Browse Our Latest Psychology and Behavioral Science Journals
Psychological journals are peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journals that publish original work in some areas of psychology. The most common publications include cognitive, health and clinical psychology, applied, developmental, biological, social, experimental, and educational psychology, and psychoanalysis.
Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
Virtual exchange practices have been developed at universities for several years; however, the academic importance of VE has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic (Garcés & O'Dowd, 2020; Oswal, Palmer & Koris, 2021). As a result of the restrictions concerning physical mobility, VE has become a ‘first aid kit’ (Reiffenrath, de Louw & Haug, 2020) to continue students' international cooperation. However, at present, there is little research about the nature of students' VE practices during the pandemic COVID-19, particularly in relation to the functions of VE. Thus, the purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of the special VE actions undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and to map out the educational functions and their prevalence through focus group interviews involving students who study at five different universities in Europe.
The article introduces the term ‘emergency-mode’ VE programmes that combine activities of traditional VEs with tailor-made solutions to accommodate the challenges posed by the pandemic. The analysis shows new directions of VE in terms of its educational functions, identifying 1) developmental, 2) social, 3) instrumental, 4) emancipatory, 5) self-reflectional, 6) motivational, as well as 7) occupational functions. The article also presents the prevalence of these functions in the specific learning environments created due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract
This article reports on integration challenges that were experienced by nine individuals who attended a three-day legal psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands. The study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach, using semi-structured interviews to gain an understanding of participants' (n = 30) psilocybin experiences and their after-effects. While the study did not actively seek to measure integration issues or unexpected side effects, nine out of thirty participants (30%) spontaneously reported a post-experience integration challenge. These challenges included: mood fluctuations, ‘post-ecstatic blues’, disconnection from community, re-experiencing symptoms, spiritual bypass and perceived lack of support. Integration challenges were transient; they occurred immediately after the psilocybin experience (once the main psychedelic effects had worn off) and in the days and weeks following the retreat, and resolved with time. Integration challenges were also correlated with positive after-effects including long-term remission of significant health conditions. The experiences related in this article align with existing literature that describes the ‘spiritual emergency’ phenomenon; that is, the potential challenges that can arise after ecstatic experiences and how these challenges may be integral to the transformative potential of such experiences. We discuss the implications for psychedelic integration and harm reduction practices and for future psychedelic research.
Abstract
Background and aims
Although large-scale population studies have linked the use of classic psychedelics (lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, or mescaline) to reduced odds of physical health problems, mental health problems, and criminal behavior, the roughly 35 million adults in the United States who have used classic psychedelics are nonetheless stigmatized in the American job market. Various federal organizations in the United States automatically reject applicants on the sole basis of prior psychedelic use, thereby practicing an open form of legal discrimination against these applicants. The present study investigates whether this discrimination can be justified based on associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and motivationally-based workplace absenteeism.
Methods
Using pooled cross-sectional data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2013–2019) on 193,320 employed adults in the United States, this study tests whether lifetime classic psychedelic use predicts the number of workdays employees skipped in the last month (i.e., motivationally-based workplace absenteeism).
Results
After adjusting for sociodemographics, physical health indicators, and other substance use, no significant association between lifetime classic psychedelic use and motivationally-based workplace absenteeism is found.
Conclusion
This study builds on classic psychedelic research that is just beginning to take work-specific outcomes into account and offers empirical justification for the elimination of arbitrary drug-based recruitment policies in the workplace.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Ketamine and esketamine have garnered interest in both psychiatric research and clinical practice for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In this review, we examined registered trials investigating the therapeutic use of ketamine or esketamine for TRD, with the aim of characterizing emerging trends and knowledge gaps.
Methods
The ClinicalTrials.gov electronic registry and results database was queried from inception to February 5, 2022, adhering to elements of the PRISMA guideline, we evaluated trial eligibility in the qualitative synthesis. Data regarding study design, drug regimens, and measures were subsequently abstracted and descriptively analyzed.
Results
The search returned 86 records, of which 56 trials were included in the final review. The number of trials investigating ketamine and esketamine for TRD increased since 2008, with higher peaks observed in 2015 (n = 9) and 2021 (n = 9). Most trials were Phase 2 (13, 23.2%) or Phase 3 (11, 19.6%), gathering preliminary data on efficacy and/or further data on safety and efficacy with variant dosing and pharmacological approaches. By and large, trials examined ketamine and esketamine as individual versus combination treatments (45% and 25%, respectively). The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was most commonly used to assess clinical outcomes (75%).
Conclusions
There are increasingly large-scale and late-phase trials of esketamine over ketamine for TRD, coupled with efforts to centralize evidence on these medications. Yet several trials do not assess patient characteristics that may affect treatment response, such as age, sex, and race. By understanding these design limitations, scientists and clinicians can avoid research waste and funding bodies can judiciously direct support towards high priority research.
Abstract
In the autumn semester of the academic year 2019/2020, a portfolio approach was introduced and piloted in one of the ESP courses offered by Budapest Business School's Faculty of Finance and Accountancy. Besides developing ESP skills, the portfolio tasks developed for the purpose of this research and introduced during the research project reported herein were intended to improve students' cooperation skills, which are essential in the job market. At the beginning of the same semester in order to forecast how successful this portfolio approach could be, we intended to obtain insights into our students' initial attitudes towards cooperation with peers and wished to look into the likelihood of participants' positive reception of cooperation-purpose portfolio tasks. To this end, a quantitative questionnaire study was carried out through an online platform amongst 49 Hungarian university students. This paper presents the results of this study. First, the relevant theoretical background is presented, namely, cooperation as a soft skill and its subskills. Then the possibilities and opportunities of improving cooperation skills during ESP classes are discussed: in the scope of our study, relying on the methodological approach offered by of the European Language Portfolio, cooperation skills were developed through cooperation-purpose portfolio tasks. Next, our study describes the quantitative questionnaire study, its administration and the resulting data. Our results show that students have a positive initial attitude towards cooperation with peers and cooperation-purpose portfolio tasks, and it has been found that the portfolio approach used in this research project seems to be a useful strategy for developing participants' cooperation skills.
Abstract
The major aim of this contribution is to summarize the theoretical underpinnings of the most popular rankings, as they have been identified within the discourse of “world class universities” during the first decade of the 21st century. This period is chosen, because the discourse thereafter did not elicit further key issues to be discussed. Additionally, other dimensions of the critique will be briefly touched upon, notably methodological issues. In this framework, attention will be paid as well to the handling of humanities and social sciences within such rankings. Finally, the question will be raised, where we are now - some years after such a period of heated controversies about the rankings of “world class universities”: Are rankings “here to stay” and thus go on more or less unchanged by the fundamental critique of their specific theoretical underpinnings, often called “ideological underpinnings”? Do we observe changes in the ranking mainstream? Can we expect new accents of higher education policy, which will successfully call for another “map” of the higher education system?
Abstract
Background and aims
Youth gambling research mainly focuses on the illegal use of age-restricted machines, but coin pusher and crane grab machines are gambling machines that can be used by people of any age in the UK, and are also in use internationally. Previous cross-sectional evidence has associated recollected childhood usage of these machines with adult gambling participation and levels of problem gambling amongst adult gamblers. We attempted to conceptually replicate the findings of one of these studies (Newall et al., 2021), while addressing some limitations of that study.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey of 2,000 UK-based and -born participants aged 19–24 years. The measures were participants' recollected usage of coin pusher and crane grab machines as a child, whether they had gambled in the past 12-months or not, and the PGSI for past 12-month gamblers.
Results
Overall, 5 of 7 tested associations were significant and in the hypothesized direction. Logistic regression models showed that adult gamblers were more likely to recollect using, and used at higher levels of frequency, coin pusher and crane grab machines, than non-gamblers. Then, negative binomial regression analysis showed that adults who recollected using crane grab machines at higher levels of frequency showed more gambling-related problems.
Discussion and Conclusions
These results suggest that childhood usage of coin pusher and crane grab machines may act as an underappreciated risk factor for the development of gambling-related harm across the lifespan. This information may be considered for further youth gambling research and policy.
Abstract
Background
Video gaming is a popular activity among young people. Time spent with gaming was found to be only moderately associated with gaming disorder. However, patterns of binge gaming (playing more than 5 h consecutively) were rarely considered in research on gaming. This study explores how binge gaming frequency is related with gaming disorder and mental health.
Methods
The sample came from the Cohort study on substance use risk factors (C-SURF) and comprised 5,358 young men aged 28.26 years (SD = 1.27). ANCOVA was conducted to estimate the association between binge gaming frequency (gaming at least 5 h consecutively) and gaming disorder (measured with the Game Addiction Scale) as well as indicators of mental health.
Results
A total of 33.3% of the sample engaged in binge gaming at least once in the previous year, and 6.1% at least weekly. Frequency of binge gaming was associated with gaming disorder score in a linear dose-response relationship (linear trend = 2.30 [2.14, 2.46]) even if adjusted for time spent gaming (linear trend = 1.24 [1.03, 1.45). More frequent binge gaming was associated with lower life satisfaction and sleep quality, and with more major depression and social anxiety disorder symptoms.
Conclusions
Binge gaming patterns, especially daily or almost daily binge gaming, are important to consider with regard to gaming disorder and mental health. Asking about binge gaming may be a promising screening question for gaming related problems. Encouraging regular breaks from gaming may be a valuable prevention strategy to reduce negative outcomes of gaming.
Abstract
Background and aims
This research aimed to characterize social information processing abilities in a population of regular nondisordered poker players compared to controls.
Methods
Participants completed the Posner cueing paradigm task including social cues (faces) to assess attention allocation towards social stimuli, including the effect of the presentation time (subliminal vs supraliminal) and of the emotion displayed. The study included two groups of participants: 30 regular nondisordered poker players (those who played at least three times a week in Texas Hold'em poker games for at least three months) and 30 control participants (those who did not gamble or gambled less than once a month, whatever the game).
Results
The group of regular nondisordered poker players displayed an enhancement of the inhibition of return during the Posner cueing task. This means that in valid trials, they took longer to respond to the already processed localization in supraliminal conditions compared to controls. However, our results did not evidence any particular engagement or disengagement attention abilities toward specific types of emotion.
Discussion and Conclusions
These results suggest that regular nondisordered poker players displayed social information processing abilities, which may be due to the importance to efficiently process social information that can serve as tells in live poker. The observed enhancement of the inhibition of return may permit poker players to not process a localization that has already processed to save attentional resources. Further research regarding the establishment of the IOR in other forms of gambling and with non-social cues needs to be performed.
Abstract
Rationale
As a result of concerns about predominantly online behavioral addictions, an increasing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMA) of treatment interventions for internet use disorders (IUD) are being recorded. This review was designed to (a) systematically identify the evidence base of SRMA and to (b) critically appraise the quality of reporting according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
Methods
Four databases were searched until August 2022 to systematically identify SRMA. PRISMA indicators were evaluated on a three-level response format to obtain an overall score operationalizing the quality of reporting (score range: 0–84). Additionally, the percentage of adherence to the PRISMA indicators was calculated.
Results
Reporting quality of 23 SRMA, comprising 12 systematic reviews and 11 meta-analyses was evaluated. Quality scores ranged from 25 to 77 (M: 52.91; SD: 17.46). Results of the critical appraisal revealed deviations from the PRISMA indicators, including missing information on (a) registration of a study protocol, (b) statistical synthesis methods (c) evaluation of certainty of evidence, and (d) risk of bias assessment. Eleven (47.83%) of the SRMAs partially adhered, and twelve (52.17%) completely adhered to the PRISMA indicators.
Conclusion
This first critical appraisal on the reporting quality of SRMA on treatment interventions for IUD highlights limitations of the evidence base. Inadequate reporting compromises the practical utility and validity of SRMA and may complicate ongoing efforts of consensus on evidence-based interventions for IUD. Future research should focus on sufficient and transparent reporting of the methodological approach.
A COVID–19-pandémia, halálszorongás és lelki egészség a terrormenedzsment-elmélet szemszögéből
COVID–19 pandemic, death anxiety and mental health from the perspective of Terror Management Theory
A 2019 végén Kínából kiinduló, majd az egész világon szétterjedő COVID–19-járvány az emberiség meghatározó történelmi tapasztalata. Az emberek a koronavírussal háromféle formában találkoznak: a saját vagy a környezetükben történő megbetegedések által, a járványról szóló társadalmi diskurzus során és a különféle szigorítások, lezárások következményeként. Mindez pszichés terhet ró az emberekre, amelynek hatására kimutathatóan növekedik a halálszorongás és a mentális zavarok előfordulási gyakorisága. Jelen közlemény arra tesz kísérletet, hogy a pandémia pszichés hatásairól szóló tudományos kutatásokat a terrormenedzsment-elmélet (Terror Management Theory, TMT) szemszögéből mutassa be. A TMT központi gondolata, hogy az ember általános ősélménye a halálszorongás, amely egyfajta alapját képezi a lelki működésünknek, viselkedésünknek, egyúttal pszichés zavarainknak is. A halálszorongással szemben proximális és disztális formában védekezünk, megakadályozva, hogy annak növekedése komoly mentális zavarokat okozzon. Az elmélet rövid ismertetése után a TMT vizsgálati módszereivel készült legújabb kutatások és tanulmányok fényében bemutatásra kerül a koronavírus-járvány halálszorongásra és különféle pszichés zavarokra gyakorolt hatása. A pandémia a halálszorongás elleni mindkét megküzdési formát meggyengíti, amely a TMT égisze alatt végzett kutatások eredményei szerint nem csupán a halálszorongás közvetlen növekedéséért, de a különféle mentális zavarok erősödéséért is felelős. A pandémia és a mentális állapot pozitív irányú elmozdulásával kapcsolatban is születtek vizsgálati eredmények, ezek ismertetése után a tanulmányt egyes TMT-kutatók által megfogalmazott javaslatok zárják.
A gamerek és e-sportolók személyes jellemzői, motivációi, valamint életminőségük vizsgálata a játszási szokások tükrében
Personal characteristics, motivation and quality of life of athletes and gamers in light of gaming habits
Elméleti háttér: Manapság a videójátékok számos ember életének fontos részét képezik. 2020-as hazai adatok szerint a videójátékosok száma legalább 3,8 millió fő, a jellemző játékidő hétköznapokon 2–3 óra. A játékosok (angolul „gamers” vagy magyarosan gamerek) egy része profi módon, szervezett versenyeken játszik, napjában több órát fordítva játékra és képességei fejlesztésére; őket e-sportolóknak nevezik. A videójátékokkal való rend-szeres időtöltés – mint minden szokás – befolyással van a játékosok lelki működésére. Cél: kvalitatív módszertannal, valós időben, strukturált online interjúkkal feltárni a videójátékkal rendszeresen játszók pszichés jellemzőit. Módszerek: A 18 éven felüli interjúalanyok hólabda módszerrel kerültek azonosításra (n = 22; 77% férfi, átlagéletkor: 24,9 [SD = 3,8] év). Eszközök: az alanyok 5 témakörbe tartozó kérdésekre válaszoltak: 1. demográfiai adatok, 2. általános játszási szokások, 3. a játék (gaming) jelentősége az alany számára, 4. a játékra való motivációk, 5. a játékos társas kapcsolatai. A hangrögzített interjúk átgépelésével kapott szövegeket tartalomelemzésnek vetettük alá. Eredmények: Összesen 22 fővel készült interjú, amelyek teljes időtartama 598 perc (átgépelés után 51 193 szó) volt. Az interjúalanyok többségükben húszas éveik elején járó fiatalok voltak, akik átlagosan 10,7 éves (SD = 5,5 év) korban kezdtek el játszani. A válaszadók átlagosan napi 5,2 órát (SD = 2,3 óra) töltenek játékkal; nagy részük (91%) gamernek vallja magát, de többségük az ellenőrző kérdések eredményei alapján e-sportolónak tartható. A tevékenység kialakulását vizsgálva 64% vallotta, hogy társas kapcsolatai hatására, illetve 41% az unaloműzés miatt kezdett játszani, és ezek, valamint a fejlődés lehetősége ösztönözte a tevékenység folytatására. A motivációk közül kiemelt jelentőségű a győzelem és a vereség, valamint a fejlődés igénye. A válaszadók 32%-a problémásnak („toxikusnak”) vélte saját játékát, habár ezt a viselkedést másnál elítélte. Az alanyok barátainak java része a gamerek szubkultúrájából kerül ki; a játéktevékenységet nem végző környezetük pedig többségében negatívan vélekedik a játékos hobbijáról vagy általában a videójátékokról. Következtetések: A káros következményekkel járó videójátszás legfontosabb megelőzési lehetősége a társas készségek fejlesztése, a valóságos társas kapcsolatok minél korábban kezdődő építése és erősítése.
Látássérült nők anyaságélményei Magyarországon: a narratív identitás tematikus elemzése
Maternal experiences of visually impaired women in Hungary: A thematic analysis of narrative identity
Elméleti háttér: Az anyaság témakörét a fogyatékossággal kapcsolatban az eddigi kutatások két perspektívából közelítik meg. Az egyik egy szubjektív, az egyéni kiteljesedés szempontjából való megközelítés, a másik egy társadalmi nézeteket előnyben részesítő nézőpont, amely az emberi jogok oldaláról vizsgálja meg a gyermekvállalás témáját az érintettek körében. Célkitűzés: A tanulmány látássérült és látó nők anyasággal kapcsolatos tapasztalatait mutatja be azzal a céllal, hogy az egyéni identitás jellemzőit tárjuk fel az anyaságról alkotott egyéni reprezentációk szintjén látássérült anyák körében, fókuszálva a társadalmi hatások egyéni reprezentációkban való leképeződésére. Kutatásunkban két elméleti perspektívát – a narratív pszichológiát és a fogyatékosságtudományt – ötvözve vizsgáljuk az anyaság szubjektív értelmezését látássérült és látó nők körében. Módszerek: Kutatásunkban 20 látássérült és 21 látó anya vett részt. Az anyaság narratív pszichológiai megközelítésével félig strukturált interjúkat készítettünk személyesen, illetve telefonos úton. Az átírt interjúszövegeket tematikus elemzésnek vetettük alá, amelynek célja a látássérült és a látó anyák elbeszélésének összehasonlítása volt a tematikus kompozícióhoz. Az elemzés során a főtémákon belül altémákat határoztunk meg. Eredmények: Az anyaságértelmezéseket kilenc tematikus kategóriába, főtémába soroltuk, úgymint: (1) Érzelmek, (2) Folyamatosság, (3) Identitás, személyiség, szelfformálás, (4) Kapcsolat, kapcsolódás, (5) Nehézségek, (6) Partner, (7) Szerepek, (8) Fontos szülői elvek, (9) Hivatás, karrier. Kutatásunk az azonos és eltérő, vélhetően látássérültségre specifikus anyasággal kapcsolatos élményeket, tapasztalatokat kívánja bemutatni a látássérült és látó anyák körében. Míg néhány főtéma mentén azonosságok mutatkoztak meg a két csoportban, addig más témák mentén eltérések azonosíthatók az értelmezésben. Például mind a látássérült, mind a látó anyák körében megmutatkozott az anyaság egy új életcéllal való azonosítása. Eltérő volt azonban a szülői szereppel járó nehézségek értelmezése. A látássérült anyák körében nagyobb számban mutatkoztak meg a mindennapi élet során felmerülő nehézségek, kihívások, míg a látó anyák körében inkább a gyermek jövőjével kapcsolatban fogalmazódtak meg félelmek, kihívások. Következtetések: Tanulmányunkban látó és látássérült anyák anyasággal kapcsolatos tapasztalatait vizsgáltuk. Célunk az volt, hogy felhívjuk a figyelmet a sérültséggel élő anyák szociális inklúziójának fontosságára és kihívásaira.
A Spirituális Egészségés Életorientáció Kérdőív (SHALOM) magyar nyelvű adaptációja és pszichometriai elemzése
Adaptation and psychometric analysis of the Hungarian version of the Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure (SHALOM)
Elméleti háttér: A nemzetközi szakirodalomban több, a spiritualitás mérését célzó mérőeszköz is fellelhető. Ezek közül az egyik legszélesebb körben alkalmazott és megbízható önjellemző kérdőív a Spirituális Egészségés Életorientáció Kérdőív (Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure, SHALOM). A kérdőív a spirituális jóllétet holisztikusan ragadja meg, ezért mind a vallásos, mind pedig a nem vallásos személyek körében egyaránt jól alkalmazható. Célkitűzés: Vizsgálatunk elsődleges célja a SHALOM magyar nyelvre történő adaptálása és részletes pszichometriai vizsgálata, beleértve a faktorszerkezet, a megbízhatóság és az érvényesség tesztelését. Módszerek: A validáláshoz használt kérdőívcsomagot (SHALOM, WHO Jóllét Kérdőív, Élettel való Elégedettség Skála) összesen 437 egyetemi hallgató töltötte ki (férfi: 24,2%, nő: 75,8%, átlagéletkor = 21,6 év; SD = 1,8 év). Eredmények: A SHALOM kérdőív tételein végzett feltáró és megerősítő faktorelemzések a bifaktoros (4 elsődleges és 1 általános faktor) szerkezetet erősítették meg, alátámasztva a mérőeszköz elméleti faktorstruktúráját. Az elsődleges faktorok a következők: Személyes, Társas, Környezeti és Transzcendens skálák, mindkét értékelési aspektus esetében (fontosság és megvalósultság). Akadt azonban 6 tétel, amely nem illeszkedett tökéletesen a négy elsődleges faktorhoz: a fontosság értékelés esetében 4, a megvalósultság nézőpontjából pedig 2 tétel. A fontosság értékelés során a kérdőív dimenziói a teljes variancia 66,6%-át, a megvalósultság esetében pedig a 64,9%-át magyarázzák. A faktorszerkezetek mindkét értékelési aspektus esetében elfogadható illeszkedési mutatókat adtak (CFIfontosság = 0,99 és CFImegvalósultság = 0,97; valamint RMSEAfontosság = 0,057 és RMSEAmegvalósultság = 0,068). A Cronbach-α értéke 0,69–0,97 között változik, ami összességében elfogadható belső konzisztenciát jelez, a kérdőív időbeli stabilitása is megfelelő. Az érvényességi vizsgálatunk szerint a SHALOM két értékelésének skálái szignifikáns, pozitív irányú kapcsolatban vannak a WHO Jóllét Kérdőívvel és az Élettel való Elégedettség Skálával (kivételt képez a fontosság értékelésének Személyes skálája), a korrelációk értékei gyenge és közepes mértékek között változnak. Következtetések: Az eredményeink alátámasztják a SHALOM kérdőív magyar változatának bifaktoros struktúráját, igazolják a skálák belső konzisztenciáját, valamint támogatják a mérőeszköz hazai változatának érvényességét. A konstruktum validitás tesztelésének területén azonban a jövőben további vizsgálatok indokoltak.
Abstract
Background and aims
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing high-levels of physician stress and burnout1. In order to help treat frontline colleagues who were diagnosed with acute stress disorder, we chose a non-psychedelic, ketamine micro-dose treatment strategy for symptom management.
Methods
We provided care virtually, and all patients were prescribed sublingual ketamine once daily. Each patient was evaluated using the NIH-PROMIS CAT assessments for stress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD via a remote, HIPAA compliant patient self-reporting platform. Progress was tracked and assessed against a baseline value obtained prior to the start of treatment. Patient progress was evaluated at a 4–6-week interval. Patients did not report any significant side effects to the treatment regimen.
Results
100% (25/25) of patients experienced improved anxiety, 92% (23/25) experienced improved stress, 96% (24/25) experienced improved PTSD, and 91% (20/22) experienced improved depression.
Conclusions
While we cannot draw definitive conclusions from the association demonstrated by this data, we believe these results demonstrate that further research into the efficacy of daily, short-term ketamine micro-doses for treatment of acute stress disorder is warranted.
A Serdülő Reziliencia Kérdőív (READ) magyar nyelvű adaptációja
Hungarian adaptation of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents
Háttér és célkitűzések
A tanulmány célja a Hjemdal és munkatársai (2006) által kidolgozott Serdülő Reziliencia Kérdőív hazai adaptációja, amely alkalmas serdülők és fiatal felnőttek személyes és környezeti erőforrásainak mérésére.
Módszer
Magyar középiskolásokból és egyetemistákból (M = 18,85 év, SD = 2,39) álló mintán (Nközépiskolás = 490; Negyetemista = 593) ellenőriztük a kérdőív szerkezetét, belső megbízhatóságát, konstruktív validitását, illetve a reziliencia kapcsolatát demográfiai és pszichológiai jellegű változókkal.
Eredmények
A feltáró és megerősítő faktorelemzés szerint az ötfaktoros struktúra jellemző a kérdőívre, amelyet a célorientáció, a családi összetartás, a szociális kompetencia, a társas támogatottság és a magabiztosság alskálák alkotnak. A reziliencia kérdőíven a nemek között a társas támogatás és a magabiztosság alskálán találtunk különbséget, az életkor tekintetében pedig szintén a társas támogatás alskálán különböztek a 15–18 évesek és a 18–24 évesek pontszámai. Az észlelt társas támogatás pozitív irányú összefüggést mutatott a rezilienciával, a problémaviselkedés megjelenése azonban negatív irányút, ami alátámasztotta a Serdülő Reziliencia Kérdőív konstruktív validitását.
Következtetések
Az eredmények alapján kialakított 28 tételes kérdőív alkalmasnak bizonyult a serdülők és fiatal felnőtt rezilienciájának felmérésére, illetve azon belül a környezeti és személyes erőforrások elkülönítésére. A Cronbach-alfa-mutatók alapján minden alskála és a teljes skála belső megbízhatósága megfelelő mértékű. A kérdőív emiatt alkalmas lehet további feltáró kutatásokban való alkalmazásra.
Abstract
Sex differences in jealousy are a well-established research finding that suggests men (relative to women) will find the sexual components of an infidelity more distressing, whereas women (relative to men) will find the emotional components of an infidelity more distressing. This study uses a relatively novel sample of participants (individuals who engage in consensual non-monogamy) to test both cultural and evolutionary influences on jealousy. In our study using hypothetical scenarios, we found that men (relative to women) were more upset about the sexual components of the infidelity and that women (relative to men) were more upset about the emotional components of the infidelity. This occurred in both samples to the same magnitude suggesting that the differences between the men and women may be driven by evolutionary influences. Additionally, we found a main effect of relationship type such that participants who engaged in consensual non-monogamy had lower levels of jealousy overall. As such, this study provides relatively unique evidence for the ultimate origins of sex differences in jealousy.
Abstract
Background and Aims
The hallucinogenic drug psilocybin is being widely tested in humans for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Psilocybin and other psychedelics are proposed to work through serotonin 2a (5-HT2a) receptors, which are tightly linked to immune function. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of a single dose of psilocybin on a panel of cytokines, chemokines, and peptides in the short term (24 h) and long term (seven days) in female rats.
Methods
Female rats were given a dose of psilocybin (20 mg kg−1, i.p.} or a dose of synthetic interstitial fluid. At 24 h, the control group and one group of rats were anesthetized, and blood was withdrawn by intracardiac puncture. In a third group of rats, blood was withdrawn after seven days. Serum was analyzed by a separate lab (Eve Laboratories, Calgary, Canada) for 27 immunomodulators.
Results
Serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, IP-10, G-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-13, and leptin were significantly increased compared to controls after 24 h and were increased further after 7 days. Most of the other assays showed this same pattern of increase, although not statistically significant.
Conclusions
Psilocybin induces the release of multiple immune factors, consistent with a generalized activation of the immune system, which can persist for at least seven days after a single dose. These findings may relate to the mechanism of action. The implications of these findings require additional research to determine how these finding relate to the clinical effects of psilocybin.
Abstract
Artistic behavior as aesthetically enhancing activities is conceptualized as a functionally autonomous activity within the evolved human behavioral repertoire. Accordingly, it should be intrinsically motivated, and it might also be expected to be temporally stable and domain specific. Preferential freely-pursued activities reflect intrinsic motivation and offer a valuable measure of artistic motivation. We used a large decades-long real-life public Brazilian data set from university applications to test these ideas. We analysed data on extra-class activities from 674.699 late-adolescents applying for university courses between 1987 and 2004, mostly between 17 and 19 years of age; approximately half men and half women. We found that 27% of individuals reported that Artistic/cultural activities were the leisure-time activity they participated in most frequently, and 32% reported they spent the longest period of free-time doing Artistic-activities (theater/cinema, music, dance, art-craft/plastic arts). Interestingly, from this whole sample, only less than 3% actually applied for artistic careers, which suggests that the prevalence of prioritizing artistic activities is higher than commonly assumed and includes not only professional artists, but also many hobbyists, amateurs and dedicated fans. Further, artistic careers applicants prioritize art almost three times more than the total of applicants, suggesting its specificity. After controlling for inconsistency of answer options during the period, prioritizing both Artistic/cultural and Artistic-activities remained temporally stable, as predicted. Despite limitations, overall results supported the hypotheses that artistic behavior is more intrinsically motivated, domain specific, and temporally stable. This plausibly demonstrates that artistic propensity has at least partly an evolved nature.
Abstract
Aim
This study examines narratives describing complex psychedelic experiences after smoking N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Methods
The narrative accounts examined here were gathered from a variety of online sites and analyzed in order to discover themes, categories and patterns in the phenomenon of the resulting psychedelic experiences.
Results
Subjects reported seeing complex and unusual visual and synesthetic phenomena, leaving this world and entering into extraordinary places, encounters with a variety of strange entities, interactions with unusual objects and a wide variety of powerful feelings. The general categories of Places, Objects, Entities and Feelings were found in the phenomena experienced by people who smoked N,N-Dimethyltryptamine. These provided a framework within which more detailed subcategories were found and the range of most frequent to least frequent experiences were identified.
Discussion
While DMT experiences are commonly described by people smoking N,N-dimethyltryptamine as indescribable, unique to everyone and taking place in a single domain called Hyperspace or the Hyperdimension, this research found distinct subcategories of frequently visited Places as well as frequently encountered Entities, Objects and Feelings. From these a more comprehensive understanding can be developed of the unusual and profound experiences resulting from inhalation of N,N,-Dimethyltryptamine.
Abstract
Background and aims
Theories posit that the combination of external (e.g. cue exposure) and internal (e.g. attention biases) factors contributes to the development of game craving. Nevertheless, whether different components of attentional biases (namely, engagement bias and disengagement bias) play separate roles on game craving has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to examine the associations between two facets of attentional biases and game craving dynamics under a daily life setting.
Methods
Participants (110 regular internet game players) accomplished the modified attentional assessment task in the laboratory, after which they entered a 10-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to collect data on their momentary game craving and occurrence of game-related events at five different time points per day.
Results
We found that occurrence of game-related events was significantly associated with increased game craving. Moreover, attentional disengagement bias, instead of engagement bias, bore on the occasional level variations of game craving as moderating variables. Specifically, attentional disengagement bias, not engagement bias, was associated with a greater increase in game craving immediately after encountering a game-related event; however, neither attentional engagement bias nor disengagement bias was associated with the craving maintenance after a relatively long period.
Discussion and conclusions
The present study highlights the specific attentional processes involved in game craving dynamics, which could be crucial for designing interventions for attentional bias modification (ABM) in Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) populations.
Abstract
Background and aims
Internet use has become an important part of daily living. However, for a minority it may become problematic. Moreover, problematic use of the Internet/smartphone (PUIS) has been associated with low physical activity. The present study investigated the temporal associations between three types of PUIS (i.e., problematic smartphone use [PSPU], problematic social media use [PSMU] and problematic gaming [PG]) and physical activity among Taiwanese university students.
Methods
A six-month longitudinal survey study comprising three time points for assessments was conducted. From the original 974 participants, a total of 452 completed all three waves of an online survey comprising the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) assessing physical activity level, Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) assessing PSPU, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) assessing PSMU, and Internet Gaming Disorder Short Form (IGDS9-SF) assessing PG.
Results
The linear mixed effects model found positive temporal associations of PSMU and PG with physical activity level (PSMU: B = 85.88, SE = 26.24; P = 0.001; PG: B = 36.81, SE = 15.17; P = 0.02). PSPU was not associated with physical activity level (B = 40.54, SE = 22.99; P = 0.08). Additionally, the prevalence rates were 44.4% for at-risk/PSPU, 24.6% for at-risk/PSMU, and 12.3% for at-risk/PG.
Discussion and Conclusions
PSMU and PG unexpectedly demonstrated correlations with higher physical activity level. The nature of these relationships warrants additional investigation into the underlying mechanisms in order to promote healthy lifestyles among university students.
Abstract
Background
Accumulating evidence suggests brain structural and functional alterations in Internet Use Disorder (IUD). However, conclusions are strongly limited due to the retrospective case-control design of the studies, small samples, and the focus on general rather than symptom-specific approaches.
Methods
We here employed a dimensional multi-methodical MRI-neuroimaging design in a final sample of n = 203 subjects to examine associations between levels of IUD and its symptom-dimensions (loss of control/time management, craving/social problems) with brain structure, resting state and task-based (pain empathy, affective go/no-go) brain function.
Results
Although the present sample covered the entire range of IUD, including normal, problematic as well as pathological levels, general IUD symptom load was not associated with brain structural or functional alterations. However, the symptom-dimensions exhibited opposing associations with the intrinsic and structural organization of the brain, such that loss of control/time management exhibited negative associations with intrinsic striatal networks and hippocampal volume, while craving/social problems exhibited a positive association with intrinsic striatal networks and caudate volume.
Conclusions
Our findings provided the first evidence for IUD symptom-domain specific associations with progressive alterations in the intrinsic structural and functional organization of the brain, particularly of striatal systems involved in reward, habitual and cognitive control processes.
Abstract
Aim
This study evaluated the consistency between the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Edition (ICD-11) for gaming disorder (ICD-11-GD) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for internet gaming disorder (DSM-5-IGD). Moreover, the functional impairment of participants and their insight of their GD were evaluated.
Methods
We recruited 60 participants with GD, 45 participants who engaged in hazardous gaming (HG), and 120 controls based on a diagnostic interview. Their operationalization of functional impairment and stage of change were evaluated by interviews and questionnaires, including the Brief Gaming Negative Consequence Scale (BGNCS).
Results
We observed satisfactory consistency (kappa value = 0.80) with a diagnostic accuracy of 91.5% between the ICD-11-GD and DSM-5-IGD criteria. Furthermore, 16 participants with IGD in DSM-5 were determined to have HG based on the ICD-11 criteria. Participants of GD group experienced impaired functioning in their health (96.7%), career (73.3%), social life (61.6%), academic performance (36.7%), and job performance (35%). Moreover, a proportion of them were in the pre-contemplation (25.0%), contemplation (61.7%), preparation (10%), and action stages (3.3%).
Conclusion
There is a good consistency between ICD-11-GD and DSM-5-IGD criteria. The ICD-11 criteria have a high threshold for diagnosing GD. HG criteria could compensate for this high threshold and identify individuals with a gaming-related functional impairment who require help. Most of the participants with GD were in the early stage of change. Interventions to promote their insight are essential. The BGNCS can be used to examine the negative consequences of gaming and aid mental health professionals in assessing functional impairment.
Abstract
Background and aims
Mental disorders with high levels of impulsivity such as bulimic spectrum eating disorders (BSED) and gambling disorder (GD) are associated with high risk of suicidal behavior. The aim of the present study was to identify the common and differential vulnerability factors behind suicide attempts in a sample of patients with BSED compared to patients with GD.
Methods
A total of 6,077 adults who sought treatment and met criteria either for BSED (n = 2,391) or GD (n = 3,686) were assessed at a specialized hospital unit. Personality traits, psychopathological symptomatology, lifetime history of suicide attempts and socio-demographic variables were evaluated.
Results
The prevalence of suicide attempts was higher for BSED patients (26.2%) compared to GD patients (7.1%) being anorexia nervosa (Binge/Purge type) and bulimia nervosa the most affected subtypes. In the predictive model, the transdiagnostic vulnerability factors with the highest contribution to the risk of suicidal behavior both in BSED and GD were unemployment, early age of onset of the disorder, worse psychopathological state, and self-transcendence personality trait. However, specific risk factors for suicidal acts were identified in each disorder: longer duration of the disorder, lower education levels and reward dependence were exclusively associated with BSED while female gender, older age, and higher harm avoidance were associated with GD.
Discussion
Patients with GD and BSED share certain vulnerability factors although certain factors are exclusive to each disorder.
Conclusions
Interventions need to pay special attention to both common and specific vulnerability factors to mitigate the risk of suicidal acts in these disorders.
Abstract
Background and aims
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is highly prevalent in adolescents and is associated with various mental health problems. Repetitive NSSI (R-NSSI), as an extreme manifestation of NSSI, is a growing concern and has been proposed as a behavioral addiction. However, little is known about the potential addictive mechanisms of NSSI. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of emotion dysregulation and the moderating effect of impulsivity using the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model in adolescents who repeatedly engage in NSSI.
Methods
A total of 3,915 adolescents (mean age = 13.21 years, SD = 0.87, 57.6% male) were recruited from three middle schools. Relevant questionnaires were used to evaluate childhood maltreatment, emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and NSSI. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted separately for adolescents with occasional NSSI (O–NSSI) and R-NSSI to assess the relationship between childhood maltreatment, emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and NSSI frequency.
Results
Our study found that childhood maltreatment was directly related to NSSI and indirectly related to NSSI through emotion dysregulation in both the R-NSSI and O–NSSI groups. Furthermore, impulsivity played a moderating role in the relationship between emotion dysregulation and NSSI in the R-NSSI group but not in the O–NSSI group.
Discussion and conclusions
The findings suggest that a high level of impulsivity and a high level of emotion dysregulation may be important risk addictive factors of NSSI through childhood maltreatment. Strengthening the emotion regulation skills and inhibitory control of adolescents with NSSI would be helpful to reduce their self-injury behaviors and maintain their mental health. This finding also supports the validity of the I-PACE model for evaluating R-NSSI.
Abstract
A renaissance is underway as research studies are substantiating psychotherapeutic and physiological benefits of psychedelic medicines, along with advancements towards legalization, expansion of professional training programs and a renewed cultural recognition of the healing qualities of the medicines. Pending legislation, a cadre of trained psychotherapists are poised to apply their expertise for those who might benefit however, they are currently largely blocked from doing so. There are also ranks of competent psychedelically informed psychotherapists who might provide support to clients engaging with the medicines but are lacking guidelines to do so.
‘Psychedelic-Supportive Psychotherapy’ is a proposed model which might be immediately implemented by qualified practitioners for working with clients adjacent to but not during a medicine experience without compromising ethical or legal risk. This model aimed at psychotherapists who are increasingly challenged to help clients already engaging with or considering psychedelics, draws from the current field of knowledge to respond to a moral imperative for practitioners to act in the service of client's best interests and expand access for diverse communities. It balances psychedelic harm reduction perspectives with support for the emotional, psychological, and spiritual gains to be had when clients use psychedelics outside of therapy and can process the experience within their therapy. The model of psychedelic-supportive psychotherapy,’ is transtheoretical, its core premise being centrality of the therapeutic relationship as a change agent even as the therapist is not physically present in the client's medicine journey. Here a foundational structure is presented along with criteria, parameters, and recommendations for practitioners in its application.
Abstract
Background
The addiction model of compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and problematic pornography use (PPU) predicts the presence of withdrawal symptoms and increased tolerance for sexual stimuli in the disorder phenotype. However, clear empirical evidence supporting this claim has largely been lacking.
Methods
In the preregistered, nationally representative survey (n = 1,541, 51.2% women, age: M = 42.99, SD = 14.38), we investigated the role of self-reported withdrawal symptoms and tolerance with respect to CSBD and PPU severity.
Results
Both withdrawal and tolerance were significantly associated with the severities of CSBD (β = 0.34; P < 0.001 and β = 0.38; P < 0.001, respectively) and PPU (β = 0.24; P < 0.001 and β = 0.27; P < 0.001, respectively). Of the 21 withdrawal symptom types investigated, the most often reported symptoms were frequent sexual thoughts that were difficult to stop (for participants with CSBD: 65.2% and with PPU: 43.3%), increased overall arousal (37.9%; 29.2%), difficult to control level of sexual desire (57.6%; 31.0%), irritability (37.9%; 25.4%), frequent mood changes (33.3%; 22.6%), and sleep problems (36.4%; 24.5%).
Conclusions
Changes related to mood and general arousal noted in the current study were similar to the cluster of symptoms in a withdrawal syndrome proposed for gambling disorder and internet gaming disorder in DSM-5. The study provides preliminary evidence on an understudied topic, and present findings can have significant implications for understanding the etiology and classification of CSBD and PPU. Simultaneously, drawing conclusions about clinical importance, diagnostic utility and detailed characteristics of withdrawal symptoms and tolerance as a part of CSBD and PPU, as well as other behavioral addictions, requires further research efforts.
Abstract
Backgrounds and aims
Given problematic Internet usage's (PIU) negative impact on individual health, this study evaluates how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect young adults' PIU and the possible underlying mechanism of the “feeling of loneliness” (FOL) trajectory.
Methods
Analyzing a retrospective cohort sample from the Taiwan Youth Project, 2,393 adolescents were interviewed from the average ages of 14–28. We constructed ACE in 2000 using six categories (e.g., abuse and low family socioeconomic status) and 5-item PIU in 2017 from Chen's Internet Addiction Scale. FOL trajectories measured eight times, at average ages 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28 years-old.
Results
Overall, 12.65% of the participants did not have ACEs, and 12.78% exhibited PIU. FOL trajectory analyses yielded three groups: “constant low” (reference group: 53.25%); “moderate decline” (36.81%); and “increasing” (9.94%). Regression models showed a dose–response association between ACE and young adults' PIU (adjusted odds ratio = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02–1.23) and the two risky loneliness groups (moderate decline: relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.32–1.54; increasing: RRR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.37–1.71). Structural equation modeling further found that ACEs increase young adults' risk of being in the increasing group, and consequently, the risk of PIU.
Discussion and conclusions
We demonstrated that ACE may be associated with 1) adults' PIU, 2) FOL from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and 3) young adults' PIU through its association with FOL trajectories.
Abstract
Background and aims
Legacy gambling harms are negative consequences of gambling that extend past periods of low risk, moderate risk and problem gambling. Gambling harm is typically measured within a 12-month timeframe and is often restricted to examining harm amongst active gamblers. The present research aimed to explore whether people experienced gambling harms 12 months or more after the resolution of at-risk or problem gambling, and how long these legacy harms lasted.
Methods
An online survey was conducted in New Zealand with past and current gamblers and concerned significant others (CSOs) of gamblers, N = 1,240 (50.8% female), that asked them about both past and current gambling harms.
Results
A majority of both gamblers and CSOs of gamblers indicated that they still suffered from gambling harm even after most of their behavioural issues with gambling had been resolved, 12+ months ago. Legacy gambling harms reduced over time, with harms diminishing most quickly in the early years, and having an average half-life of 4 years. Harms involving community-relationships, church involvement, and domestic and other violence resolved more quickly than others.
Discussion and conclusions
Legacy harms are common among ex-problem gamblers and should be considered in any full accounting of the impacts of gambling.
Conclusion
Understanding the time course and persistence of legacy harms from gambling can provide gamblers, treatment professionals and public health experts with insights into how to address gambling's long-term consequences.
Abstract
Background and aims
The Short Gambling Harm Screen (SGHS) is currently the most frequently applied dedicated measure of gambling-related harm (GRH), though concerns relating to scale validity have been expressed. The current study aimed to address criticisms that several SGHS items do not depict genuine harms that may occur as a result of gambling, causing the scale to overestimate harm. Specifically, we aimed to test convergence between the SGHS and its constituent items with: (1) wellbeing, and (2) psychological distress.
Methods
To test criterion validity of both the scale and the items, retrospective analyses of survey data from 2,704 Australian adults (36% non-gamblers; 64% gamblers) were conducted. Subjective wellbeing and psychological distress scores, captured using the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) and the Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale (K6), respectively, were used as external (non-gambling) benchmarks. A total of 428 (16%) respondents scored at least 1 on the SGHS.
Results
Monotonic decreases and increases, corresponding to poorer personal wellbeing and higher psychological distress, were found with each additional SGHS score increase. Gamblers endorsing a single SGHS item reported lower wellbeing and higher psychological distress than both non-gamblers and gamblers who scored zero on the SGHS.
Discussion and conclusion
These results show that the SGHS is a valid measure of GRH and contradict suggestions that low scores on the SGHS do not indicate true harm. The SGHS represents a valid and innovative short screening tool to measure GRH in population prevalence studies.
Abstract
Background and aims
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is known to cause various psychological and physical complications. Through data collected from an adolescent prospective longitudinal cohort, we examined how IGD is related to lifestyle and physical symptoms, as well as the temporal relationship between them.
Methods
This study was conducted as part of iCURE (Internet user Cohort for Unbiased Recognition of gaming disorder in Early Adolescence) in Korea between 2015 and 2019. Sleep and physical activity time, dry eye symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and near-miss accidents were measured at baseline and followed-up after one year. IGD risk was evaluated using the Internet Game Use – Elicited Symptom Screen (IGUESS). The association between IGD risk and measured variables was analyzed, both at baseline and at follow-up after one year.
Results
At baseline, the IGD risk group had significantly less physical activity time and sleep time and had more dry eye symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and near-miss accidents than the IGD non-risk group. Additionally, in the IGD risk group at baseline, dry eye symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and near-miss accidents occurred significantly more after one year of follow-up.
Discussion and conclusion
The results of this study show that IGD is a significant risk factor that increases the probability of physical disease and trauma in adolescents. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing IGD risk and protecting the physical and mental health of adolescents are imperative.
Abstract
Background and aims
Although the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10) has been translated into Japanese and widely used, the Japanese version has not previously been validated. We used the clinical diagnosis of IGD as a gold standard for validating the test.
Methods
The Japanese version was validated using 244 gamers drawn from the general young population in Japan. Expert interviews using the Japanese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for Internet Gaming Disorder evaluated diagnoses of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). This resulted in a diagnosis of IGD for eight individuals, categorized as the gold standard group. The screening performance of the two Japanese versions with different scoring conditions was examined: the scoring method proposed by the original study (original version) and a less stringent scoring method where responses of either “often” or “sometimes” were regarded as affirmative (modified version).
Results
The results of the sensitivity and specificity analyses, the Cronbach's alpha and the receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed a higher screening performance for the modified versus the original version. The optimum cutoff for the modified version was 5 or more – the sensitivity, specificity, and Youden's index were 87.5, 85.2, and 72.7%, respectively. The rate of probable IGD using the original and modified versions were 1.8% and 11.3%, respectively.
Discussion and conclusion
A less stringent scoring method for the Japanese version of IGDT-10 showed a higher screening performance than the original scoring method. Future studies comprising different ethnic groups and gaming cultures should further examine the suggested scoring method.
Az elektromágneses tereknek tulajdonított idiopátiás környezeti intolerancia (IEI-EMF) jelensége a szakemberek szemszögéből
Idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI-EMF) – from the viewpoint of the specialists
Kétrészes narratív összefoglalónkban áttekintést nyújtunk az elektromágneses tereknek tulajdonított idiopátiás környezeti intoleranciával (IEI-EMF, más néven elektromágneses túlérzékenységgel) kapcsolatos tudományos eredményekről, a kutatások jelenlegi állásáról. Az elektromágneses túlérzékenység olyan állapotot jelent, amely során az érintett személy tüneteket tapasztal az elektromos eszközök közelében vagy azok használatakor, és tüneteit az elektromágneses expozíciónak tulajdonítja. Az Egészségügyi Világszervezet jelenlegi álláspontja szerint az IEI-EMF nem diagnosztikus kategória, megállapításához jelenleg sem orvosi teszt, sem valid protokoll nem áll rendelkezésre. Jellemző az állapotra a nagyfokú distressz, gyakran vezet szociális izolációhoz, valamint a munkaképesség elvesztéséhez. Gyakoriak a különböző komorbid mentális zavarok, mint a szorongás, depresszió, szomatizáció. Az elektromágneses túlérzékenység etiológiájával kapcsolatos elméletek két fő irányvonalat képviselnek: míg a biofizikai megközelítés szerint a tüneteket elektromágneses mezők által aktivált fiziológiai folyamatok idézik elő, addig a pszichogén elméletet propagáló szerzők a tünetképzés jelenségét pszichológiai folyamatokkal magyarázzák (például torzult figyelmi és attribúciós folyamatok, nocebohatás, asszociatív tanulás). Számos kutató hangsúlyozza azonban, hogy a jelenség teljes megértéséhez a két megközelítés integrálására és interdiszciplináris kutatócsoportok felállítására van szükség. Jelen írásunkban a jelenséggel kapcsolatos jellemzőket kutatói és orvosi szemszögből járjuk körül: az etiológiával kapcsolatos elméletek bemutatásán túl kitérünk a vizsgálati, módszertani nehézségekre, a definíciós és diagnosztikus problémákra és a terápiás lehetőségekre.
Az orvostanhallgatók mentális egészségét kedvezőtlenül befolyásoló tényezők és a beavatkozások lehetséges pontjai hallgatói szemszögből
Understanding students’ perspectives on mental health determinants of medical students and interventions to improve mental health in medical school: a qualitative study
Elméleti háttér: Az orvostanhallgatók kedvezőtlen mentális egészségi állapotára kutatások széle köre mutat rá világszerte. A háttérben álló tényezők és a szükséges beavatkozások megismerése azonban már kevesebb vizsgálatnak került a fókuszába, és különösen kevés a kvalitatív módszert alkalmazó kutatás. Célkitűzés: A Debreceni Egyetem magyar és angol nyelvű orvosképzésében részt vevő hallgatók mentális egészségét kedvezőtlenül befolyásoló egyetemi és egyéni szinten megjelenő tényezők azonosítása, a hallgatók által javasolt beavatkozások megismerése. Módszerek: 26 fő (13 magyar és 13 angol nyelven tanuló), I–VI. éves orvostanhallgatóval készítettünk fókuszcsoportos interjúkat, amelyeket hang-felvételen rögzítettünk. Az interjúk átírását követően az összesen 46 874 szószám terjedelmű anyagon tartalomelemzést végeztünk az NVivo szoftver segítségével, azt manuálisan ellenőrizve. Eredmények: Legfőbb stresszorokként a tananyag mennyiségét, a vizsgáztatás sajátosságait (tisztázatlan követelmények, vizsgáztatói szubjektivitás, észlelt igazságtalanság), az oktatási segédanyagok, valamint a gyakorlati képzés hiányosságait, illetve az egyetemen belüli információáramlás problémáit fogalmazták meg a hallgatók. A magyarok körében kiemelt stresszforrásként jelent meg az évismétlés és az önköltséges képzési formába való átsorolás veszélye. A tananyag nagy mennyisége miatt a hallgatók tanulásmódszertani, időbeosztási készségek fejlesztését célzó intervenciókat szeretnének, továbbá igényük lenne a stresszkezelési és kudarctűrési képességük fejlesztését célzó segítségre is. Sokak szakmai jövőképe bizonytalan, amelyet a hatékony karrier-tanácsadás tudna enyhíteni. Következtetés: Az orvostanhallgatók mentális egészségére számos szervezeti és egyéni tényező jelent kockázatot, amelyeket az egyetem elsősorban rendszerszintű beavatkozásokkal tudna csökkenteni.
Krónikus légzőszervi betegek élményvilágának vizsgálata a COVID–19-világjárvány idején interpretatív fenomenológiai analízissel
Exploring the experiences of chronic respiratory patients during the COVID-19 pandemic using interpretative phenomenological analysis
Elméleti háttér: A koronavírus világjárvány idején a krónikus légzőszervi betegek fizikai sérülékenységük mellett a mentális problémákra is fokozottan érzékenyek lehetnek. Betegségük sajátosságaiból kifolyólag nagyobb valószínűséggel rendelkeznek már meglévő tapasztalattal krízishelyzetek, súlyos egzisztenciális kérdések és az ezekkel való megküzdés területén. Ezeknek a korábbi tapasztalatoknak szerepe lehet a COVID–19-járvánnyal kapcsolatos veszélyeztetettség megélése szempontjából. Az egyre nagyobb számú kvantitatív kutatáson alapuló szakirodalom ellenére az érintettek szubjektív tapasztalatainak megismerése továbbra is hiányzik. Cél: Kutatásunk célja a krónikus légzőszervi betegek COVID–19-világjárvány általi veszélyeztetettségélményének, tapasztalatainak feltárása és mélyebb megértése volt kvalitatív, idiográfiás módszerrel. Az alábbi kutatási kérdésekre kívántunk választ kapni: 1. Hogyan viszonyulnak az interjúalanyok a légzőszervi alap- betegségükhöz? 2. Mit jelent a számukra a veszélyeztetettség megélése? 3. Hogyan hatnak az alapbetegséggel kapcsolatos eredeti tapasztalatok a világjárvánnyal járó sérülékenység megélésére? Módszerek: Vizsgálatunkhoz az interpretatív fenomenológiai analízis módszerét használtuk. A kutatásban 8 fő vett részt: 7 nő és 1 férfi, 29–60 évesek, a következő diagnózisok valamelyikével: asztma, krónikus obstruktív tüdőbetegség, cisztás fibrózis. Eredmények: A félig strukturált interjúk elemzése során három főtéma bontakozott ki: 1. légzőszervi betegség mint a mindennapokat meghatározó tapasztalat, 2. a koronavírus világjárvány hatása az énre és az identitásszerveződésre, illetve 3. a veszélyeztetettség megéléséhez való alkalmazkodás. A levegőtlenség a progresszív tüdőbetegségek legnehezebben tolerálható, leginkább félelmetes velejárója, amely élmény különböző módokon kapcsolódhat a félelemmel és a szorongással. A COVID–19 potenciális fertőző volta éles határvonalat húz a veszélyeztetett Én és a veszélyes Másik; vagyis az én és a világ közé, továbbá kritikus élethelyzetet jelent a társas szükségletek és vágyak kielégíthetősége szempontjából. Adaptációjukban alapvetően énvédő mechanizmusok, illetve érzelem- fókuszú stratégiák bontakoztak ki. Következtetések: A jelenlegi világjárvány jelentős hatást gyakorol az érintett betegek életére. A koronavírus elsősorban légutakat érintő természete miatt az érintettek veszélyeztetettként tekintenek önmagukra, a veszélyeztetettség megélése pedig alapvetően meghatározza életüket; döntéseiket, a világhoz való kapcsolódásukat, identitásszerveződésüket, megküzdésüket, s megkérdőjelezi a világ biztonságosságába vetett hitüket. A krónikus légzőszervi betegek tapasztalatainak feltárása kiemelt jelentőséggel bír a járvány pszichoszociális hatásait mérséklő stratégiák kidolgozásában.
Mi van a maszk mögött? A maszkviselés szociális reprezentációja
What is behind the mask? Social representation of mask wearing
Elméleti háttér: A COVID–19-pandémia idején a járványügyi intézkedések meghatározó részévé vált az arcmaszkok viselésének preventív és széles körű alkalmazása. Az arcmaszkok az arcfelület mintegy 60–70%-át lefedve jelentősen befolyásolják a szociális interakciókat – különösen az érzelemfelismerést, érzelemkifejezést és mentalizálást. A kommunikációban fellépő nehézségek a gyógyító munka hatékonysága szempontjából kiemelt jelentőségűvé válnak az orvos–beteg kapcsolatban. Ennek még kritikusabb esetei azok a helyzetek, amikor a páciens mentalizációs deficittel jellemezhető zavarban szenved. Tanulmányunkban a szociális reprezentációk elméletét használjuk annak vizsgálatára, hogy a maszkviselés milyen tartalmakkal vált a közös tudás részévé. Célkitűzés: Vizsgálatunkban a maszkviselés szociális reprezentációjának feltérképezését tűztük ki célul, figyelembe véve annak interperszonális kommunikációra gyakorolt hatását, olyan csoportokban, ahol a kölcsönös megértés hatékonysága kiemelt jelentőséggel bír. Módszerek: Kutatásunkban a koronavírus-járvány második és harmadik magyarországi hulláma idején, orvos, szomatikus és pszichiátriai beteg csoportban, valamint kontrollcsoportban (összesen 81 fő, átlagéletkor 43,1 [SD = 13,83] év) szabad asszociációs feladatot adtunk a „maszkviselés” hívószóra. A nyert adatokból szemantikus kategóriákat képeztünk, majd ranggyakoriság-eljárással feltérképeztük a szociális reprezentációk szerkezetét az egyes csoportokon belül. Eredmények: A vizsgálati csoportok maszkhasználathoz kapcsolódó szociális reprezentációjában egységesen központi elemként jelent meg a maszkviselés által nyújtott biztonságélmény, valamint a maszk zavaró testérzetet keltő hatása. Különbséget találtunk az egyes csoportok között elaboratív kategóriák megjelenése, illetve szorongás, agresszió, tehetetlenség, sérült dependenciaszükséglet, valamint a kényszerű alkalmazkodás tekintetében. Következtetések: A maszkviselés szociális reprezentációjának elemzése alapján a maszkviselés ambivalens jelentéstartalmakat hordoz. Bár a maszkviseléshez kapcsolódó szociális reprezentációk struktúrájában számottevő különbségek is mutatkoztak, ugyanakkor a legtöbb vizsgált csoportban a maszk a vírusvédelem szempontjából „kényelmetlen, de szükséges” eszközként került felismerésre. Az eredmények alapján az egyes csoportok sajátos reprezentációik alapján eltérő módokon lehetnek veszélyeztetettek, illetve küzdhetnek meg a pandémia idején kialakult helyzettel.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds hold promise for alleviating human suffering. Initial trials of psychedelic-assisted treatments have established feasibility and safety, generating calls for replications. Meanwhile, social and medical sciences have drawn criticism due to perceptions of replication failures and varying public trust in empiricism. Data suggest that researchers and the public frequently misunderstand some of the statistical issues associated with replication, potentially leading to unrealistic expectations of treatment effects. Promoting discourse on what constitutes sufficient replication is especially warranted considering the ongoing progression of multi-site phase II and III clinical trials. Here, we review recent and classic work on prediction intervals and power analysis to reveal that trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy that emphasize statistical significance will likely include failures to replicate, especially if sample sizes do not increase dramatically. The field and the public should expect some failed replication attempts based on sampling variability alone. Continued emphasis on statistical significance will require markedly larger samples than those used in clinical trials to date, necessitating substantially greater resources. An alternative approach focused on prediction intervals has distinct advantages. We focus on a recent trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD to show that, based on prediction intervals, reasonable replications are well within reach. A lack of attention to these statistical issues could unnecessarily prompt widespread dismissal of these therapies before the intervention receives adequate investigation and a fair assessment. In contrast, realistic expectations and appropriate planning could help ensure that these treatments receive the opportunity to help those most in need.
Abstract
Snuff is a fine aromatic powder composed of dried and thin leaves combined with tobacco, roots, peels, and seeds. Its use for indigenous religious purposes has appeared since pre-Columbian period in various localities of American continent. Practice is considered sacred in indigenous culture and suffered from trivialization of consumption due to influence of colonizers, which triggered subsequent industrialization of this complex for commercial purposes. Commercial snuff is essentially made from industrialized tobacco without addition of other medicinal plants and without therapeutic or spiritual purposes beyond its indiscriminate and inappropriate use, causing health risks. Therefore, this study aimed to make a review on snuff in Brazilian culture and a tour of a local community. In shamanism, plants are used as access vehicles to other religions of cosmos and its inhabitants, from where experts dialogue, bring songs, news, omens, and acquire new knowledge. The plants used in shamanic composition of snuff vary with the locality of indigenous villages in America and are essential ingredients of this interaction between humans and non-humans, a special mediator of intersubjective interactions. Several studies show the use and meaning of Erythroxylum coca used in different communities of the Amazon, besides Chacrona and Mariri, popular names of plants used in manufacture of Ayahuasca drink by doctrine Santo Daime. Because of this, it is essential to establish differences between recreational snuff and shamanic and their effects on body as well as studies on use of shamanic snuff should be directed according to their applications and plants employed by communities.
Abstract
Background and aims
Gambling disorder is characterized by problematic gambling behavior that causes significant problems and distress. This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for screening online problem gamblers based on players' account data.
Methods
Two random samples of French online gamblers in skill-based (poker, horse race betting and sports betting, n = 8,172) and pure chance games (scratch games and lotteries, n = 5,404) answered an online survey and gambling tracking data were retrospectively collected for the participants. The survey included age and gender, gambling habits, and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). We used machine learning algorithms to predict the PGSI categories with gambling tracking data. We internally validated the prediction models in a leave-out sample.
Results
When predicting gambling problems binary based on each PGSI threshold (1 for low-risk gambling, 5 for moderate-risk gambling and 8 for problem gambling), the predictive performances were good for the model for skill-based games (AUROCs from 0.72 to 0.82), but moderate for the model for pure chance games (AUROCs from 0.63 to 0.76, with wide confidence intervals) due to the lower frequency of problem gambling in this sample. When predicting the four PGSI categories altogether, performances were good for identifying extreme categories (non-problem and problem gamblers) but poorer for intermediate categories (low-risk and moderate-risk gamblers), whatever the type of game.
Conclusions
We developed an algorithm for screening online problem gamblers, excluding online casino gamblers, that could enable the setting of prevention measures for the most vulnerable gamblers.
Abstract
Background and aims
Lower-risk recommendations for avoiding gambling harm have been developed as a primary prevention measure, using self-reported prevalence survey data. The aim of this study was to conduct similar analyses using gambling company player data.
Methods
The sample (N = 35,753) were Norsk Tipping website customers. Gambling indicators were frequency, expenditure, duration, number of gambling formats and wager. Harm indicators (financial. social, emotional, harms in two or more areas) were derived from the GamTest self-assessment instrument. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were performed separately for each of the five gambling indicators for each of the four harm indicators.
Results
ROC areas under the curve were between 0.55 and 0.68. Suggested monthly lower-risk limits were less than 8.7 days, expenditure less than 54 €, duration less than 72–83 min, number of gambling formats less than 3 and wager less than 118–140€. Most risk curves showed a rather stable harm level up to a certain point, from which the increase in harm was fairly linear.
Discussion
The suggested lower-risk limits in the present study are higher than limits based on prevalence studies. There was a significant number of gamblers (5–10%) experiencing harm at gambling levels well below the suggested cut-offs and the risk increase at certain consumption levels.
Conclusions
Risk of harm occurs at all levels of gambling involvement within the specific gambling commercial environment assessed in an increasingly available gambling market where most people gamble in multiple commercial environments, minimizing harm is important for all customers.
Another failure of the latent disease model? The case of compulsive sexual behavior disorder
Commentary to the debate: “Behavioral addictions in the ICD-11”
Abstract
Recent debates have evolved regarding the classification/conceptualization of compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD). Conclusions regarding an agreed upon CSBD model are hindered by reliance on the latent disease model. Competing biological-based frameworks are moving forward to replace latent disease classification more broadly but have been met with limited success. We suggest that CSBD researchers move towards developing dimensional, transtheoretical, process-based models. We further suggest additional research, particularly mixed methods and longitudinal studies. Finally, we request that federal funding bodies take a more active role in supporting CSBD research.
Abstract
Background and aims
Despite promising findings indicating the therapeutic potential of psychedelic experience across a variety of domains, the mechanisms and factors affecting its efficacy remain unclear. The present paper explores this by focusing on two psychedelic states which have been suggested as therapeutically significant in past literature: ego-dissolution and connectedness. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of ego-dissolution and connectedness on the therapeutic effects of the psychedelic experience.
Methods
The investigation was carried out as a mixed methods systematic review, with the data from four databases analysed thematically and results presented through narrative synthesis.
Results
The analysis and synthesis of findings from 15 unique studies (n = 2,182) indicated that both ego-dissolution and connectedness are associated with a higher chance of improvement following a psychedelic experience. However, there seem to be differences in the way the two experiences affect individuals psychologically. Ego-dissolution appears to trigger psychological change but does not typically exceed the psychedelic experience in its duration, while connectedness can be more sustained and is associated with several positive, potentially therapeutic feelings.
Conclusions
Moreover, the findings of this review have implications for further theory-building about the mechanisms which enable therapeutic effects in psychedelic experience. This in turn might lead to improved models for psychedelic therapy practice. Emphasis on ego-dissolution during the preparation phase and on connectedness during integration is one suggestion presented here, alongside overarching implications for the mental health debate and general practice.
Abstract
Background and aims
Perfectionism is correlated with the occurrence of exercise dependence. We aim to reveal the role of functional connectivity (FC) between gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) networks in the association between perfectionism and exercise dependence.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, one hundred ten participants with exercise dependence underwent behavioral evaluation and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Perfectionism and exercise dependence were quantified using the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) and Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS). We used a K-means clustering algorithm to identify functional GM and WM networks and obtained the FCs of the GM-GM, GM-WM, and WM-WM networks. Partial correlation and mediation analyses were performed to explore the relationships among FCs, FMPS, and EDS.
Results
We identified ten stable GM networks and nine WM networks. Of these, FCs existed between the corona radiata network (WM1) and default mode network (DMN, GM8), WM1 network and WM DMN (WM4), WM1 network and midbrain WM network (WM7), and WM4 network and inferior longitudinal fasciculus network (WM9). The WM1-GM8 and WM1-WM4 FCs were positively correlated with the EDS and negative FMPS. The mediating effects of the WM1-GM8 and WM1-WM4 FCs were established in the association between the negative dimensional FMPS and EDS.
Discussion and Conclusions
The WM1 network anatomically linked the subregions within the GM8 and WM4 networks, and WM1-GM8 and WM1-WM4 FCs mediated the association between negative dimensional FMPS and EDS. These findings indicated that DMN function might be involved in the increased risks of exercise dependence promoted by negative perfectionism.
Abstract
Background and aims
Experiencing acute stress is common in behavioral addictions such as gambling disorder. Additionally, like most substance-induced addictions, aberrant decision-making wherein a reactive habit-induced response (conceptualized as a Model-free [MF] in reinforcement learning) suppresses a flexible goal-directed response (conceptualized as a Model-based [MB]) is also common in gambling disorder. In the current study we investigated the influence of acute stress on the balance between habitual response and the goal-directed system.
Methods
A sample of N = 116 problem gamblers (PG) and healthy controls (HC) performed an acute stress task – the Socially Evaluated Cold pressure task (SECPT) – or a control task. Self-reported stress and salivary cortisol were collected as measures of acute stress. Following the SECPT, participants performed the Two-Step Markov Task to account for the relative contribution of MB and MF strategies. Additionally, verbal working memory and IQ measures were collected to account for their mediating effects on the orchestration between MB/MF and the impact of stress.
Results
Both groups had comparable baseline and stress-induced cortisol response to the SECPT. Non-stressed PG displayed lower MB learning than HC. MANOVA and regression analyses showed a deleterious effect of stress-induced cortisol response on the orchestration between MB and MF learning in HC but not in PG. These effects remained when controlling for working memory and IQ.
Discussion and Conclusions
We found an abnormal pattern of modulation of stress on the orchestration between MB and MF learning among PG. Several interpretations and future research directions are discussed.
