Electrical Vestibular Stimulation (VeNS), Compared to a Sham Control For The Management Of Anxiety
Condition: AnxietyIntervention: Device: VeNSSponsors: Neurovalens Ltd.; Ulster UniversityCompleted
6 Steps to Overcome a Fear of Needles
Fear of needles is a widespread issue, affecting individuals of all ages. Research suggests that up to 50% of teenagers, and at least 20 to 30% of adults experience needle fear. This problem can severely limit your life, potentially preventing you from receiving vital medical care or pursuing parenthood through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). But fear
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New Study Reveals: Childhood Brain Morphometry Predicts Future Risk of Psychosis, Depression, and Anxiety
Background
Gray matter morphometry studies have lent seminal insights into the etiology of mental illness. Existing research has primarily focused on adults and then, typically on a single disorder. Examining brain characteristics in late childhood, when the brain is preparing to undergo significant adolescent reorganization and various forms of serious psychopathology are just first emerging, may allow for a unique and highly important perspective of overlapping and unique pathogenesis.
Methods
A total of 8645 youth were recruited as part of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were collected, and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), depressive, and anxiety symptoms were assessed three times over a 2-year period. Cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume were used to predict baseline symptomatology and symptom progression over time.
Results
Some features could possibly signal common vulnerability, predicting progression across forms of psychopathology (e.g. superior frontal and middle temporal regions). However, there was a specific predictive value for emerging PLEs (lateral occipital and precentral thickness), anxiety (parietal thickness/area and cingulate), and depression (e.g. parahippocampal and inferior temporal).
Conclusion
Findings indicate common and distinct patterns of vulnerability for varying forms of psychopathology are present during late childhood, before the adolescent reorganization, and have direct relevance for informing novel conceptual models along with early prevention and intervention efforts.
Effective Group CBT for Social Anxiety in First-Episode Psychosis: Results of Randomized Controlled Trial
Background
Social anxiety (SA), a prevalent comorbid condition in psychotic disorders with a negative impact on functioning, requires adequate intervention relatively early. Using a randomized controlled trial, we tested the efficacy of a group cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention for SA (CBT-SA) that we developed for youth who experienced the first episode of psychosis (FEP). For our primary outcome, we hypothesized that compared to the active control of group cognitive remediation (CR), the CBT-SA group would show a reduction in SA that would be maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. For secondary outcomes, it was hypothesized that the CBT-SA group would show a reduction of positive and negative symptoms and improvements in recovery and functioning.
Method
Ninety-six patients with an FEP and SA, recruited from five different FEP programs in the Montreal area, were randomized to 13 weekly group sessions of either CBT-SA or CR intervention.
Results
Linear mixed models revealed that multiple measures of SA significantly reduced over time, but with no significant group differences. Positive and negative symptoms, as well as functioning improved over time, with negative symptoms and functioning exhibiting a greater reduction in the CBT-SA group.
Conclusions
While SA decreased over time with both interventions, a positive effect of the CBT-SA intervention on measures of negative symptoms, functioning, and self-reported recovery at follow-up suggests that our intervention had a positive effect that extended beyond symptoms specific to SA.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02294409.
Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: The Key Factors Behind Persisting Social Impairment – Insights from Biopsychosocial Approach
Background
Psychosocial deficits, such as emotional, behavioral and social problems, reflect the most common and disabling consequences of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Their causes and recovery likely differ from physical and cognitive skills, due to disruption to developing brain networks and the influence of the child’s environment. Despite increasing recognition of post-injury behavioral and social problems, there exists a paucity of research regarding the incidence of social impairment, and factors predicting risk and resilience in the social domain over time since injury.
Methods
Using a prospective, longitudinal design, and a bio-psychosocial framework, we studied children with TBI (n = 107) at baseline (pre-injury function), 6 months, 1 and 2-years post-injury. We assessed intellectual ability, attention/executive function, social cognition, social communication and socio-emotional function. Children underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 2–8 weeks post-injury. Parents rated their child’s socio-emotional function and their own mental health, family function and perceived burden.
Results
We distinguished five social recovery profiles, characterized by a complex interplay between environment and pre- and post-TBI factors, with injury factors playing a lesser role. Resilience in social competence was linked to intact family and parent function, intact pre-injury adaptive abilities, post-TBI cognition and social participation. Vulnerability in the social domain was related to poor pre- and post-injury adaptive abilities, greater behavioral concerns, and poorer pre- and post-injury parent health and family function.
Conclusions
We identified five distinct social recovery trajectories post-child-TBI, each characterized by a unique biopsychosocial profile, highlighting the importance of comprehensive social assessment and understanding of factors contributing to social impairment, to target resources and interventions to children at highest risk.
Understanding PTSD Symptoms Over Time: Longitudinal Network Analysis
Background
Network modeling has been applied in a range of trauma-exposed samples, yet results are limited by an over reliance on cross-sectional data. The current analyses used posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom data collected over a 5-year period to estimate a more robust between-subject network and an associated symptom change network.
Methods
A PTSD symptom network is measured in a sample of military veterans across four time points (Ns = 1254, 1231, 1106, 925). The repeated measures permit isolating between-subject associations by limiting the effects of within-subject variability. The result is a highly reliable PTSD symptom network. A symptom slope network depicting covariation of symptom change over time is also estimated.
Results
Negative trauma-related emotions had particularly strong associations with the network. Trauma-related amnesia, sleep disturbance, and self-destructive behavior had weaker overall associations with other PTSD symptoms.
Conclusions
PTSD’s network structure appears stable over time. There is no single ‘most important’ node or node cluster. The relevance of self-destructive behavior, sleep disturbance, and trauma-related amnesia to the PTSD construct may deserve additional consideration.
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Cutting back on social media reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness
Researchers found college students who tried to cut their social media use to 30 minutes per day scored significantly lower for anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear of missing out at the end of the two-week experiment and when compared to the control group.
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A New Way to Tame Your Anxiety
A new study published in the Journal of Research in Personality reveals how curiosity can help alleviate feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Curiosity can be divided into two categories: interest curiosity and deprivation curiosity. People high on interest-curiosity tend to hold more positive attitudes towards uncertainty. Embracing the feeling of not knowing, sparked by curiosity,
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Research: Reducing stress and social anxiety in college students
This article examined the impact of online education on the wellbeing and emotional health of college students. It considered the social value of stress and anxiety pathology as “normal” side effects throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. Factors appropriate for educational technology were selected and submitted for evaluation to a sample of 114 college students in a semi-structured questionnaire. This research found that educational content and delivery methods, as well as increased homework and time spent online, have potentially contributed to heightened levels of stress, depression, and social anxiety disorder among approximately one-third of students who have engaged in digital learning. The results also prove that young people were particularly susceptible to stress and social anxiety disorders during the lockdown, making them one of the most vulnerable social groups. To enhance the educational experience, several suggestions have been proposed, including adapting educational content, expanding Internet accessibility, providing appropriate homework, and adjusting schedules to accommodate students’ educational capabilities. Voluntary routine mental health assessments of students, teachers, and staff and customized online counseling for vulnerable subjects are recommended as primary health care measures during online education.
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Empowering Avoidant Children to Overcome Challenges and Fears
Encouraging kids to step outside their comfort zone is crucial for their growth and development. Some children may seek safety by avoiding risks and new experiences, but this can limit their world and opportunities. Parents can help by creating chances to face challenges, and encouraging children to try new things.
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