Is sexual craving a sign of sex addiction?

There is increasing recognition of the significance ofcraving in the addiction field; however, there are differ-ences between substance and behavioural cravings, suchas sexual cravings. Further research is needed to quantifyand differentiate between egodystonic and egosyntoniccravings, and psychophysiological measures could providea deeper understanding of behavioural cravings. Pleasureand its relevance to addiction has been overlooked inmental health research and requires more attention

Is sexual craving a sign of sex addiction?

There is increasing recognition of the significance ofcraving in the addiction field; however, there are differ-ences between substance and behavioural cravings, suchas sexual cravings. Further research is needed to quantifyand differentiate between egodystonic and egosyntoniccravings, and psychophysiological measures could providea deeper understanding of behavioural cravings. Pleasureand its relevance to addiction has been overlooked inmental health research and requires more attention

The effectiveness of metacognitive therapy in comparison to exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder:A randomized controlled trial

Background: The recommended psychological treatment of choice for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is exposure with response prevention (ERP). Although this treatment is quite effective, recovery rates are modest and attrition rate is relatively high. Also, ERP treatment requires amounts of therapist time. A possible way to improve OCD treatment is by taking into account key cognitive processes involved in the development and maintenance of the disorder. The metacognitive model is such an account and pilot findings suggest that the associated metacognitive therapy (MCT) might be an effective treatment for OCD. Methods: In the present study, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is used to assess the effectiveness of MCT in comparison to ERP in an outpatient clinical sample of patients with OCD. Results: Both MCT and ERP produced significant pre-treatment to post-treatment decreases in obsessive-compulsive, comorbid psychological symptoms and metacognitive beliefs, both with moderate to large within-group effect sizes and high proportions of significant clinical change. Drop-out rates were low and treatment gains were maintained at six-month follow-up. There were no differences in efficacy observed between MCT and ERP treatments. Conclusions: MCT proves to be a promising treatment of OCD.</p

The Assessment of Thought Fusion Beliefs and Beliefs About Rituals:Psychometric Properties of the Thought Fusion Instrument and Beliefs About Rituals Inventory

Background: According to the metacognitive model, two domains of metacognitive beliefs play a role in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The Thought Fusion Instrument (TFI) has been developed to measure metacognitive beliefs about the significance of intrusive thoughts. The Beliefs About Rituals Inventory (BARI) assesses metacognitive beliefs about the necessity of performing ritual behaviors. Studies assessing the psychometric properties of the TFI and BARI are scarce. There are no studies assessing the factor structure of the TFI and the BARI. Methods: In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of the TFI and the BARI in nonclinical (n = 141) and clinical populations (OCD [n = 60], anxiety disorder [n = 30], and autism spectrum disorder [n = 50]). In the nonclinical population, the factor structure is also explored. Results: For both the TFI and the BARI, an explorative factor analysis revealed a one-factor solution, which now needs further exploration using confirmative approaches. The internal consistency appeared good, and they had a moderate test–retest reliability. Convergent and divergent validity of the instruments appeared sufficient, but more research is required to draw firm conclusions. The criterion validity turned out to be moderate for the BARI but low for the TFI in measuring OCD-specific metacognitions. Conclusions: Based on the explorative factor analysis, we hypothesize the TFI and the BARI to measure a single-factor construct. The current study shows that the TFI and the BARI are potentially suitable questionnaires to assess metacognitions in clinical and nonclinical populations. More research is required before clear recommendations can be made for the utility and use in clinical practice.</p

A Single-Session Combined Cognitive Bias Modification Training Targeting Attention and Interpretation Biases in Aggression

Experimental studies applying cognitive bias modification of attention (CBM-A) and interpretation (CBM-I) to reduce aggression have examined the effect of modifying each cognitive bias in isolation. In order to maximise the potential impact on both biases and symptom reduction, we examined whether a combined bias training procedure targeting both attention and interpretation biases (CBM-AI) in combination would be more effective than targeting interpretation bias (CBM-I) alone. University students (17-35 years) were randomly assigned to either a single session of CBM-AI training (n = 40), CBM-I training (n = 40), or a control condition (n = 40). Contrary to our expectations, participants showed an increase in adaptive attention and pro-social interpretation bias in all training conditions. Additionally, in none of the conditions, we found a significant change on self-reported or behavioural aggression. These findings suggest: (1) that the combined training did not have added effect over single interpretation bias training, (2) that training interpretation bias may lead to changes in attention bias, (3) that elements of the control condition unexpectedly, but interestingly, also affected attention and interpretation biases, and (4) single-session CBM procedures do not produce robust effects on self-report or behavioural measures of aggression in unselected samples

The effectiveness of metacognitive therapy in comparison to exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder:A randomized controlled trial

Background: The recommended psychological treatment of choice for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is exposure with response prevention (ERP). Although this treatment is quite effective, recovery rates are modest and attrition rate is relatively high. Also, ERP treatment requires amounts of therapist time. A possible way to improve OCD treatment is by taking into account key cognitive processes involved in the development and maintenance of the disorder. The metacognitive model is such an account and pilot findings suggest that the associated metacognitive therapy (MCT) might be an effective treatment for OCD. Methods: In the present study, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is used to assess the effectiveness of MCT in comparison to ERP in an outpatient clinical sample of patients with OCD. Results: Both MCT and ERP produced significant pre-treatment to post-treatment decreases in obsessive-compulsive, comorbid psychological symptoms and metacognitive beliefs, both with moderate to large within-group effect sizes and high proportions of significant clinical change. Drop-out rates were low and treatment gains were maintained at six-month follow-up. There were no differences in efficacy observed between MCT and ERP treatments. Conclusions: MCT proves to be a promising treatment of OCD.</p

The effect of HD-tDCS on brain oscillations and frontal synchronicity during resting-state EEG in violent offenders with a substance dependence

Violence is a major problem in our society and therefore research into the neural underpinnings of aggression has grown exponentially. Although in the past decade the biological underpinnings of aggressive behavior have been examined, research on neural oscillations in violent offenders during resting-state electroencephalography (rsEEG) remains scarce. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on frontal theta, alpha and beta frequency power, asymmetrical frontal activity, and frontal synchronicity in violent offenders. Fifty male violent forensic patients diagnosed with a substance dependence were included in a double-blind sham-controlled randomized study. The patients received 20 minutes of HD-tDCS two times a day on five consecutive days. Before and after the intervention, the patients underwent a rsEEG task. Results showed no effect of HD-tDCS on the power in the different frequency bands. Also, no increase in asymmetrical activity was found. However, we found increased synchronicity in frontal regions in the alpha and beta frequency bands indicating enhanced connectivity in frontal brain regions as a result of the HD-tDCS-intervention. This study has enhanced our understanding of the neural underpinnings of aggression and violence, pointing to the importance of alpha and beta frequency bands and their connectivity in frontal brain regions. Although future studies should further investigate the complex neural underpinnings of aggression in different populations and using whole-brain connectivity, it can be suggested with caution, that HD-tDCS could be an innovative method to regain frontal synchronicity in neurorehabilitation.</p

The effect of HD-tDCS on brain oscillations and frontal synchronicity during resting-state EEG in violent offenders with a substance dependence

Violence is a major problem in our society and therefore research into the neural underpinnings of aggression has grown exponentially. Although in the past decade the biological underpinnings of aggressive behavior have been examined, research on neural oscillations in violent offenders during resting-state electroencephalography (rsEEG) remains scarce. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on frontal theta, alpha and beta frequency power, asymmetrical frontal activity, and frontal synchronicity in violent offenders. Fifty male violent forensic patients diagnosed with a substance dependence were included in a double-blind sham-controlled randomized study. The patients received 20 minutes of HD-tDCS two times a day on five consecutive days. Before and after the intervention, the patients underwent a rsEEG task. Results showed no effect of HD-tDCS on the power in the different frequency bands. Also, no increase in asymmetrical activity was found. However, we found increased synchronicity in frontal regions in the alpha and beta frequency bands indicating enhanced connectivity in frontal brain regions as a result of the HD-tDCS-intervention. This study has enhanced our understanding of the neural underpinnings of aggression and violence, pointing to the importance of alpha and beta frequency bands and their connectivity in frontal brain regions. Although future studies should further investigate the complex neural underpinnings of aggression in different populations and using whole-brain connectivity, it can be suggested with caution, that HD-tDCS could be an innovative method to regain frontal synchronicity in neurorehabilitation.</p

Enhanced response inhibition and reduced midfrontal theta activity in experienced Vipassana meditators

Response inhibition - the ability to suppress inappropriate thoughts and actions - is a fundamental aspect of cognitive control. Recent research suggests that mental training by meditation may improve cognitive control. Yet, it is still unclear if and how, at the neural level, long-term meditation practice may affect (emotional) response inhibition. The present study aimed to address this outstanding question, and used an emotional Go/Nogo task and electroencephalography (EEG) to examine possible differences in behavioral and electrophysiological indices of response inhibition between Vipassana meditators and an experience-matched active control group (athletes). Behaviorally, meditators made significantly less errors than controls on the emotional Go/Nogo task, independent of the emotional context, while being equally fast. This improvement in response inhibition at the behavioral level was accompanied by a decrease in midfrontal theta activity in Nogo vs. Go trials in the meditators compared to controls. Yet, no changes in ERP indices of response inhibition, as indexed by the amplitude of the N2 and P3 components, were observed. Finally, the meditators subjectively evaluated the emotional pictures lower in valence and arousal. Collectively, these results suggest that meditation may improve response inhibition and control over emotional reactivity