functional and clinical outcome from baseline MRI measures on a continuous scale, instead of the more typical binary classification. This led to predictive correlations of baseline MR measures with level of functioning, and negative and disorganization symptoms. The highest correlation (r=0.42) was found between baseline subcortical volumes and long-term level of functioning. In conclusion, our results show that structural MRI data can be used to quantitatively predict long-term functional and clinical outcome in UHR individuals with medium effect size, suggesting that there may be scope for predicting outcome at the individual level. Moreover, we recommend classifying individual outcome on a continuous scale, enabling the assessment of different functional and clinical scales separately without the need to set a threshold

Brain development in adolescents at ultra-high risk for psychosis : Longitudinal changes related to resilience

BACKGROUND: The main focus of studies of individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) has been on identifying brain changes in those individuals who will develop psychosis. However, longitudinal studies have shown that up to half of UHR individuals are resilient, with symptomatic remission and good functioning at follow-up. Yet little is known about brain development in resilient individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate differences in brain development between resilient and non-resilient individuals. METHODS: A six-year longitudinal structural MRI study was performed with up to three scans per individual. The final sample consisted of 48 UHR individuals and 48 typically developing controls with a total of 225 MRI-scans, aged 12-20 years at the time of the first MRI-scan and matched for age, gender and number of follow-up scans. At six-year follow-up, 35 UHR individuals were divided in resilient (good functional outcome) and non-resilient (poor functional outcome) subgroups, defined by the modified Global Assessment of Functioning. The main outcome measures were developmental changes in MR-based measures of cortical and subcortical anatomy. RESULTS: We found widespread differences in volume of frontal, temporal and parietal cortex between resilient and non-resilient individuals. These were already present at baseline and remained stable over development (12-24 years). Furthermore, there were differences in the development of cortical surface area in frontal regions including cingulate gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: Developmental differences may reflect compensatory neural mechanisms, where better functioning in resilient individuals leads to less tissue loss over development

Table_2_Neuropsychological assessment of aggressive offenders: a Delphi consensus study.docx

ObjectiveThis study explores the intricate relationship between cognitive functioning and aggression, with a specific focus on individuals prone to reactive or proactive aggression. The purpose of the study was to identify important neuropsychological constructs and suitable tests for comprehending and addressing aggression.MethodsAn international panel of 32 forensic neuropsychology experts participated in this three-round Delphi study consisting of iterative online questionnaires. The experts rated the importance of constructs based on the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. Subsequently, they suggested tests that can be used to assess these constructs and rated their suitability.ResultsThe panel identified the RDoC domains Negative Valence Systems, Social Processes, Cognitive Systems and Positive Valence Systems as most important in understanding aggression. Notably, the results underscore the significance of Positive Valence Systems in proactive aggression and Negative Valence Systems in reactive aggression. The panel suggested a diverse array of 223 different tests, although they noted that not every RDoC construct can be effectively measured through a neuropsychological test. The added value of a multimodal assessment strategy is discussed.ConclusionsThis research advances our understanding of the RDoC constructs related to aggression and provides valuable insights for assessment strategies. Rather than suggesting a fixed set of tests, our study takes a flexible approach by presenting a top-3 list for each construct. This approach allows for tailored assessment to meet specific clinical or research needs. An important limitation is the predominantly Dutch composition of the expert panel, despite extensive efforts to diversify.</p

Table_1_Neuropsychological assessment of aggressive offenders: a Delphi consensus study.docx

ObjectiveThis study explores the intricate relationship between cognitive functioning and aggression, with a specific focus on individuals prone to reactive or proactive aggression. The purpose of the study was to identify important neuropsychological constructs and suitable tests for comprehending and addressing aggression.MethodsAn international panel of 32 forensic neuropsychology experts participated in this three-round Delphi study consisting of iterative online questionnaires. The experts rated the importance of constructs based on the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. Subsequently, they suggested tests that can be used to assess these constructs and rated their suitability.ResultsThe panel identified the RDoC domains Negative Valence Systems, Social Processes, Cognitive Systems and Positive Valence Systems as most important in understanding aggression. Notably, the results underscore the significance of Positive Valence Systems in proactive aggression and Negative Valence Systems in reactive aggression. The panel suggested a diverse array of 223 different tests, although they noted that not every RDoC construct can be effectively measured through a neuropsychological test. The added value of a multimodal assessment strategy is discussed.ConclusionsThis research advances our understanding of the RDoC constructs related to aggression and provides valuable insights for assessment strategies. Rather than suggesting a fixed set of tests, our study takes a flexible approach by presenting a top-3 list for each construct. This approach allows for tailored assessment to meet specific clinical or research needs. An important limitation is the predominantly Dutch composition of the expert panel, despite extensive efforts to diversify.</p