Do anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns and/or depression symptoms independently explain sleep disturbances in a high anxiety sensitive treatment-seeking sample?

Cognitive models of insomnia posit a role for anxiety sensitivity (AS) in sleep difficulties. While sleep disturbances have been linked to AS, particularly AS cognitive concerns, prior studies have rarely accounted for the correlated construct of depression. We used pre-treatment intervention trial data from 128 high AS, treatment-seeking adults with a DSM-5 diagnosis of an anxiety, depressive, or posttraumatic stress disorder to determine whether AS cognitive concerns and/or depression are independently associated with sleep impairment domains (e.g., sleep quality, latency, daytime dysfunction). Participants provided data on AS, depressive symptoms, and sleep impairments. AS cognitive concerns (but not other AS dimensions) were correlated with four of five sleep impairment domains; depression was correlated with all five. Multiple regressions revealed four of five sleep impairment domains were predicted by depression with no independent contribution of AS cognitive concerns. In contrast, AS cognitive concerns and depression were independently associated with daytime dysfunction. Results suggest previous findings linking AS cognitive concerns to sleep impairments may have been largely secondary to the overlap of cognitive concerns with depression. Findings demonstrate the importance of incorporating depression into the cognitive model of insomnia. Both AS cognitive concerns and depression may be useful targets for reducing daytime dysfunction.

A scoping review of the association between loot boxes, esports, skin betting, and token wagering with gambling and video gaming behaviors

Background and aims

Many new digital gambling-like activities such as loot boxes, esports betting, skin betting, and token wagering have recently emerged and grown in popularity. This scoping review aimed to: (a) synthesize the existing empirical research literature on gambling-like activities and their associations with gambling and video gaming behaviors, including problem gambling and video gaming; (b) identify sociodemographic, psychological, and motivational factors associated with engagement in gambling-like activities; and (c) identify research gaps and areas for further research.

Methods

A systematic search of Ovid, Embsco, and ProQuest databases and Google Scholar was conducted in May 2021 and last updated in February 2022. The search yielded a total of 2,437 articles. Articles were included in the review if they were empirical studies that contained quantitative or qualitative results regarding the relationship between gambling-like activities and gambling or gaming.

Results

Thirty-eight articles met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Overall, the review results suggest that all forms of gambling-like activities were positively associated with gambling and gaming with small to medium effects. Gambling-like activity participation was also positively associated with mental distress and impulsivity. Gaps identified included a lack of inquiry into skin betting and token wagering, a lack of diversity in the research methods (i.e., mainly cross-sectional surveys), and a paucity of research that includes more ethnically, culturally, and geographically diverse populations.

Discussion

Longitudinal studies with more representative samples are needed to examine the causal link between gambling-like activities and gambling and video gaming.

Links Between Romantic Relationship Dysfunction and Drinking Behaviors Are Moderated by Gender and Age

OBJECTIVE

Romantic relationship dysfunction is a risk for subsequent alcohol use, with some research suggesting gender differences in this link. We evaluated how different aspects of relationship dysfunction are related to different drinking behaviors and whether these associations vary by gender. We further examined the role of age as a potential moderator of this gender difference.

METHOD

Qualtrics Panelists (N = 1,470; 50% women) who were in a romantic relationship and regularly consumed alcohol completed an online survey. The sample was wide-ranging in age (range: 18-85 years old; M = 46.64, SD = 11.95). Participants reported drinking about 10 drinks per week, on average (SD = 11.01).

RESULTS

Five factor scores were constructed from relationship predictors (relationship distress, intrusion/jealousy, and disagreements) and drinking outcomes (consumption and coping motives). Moderation analyses indicated several significant two-way interactions between relationship dysfunction, gender, and age when predicting alcohol outcomes. Of note, the positive associations between relationship distress and both consumption and coping motives were stronger among younger than older individuals and among men than women (consistent with an externalizing stress perspective). A significant three-way interaction suggested that, for women, associations between intrusion/jealousy and coping motives were strongest at younger ages, consistent with an interpersonal sensitivity perspective. Conversely, for men, these associations were stronger at older ages, consistent with an externalizing stress perspective.

CONCLUSIONS

Men and younger individuals should be of particular focus when designing and testing interventions for drinking in response to relationship distress and disagreements. Younger women and older men may benefit from interventions focused on drinking to cope with relationship jealousy and electronic intrusions.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Hangover-Sensitive and Hangover-Resistant Drinkers

This study investigated potential differences in baseline (i.e., non-hangover-related) levels of depression, anxiety, and stress between individuals who are sensitive to and those resistant to hangovers after consuming alcohol. Participants included 5111 university students from the Netherlands and the U.K., including 3205 hangover-sensitive and 1906 hangover-resistant drinkers. All participants completed surveys on their demographics, alcohol consumption, and hangover susceptibility (whether they experienced a hangover in the past 12 months), as well as their baseline levels of depression, anxiety, and stress on the DASS-21 scale. The results showed that hangover-sensitive drinkers had significantly higher levels of anxiety and stress, but not depression, compared to hangover-resistant drinkers. However, the observed differences between the two groups were small, with a magnitude of less than 1 out of 42 points on the DASS-21 anxiety and stress subscales, and are thus unlikely to be clinically meaningful.

Coping and Conformity Motives Mediate the Joint Effects of the Behavioral Inhibition and Approach Systems on Alcohol Problems in Young Adults

Background: Gray's original Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) posits that an oversensitive behavioral inhibition system (BIS) may increase risk for negative-reinforcement-motivated drinking, given its role in anxiety. However, existing data provides mixed support for the BIS-alcohol use association. The inconsistent evidence is not surprising, as the revised RST predicts that the behavioral approach system (BAS) should moderate the effect of the BIS on alcohol use. A strong BAS is thought to bring attention to the negatively reinforcing effects of alcohol, leading to problem drinking among those with a strong BIS. While emerging results support this interaction, we still have much to learn about the mechanisms underlying this effect on alcohol use. Accordingly, we examined motives for alcohol use as mediators of the joint associations of the BIS and the BAS on drinking behaviors. Specifically, our central hypothesis was that individuals with a strong BIS and a strong BAS would endorse increased negative reinforcement motives for drinking (coping and conformity motives), which in turn would predict heavy drinking and alcohol problems. Method: Participants (N=346; 195 women) completed study measures as part of the baseline assessment for a larger study. Results: Overall, results partially supported the hypotheses. Mediated moderation analyses showed that the indirect effect of the BIS on alcohol problems, through coping and conformity motives, was strongest at high levels of the BAS. This effect was not supported for alcohol use. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that clinical interventions should target coping and conformity reasons for drinking among anxious, reward responsive, young adults.

Putative risk and resiliency factors among Royal Canadian Mounted Police cadets

Objective

Mental health disorders are prevalent among active-duty Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers. The current study was designed to assess whether RCMP cadets commencing the Cadet Training Program are inherently at greater risk of developing mental health challenges by statistically comparing cadet putative risk and resiliency scores to scores from young adult populations. The study was also designed to assess for sociodemographic differences in putative risk and resiliency variables among RCMP cadets in order to facilitate future comparisons.

Methods

Cadets (n = 772; 72.2% men) completed self-report measures of several putative risk variables (i.e., anxiety sensitivity, fear of negative evaluation, pain anxiety, illness and injury sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and state anger) and resiliency. Scores were statistically compared to samples from Canadian, American, Australian, and European young adult populations.

Results

Cadets had statistically significantly lower scores on all putative risk variables and statistically significantly higher resiliency scores compared to the young adult populations. In the cadet sample, there were statistically significant differences in putative risk and resiliency variables across gender and sex.

Conclusion

Cadets’ significantly lower scores on putative risk variables and higher scores on resiliency suggest that they may be psychologically strong; as such, it may be that the nature of police work, as opposed to inherent individual differences in risk and resiliency, accounts for active-duty RCMP officers’ comparatively higher prevalence of mental health disorders over time.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT05527509.

Effects of mandatory homeschooling during COVID-19 on conflict in romantic couples

In early 2020, schools across Canada closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring parents to homeschool their children. We examined the association between homeschooling and romantic conflict among couples during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian couples (N = 756) completed online measures, including whether they were homeschooling, hours spent homeschooling, and romantic conflict during the month of April 2020. Two hundred ten couples (27.8%) reported that they were homeschooling their children during this period, with 173 (22.9%) couples homeschooling due to the pandemic. Multilevel regressions were used to examine the association between homeschooling status and romantic conflict, and actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) were used to examine the association between homeschooling hours and romantic conflict among homeschoolers. In our APIM analyses, significant links between hours spent homeschooling and romantic conflict were observed, even when controlling for demographic variables. We found significant actor effects, where an individual's own homeschooling hours were positively related to the conflict they enacted toward their partner, and significant partner effects, where the partner's homeschooling hours were positively related to conflict received by the individual. Among all couples, we found significant positive associations between homeschooling status (i.e., nonhomeschooler or homeschooler) and both types of romantic conflict. However, these associations were nonsignificant when controlling for demographic variables. Our findings suggest the number of hours spent in homeschooling may be an important contributor to romantic conflict between partners during the pandemic. We discuss implications for schools and governments in providing additional support for families homeschooling children during mandated school closures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Efficacy of a novel online integrated treatment for problem gambling and tobacco smoking: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Background and aims

Problem gambling and tobacco use are highly comorbid among adults. However, there are few treatment frameworks that target both gambling and tobacco use simultaneously (i.e., an integrated approach), while also being accessible and evidence-based. The aim of this two-arm open label RCT was to examine the efficacy of an integrated online treatment for problem gambling and tobacco use.

Methods

A sample of 209 participants (Mage = 37.66, SD = 13.81; 62.2% female) from North America were randomized into one of two treatment conditions (integrated [n = 91] or gambling only [n = 118]) that lasted for eight weeks and consisted of seven online modules. Participants completed assessments at baseline, after treatment completion, and at 24-week follow-up.

Results

While a priori planned generalized linear mixed models showed no condition differences on primary (gambling days, money spent, time spent) and secondary outcomes, both conditions did appear to significantly reduce problem gambling and smoking behaviours over time. Post hoc analyses showed that reductions in smoking and gambling craving were correlated with reductions in days spent gambling, as well as with gambling disorder symptoms. Relatively high (versus low) nicotine replacement therapy use was associated with greater reductions in gambling behaviours in the integrated treatment condition.

Discussion and conclusions

While our open label RCT does not support a clear benefit of integrated treatment, findings suggest that changes in smoking and gambling were correlated over time, regardless of treatment condition, suggesting that more research on mechanisms of smoking outcomes in the context of gambling treatment may be relevant.

Mental health and social support among Royal Canadian Mounted Police cadets

Introduction

Certain populations, such as public safety personnel (PSP), experience frequent exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events and other occupational stressors, increasing their risk for mental health challenges. Social support has been evidenced as a protective factor for mental health. However, research examining perceived social support and its associations with symptoms related to mental disorders among PSP recruits is limited.

Methods

RCMP cadets (n = 765, 72% male) completed self-report surveys assessing: sociodemographic information, social support, and symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder.

Results

The results indicated statistically significant associations between higher social support and decreased odds of positive screens for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder (i.e., significant Adjusted Odds Ratios = 0.90 to 0.95).

Discussion

Cadets' perceived levels of social support are comparable to the Canadian general population and higher than serving RCMP. Social support appears to offer a protective element against anxiety-related disorders among participating cadets. Reductions in perceived levels of social support may be a function of RCMP service. Factors contributing to decreased levels of perceived social support should be considered.

Psychometric properties of a brief version of the COVID‐19 Stress Scales (CSS‐B) in young adult undergraduates

We extracted items to create a brief version of the COVID-19 Stress Scale (i.e., CSS-B) and examined its psychometric properties in young adults. A sample of 1318 first- and second-year undergraduates from five Canadian universities (mean [SD] age = 19.27 [1.35] years; 77.6% women) completed an online cross-sectional survey that included the CSS-B as well as validated measures of anxiety and depression. The 18-item CSS-B fit well on both a 5-factor and a hierarchical model indicating that the five CSS-B dimensions may be factors of the same over-arching construct. The CSS-B factor structure displayed lower-order and higher-order configural and metric invariance across sites but not scalar invariance indicating that the intercepts/means were not consistent across sites. The CSS dimensions were positively related to measures of general anxiety and depression but not so strongly as to indicate that they are measuring the same construct. The CSS-B scale is a valid measure of COVID-19 stress among young adults. It is recommended that this shorter version of the scale be considered for use in longer surveys to avoid participant fatigue.

Perceptions about THC and CBD effects among adults with and without prior cannabis experience

BACKGROUND

Cannabis is associated with a range of therapeutic and non-therapeutic, positive and negative effects. While some benefits and harms may be specific to individual cannabinoid constituents (THC, CBD), individual expectancies may also play a role.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the extent to which individuals hold expectancies about the effects of CBD, THC, and THC & CBD combined, and whether this differs with prior cannabis experience.

METHODS

Canadian adults (N = 345; n = 58 no prior cannabis use, n = 287 prior cannabis use) completed a Qualtrics survey. Participants provided information regarding their expectancies about the effects of cannabinoids (THC, CBD, THC & CBD combined) via a 15-item questionnaire, which included various therapeutic (e.g., helps with pain) and non-therapeutic positive (e.g., enhances positive feelings) and negative (e.g., risk for addiction) effects. They recorded their perceptions about the effects of each cannabinoid on a scale (0="definitely not true", 10="definitely true"). Data was analyzed using linear mixed models.

RESULTS

For most therapeutic effects, CBD-containing products (CBD, THC & CBD) were rated higher than THC. For most positive and negative non-therapeutic effects, THC-containing products (THC, THC & CBD) were rated higher than CBD. Those with prior cannabis use (vs no prior use) rated all cannabinoids higher regarding their association with many therapeutic and positive effects, while endorsing weaker expectancies about their role in some negative effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Adults endorsed stronger expectancies that CBD-containing products are responsible for producing a rage of therapeutic effects. Those with prior cannabis use experience tended to emphasize the benefits and minimize potential harmful effects of cannabinoids.

Patient Satisfaction With Standard Methadone and Flexible Buprenorphine/Naloxone Models of Care: Results From a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Patient satisfaction is a critical measure of quality of care across health disciplines because it may affect clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine longitudinal patient satisfaction in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) randomized to receive either standard methadone or flexible buprenorphine/naloxone models of care, its predictors, and association with dropout/illicit drug use.

METHODS

This study assessed patient satisfaction, using the 8-item version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ), as a secondary outcome of a large phase IV pragmatic randomized controlled trial (OPTIMA). The effectiveness of standard methadone model of care was compared with flexible take-home buprenorphine/naloxone dispensation model of care in patients with prescription-type OUD. Of 272 participants recruited and followed up for 24 weeks, 183 were eligible for this study.

RESULTS

Throughout the study, patients were "satisfied" with their treatment. The average CSQ score was not significantly different between weeks 4, 12, and 24 in the total sample (χ 2 = 0.35; P = 0.84). There was no significant difference in CSQ based on treatment assignment (methadone vs flexible buprenorphine/naloxone) either overall ( z = 0.87; P = 0.38) or over time (χ 2 = 0.65; P = 0.72). High levels of depression at baseline and decreased depressive symptoms over the follow-up period predicted positive changes in patient satisfaction ( P = 0.03 and P = <0.01, respectively). Satisfaction was significantly associated with treatment retention but not illicit drug use.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that patients with OUD on either standard methadone or flexible buprenorphine were generally satisfied with their treatment, with no difference in patient satisfaction based on treatment allocation. Given the ongoing opioid crisis, strategies to improve patient satisfaction should be further explored.

Perfectionistic concerns and binge eating in mother-daughter dyads: An actor-partner interdependence model

Perfectionism is linked to a range of psychopathology, including binge eating. Our study enhanced understanding of the role maternal perfectionistic concerns play in the maintenance of binge eating in emerging adult daughters. A sample of 73 mother-daughter dyads (mean age = 49.51 years for mothers and 19.89 years for daughters) reported on perfectionistic concerns (composite of doubt about actions and concern over mistakes), binge eating, and binge drinking (composite of frequency, severity, and perceptions). Using actor-partner interdependence modelling, mothers' and daughters' perfectionistic concerns were positively associated with their own binge eating (actor effects). Mothers' perfectionistic concerns were positively associated with daughters' binge eating (partner effect), but not vice versa. Perfectionistic concerns did not show significant actor or partner associations with binge drinking, supporting the specificity of our model. Findings suggest binge eating has characterological and interpersonal antecedents.

Division of Labour and Parental Mental Health and Relationship Well-Being during COVID-19 Pandemic-Mandated Homeschooling

While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way parents partition tasks between one another, it is not clear how these division of labour arrangements affect well-being. Pre-pandemic research offers two hypotheses: economic theory argues optimal outcomes result from partners specialising in different tasks, whereas psychological theory argues for a more equitable division of labour. The question of which approach optimizes well-being is more pressing in recent times, with COVID-19 school closures leaving many couples with the burden of homeschooling. It is unknown whether specialisation or equity confer more benefits for mandated homeschoolers, relative to non-homeschoolers or voluntary homeschoolers. Couples (n = 962) with children in grades 1-5 completed measures of workload division and parental well-being. A linear mixed modelling in the total sample revealed that specialisation, but not equity, promoted increased parental emotional and relationship well-being. These relations were moderated by schooling status: voluntary homeschoolers' well-being benefitted from specialisation, whereas mandated homeschoolers' well-being did not benefit from either strategy; non-homeschoolers well-being benefitted from both strategies. Across the mixed-gender couples, mothers' and fathers' well-being both benefitted from specialisation; equity was only beneficial for mothers' well-being. Overall, couples might be advised to adopt highly equitable and specialised arrangements to promote both parents' well-being.

Inhibited personality traits, internalizing symptoms, and drinking to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic among emerging adults

Emerging adults with high levels of inhibited personality traits may be at-risk for drinking to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current research explored mediational pathways between two inhibited personality traits (anxiety sensitivity (AS) and hopelessness (HOP)), internalizing symptoms (anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 distress), and coping drinking motives (drinking to cope with anxiety and drinking to cope with depression) during the pandemic. Cross-sectional data were collected from 879 undergraduate drinkers (79% female, 83% White, 18-25 years old) at five Canadian universities from January-April 2021. Participants self-reported on their personality, anxiety (GAD-7), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), COVID-19 distress, and coping drinking motives. Mediational path analyses provided evidence of both specific and non-specific pathways between personality and coping motives via internalizing symptoms. Depressive symptoms partially mediated the link between HOP and drinking to cope with depression motives. While anxiety symptoms did not significantly mediate links between AS and coping with anxiety motives in the full model, evidence of mediation was found in a post-hoc sensitivity analysis. COVID-19 distress served as a non-specific mediator. AS and HOP are critical transdiagnostic risk factors that increase vulnerability for internalizing psychopathology and, in turn, risky drinking motives, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A multiple baseline trial of adapted prolonged exposure psychotherapy for individuals with early phase psychosis, comorbid substance misuse, and a history of adversity: A study protocol

Background

Adversity is prevalent among people with psychotic disorders, especially those within the first 5 years of a psychotic disorder, called early phase psychosis. Although adversity can lead to many negative outcomes (e.g., posttraumatic stress symptoms), very few treatments for adversity-related sequelae have been tested with individuals with psychotic disorders, and even fewer studies have specifically tested interventions for people in early phase psychosis. Furthermore, people who misuse substances are commonly excluded from adversity treatment trials, which is problematic given that individuals with early phase psychosis have high rates of substance misuse. For the first time, this trial will examine the outcomes of an adapted 15-session prolonged exposure protocol (i.e., PE+) to observe whether reductions in adversity-related psychopathology occurs among people with early phase psychosis and comorbid substance misuse.

Methods

This study will use a multiple-baseline design with randomization of participants to treatment start time. Participants will complete baseline appointments prior to therapy, engage in assessments between each of the five therapy modules, and complete a series of follow-up appointments 2 months after the completion of therapy. Primary hypothesized outcomes include clinically significant reductions in (1) negative psychotic symptoms measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, (2) adversity-related sequelae measured using the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40, and (3) substance use frequency and overall risk score measured with the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test. We also anticipate that clinically significant reductions in hopelessness and experiential avoidance, measured with the Beck Hopelessness Scale and Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire, the theorized mechanisms of change of PE+, will also be observed. A secondary outcome is a hypothesized improvement in functioning, measured using the Clinical Global Impression and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment scales.

Discussion

The results of this treatment trial will contribute to the advancement of treatment research for individuals in early phase psychosis who have current substance misuse and a history of adversity, and the findings may provide evidence supporting the use of hopelessness and experiential avoidance as mechanisms of change for this treatment.

Clinical trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04546178; registered August 28, 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04546178?term=NCT04546178&draw=2&rank=1.

Depressive Symptoms and Conflict Behaviors: A Test of the Stress Generation Hypothesis in Romantic Couples During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: In early 2020, North American jurisdictions required households (e.g., romantic couples) to isolate together to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This study provides a first look at the interplay of depressive symptoms and conflict behaviors among isolating couples, including tests of predictions of the stress generation hypothesis. Methods: Mixed-gender couples residing in Canada (N = 711) completed online measures across two waves. We used the actor-partner interdependence mediation model, with Wave 1 depressive symptoms as the predictor, Wave 1 conflict enactment as the mediator, and Wave 2 depressive symptoms as the outcome. Results: Depressive symptoms showed stability across Wave 1 and 2. Wave 1 depressive symptoms showed associations with Wave 1 conflict enactment. For men (but not women), Wave 1 conflict enactment was associated with their own and their partner's Wave 2 depressive symptoms. For both partners, Wave 1 conflict enacted by men mediated the association between Wave 1 depressive symptoms and Wave 2 depressive symptoms. Discussion: Our study confirms and extends the stress generation hypothesis to the pandemic context, showing that depressive symptoms may partially contribute to conflict for isolating couples and that conflict behaviors enacted by men toward their partner can exacerbate depressive symptoms in both partners.

Interventions to Reduce Opioid Use in Youth At-Risk and in Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Youth and young adults have been significantly impacted by the opioid overdose and health crisis in North America. There is evidence of increasing morbidity and mortality due to opioids among those aged 15-29. Our review of key international reports indicates there are few youth-focused interventions and treatments for opioid use. Our scoping review sought to identify, characterize, and qualitatively evaluate the youth-specific clinical and pre-clinical interventions for opioid use among youth.

METHOD

We searched MedLine and PsycInfo for articles that were published between 2013 and 2021. Previous reports published in 2015 and 2016 did not identify opioid-specific interventions for youth and we thus focused on the time period following the periods covered by these prior reports. We input three groups of relevant keywords in the aforementioned search engines. Specifically, articles were included if they targeted a youth population (ages 15-25), studied an intervention, and measured impacts on opioid use.

RESULTS

We identified 21 studies that examined the impacts of heterogeneous interventions on youth opioid consumption. The studies were classified inductively as psycho-social-educational, pharmacological, or combined pharmacological-psycho-social-educational. Most studies focused on treatment of opioid use disorder among youth, with few studies focused on early or experimental stages of opioid use. A larger proportion of studies focused heavily on male participants (i.e., male gender and/or sex). Very few studies involved and/or included youth in treatment/program development, with one study premised on previous research about sexual minority youth.

CONCLUSIONS

Research on treatments and interventions for youth using or at-risk of opioids appears to be sparse. More youth involvement in research and program development is vital. The intersectional and multi-factorial nature of youth opioid use and the youth opioid crisis necessitates the development and evaluation of novel treatments that address youth-specific contexts and needs (i.e., those that address socio-economic, neurobiological, psychological, and environmental factors that promote opioid use among youth).

Changes in sports gambling behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Canada; recent prevalence estimates indicate that 7.9% of Canadian adults endorsed gambling on sports in the past year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to the temporary closure of most major sports leagues worldwide beginning in March of 2020. These sudden closures created a dramatic decrease in the availability of sports betting opportunities in the early stages of the pandemic, followed by a subsequent increase in availability as most sport leagues returned during the summer of 2020. Using a retrospective self-report measure of gambling participation, the present study investigated how the gambling behaviors of N = 85 past-year sports gamblers changed over the course of the pandemic. It was hypothesized that sports gamblers would report an initial decrease in gambling behaviors from pre-pandemic baseline levels to the early stages of the pandemic in May of 2020 when the availability of sports gambling was heavily restricted, followed by an increase in gambling behaviors from May to August, in accordance with the re-emergence of live sporting events. The general pattern of results supported the hypotheses, though gambling behaviors did not completely return to baseline levels. Beyond quantifying the changes in gambling behaviors over the early stages of the pandemic in Canada, results may have implications regarding the utility of voluntary gambling exclusion programs as well as legislation concerning gambling access.

Drinking among university students with a history of reading difficulties: motivational and personality risk factors for hazardous levels of consumption

An increasing number of students are entering university with reading difficulties-whether they be diagnosed or self-reported. Research demonstrates that university students who self-report a history of reading difficulties (HRD) have lower academic achievement and higher anxiety about academic performance as compared to peers without this history (NRD). Here we study other aspects of HRD students' university experiences, focusing on alcohol consumption. Specifically, we investigated the drinking motives and personality characteristics likely to increase risk of hazardous alcohol consumption among HRD vs. NRD undergraduates. We identified 42 HRD and 54 NRD participants based on responses to a reading history questionnaire. Participants completed questionnaires assessing hazardous drinking, drinking motives, and alcohol-risk personality traits. Both groups reported similarly high levels of hazardous drinking. HRD students reported drinking more to conform with peers, and less to enhance positive moods, than NRD students. HRD students also scored higher in the alcohol personality risk of impulsivity. Our results support a unique pattern of motives and personality risks among HRD students, a pattern that likely puts them at increased risk for sustained hazardous drinking. Clinical implications for preventing problem drinking among HRD undergraduates are considered.

Health psychology and behavioral medicine researchers in Canada: An environmental scan

The purpose of this study is to characterize contemporary Canadian health psychology through an environmental scan by identifying faculty, research productivity and strengths, and collaborator interconnectivity. Profiles at Canadian universities were reviewed for faculty with psychology doctorates and health psychology research programs. Publications were obtained through Google Scholar and PubMed (Jan/18-Mar/21). A total of 284 faculty were identified. Cancer, pain, and sleep were key research topics. The collaborator network analysis revealed that most were linked through a common network, with clusters organized around geography, topic, and trainee relationships. Canada is a unique and productive contributor to health psychology.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Study: protocol for a prospective investigation of mental health risk and resilience factors

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), like all public safety personnel (PSP), are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events that contribute to posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSI). Addressing PTSI is impeded by the limited available research. In this protocol paper, we describe the RCMP Study, part of the concerted efforts by the RCMP to reduce PTSI by improving access to evidence-based assessments, treatments and training as well as participant recruitment and RCMP Study developments to date. The RCMP Study has been designed to (1) develop, deploy and assess the impact of a system for ongoing annual, monthly and daily evidence-based assessments; (2) evaluate associations between demographic variables and PTSI; (3) longitudinally assess individual differences associated with PTSI; (4) augment the RCMP Cadet Training Program with skills to proactively mitigate PTSI; and (5) assess the impact of the augmented training condition (ATC) versus the standard training condition (STC). Participants in the STC (n = 480) and ATC (n = 480) are assessed before and after training and annually for 5 years on their deployment date; they also complete brief monthly and daily surveys. The RCMP Study results are expected to benefit the mental health of all participants, RCMP and PSP by reducing PTSI among all who serve.

Alcohol use and death by suicide: A meta-analysis of 33 studies

INTRODUCTION

Decades of research show an association between alcohol use and death by suicide. However, findings on the temporal link between alcohol use and death by suicide are unclear. In the most comprehensive meta-analysis on the topic to date, we analyzed data from longitudinal studies to determine if alcohol use is a risk for death by suicide. We also explored moderators to uncover conditions where the alcohol use-suicide link is strengthened/weakened.

METHODS

Our literature search of six databases yielded 33 eligible studies involving 10,253,101 participants (community, psychiatric, and military samples).

RESULTS

Alcohol use was associated with a 94% increase in the risk of death by suicide. Specifically, random-effects meta-analysis revealed alcohol use displayed small-to-large significant risk and odds ratios with suicide for quantity of alcohol use and alcohol use diagnosis/alcohol-related problems. Meta-regression generally indicated larger effect sizes for studies with a higher percentage of women, younger age, unadjusted estimates, longer follow-up periods, military samples, and higher frequencies and quantities of alcohol use (relative to drinker/non-drinker status).

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights alcohol use as a substantive risk factor for death by suicide and underscores the importance of monitoring alcohol use among suicidal individuals and screening for suicidality among heavier alcohol users.

Pain and Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

OBJECTIVES

Theoretical models suggest that anxiety, pain intensity, and pain catastrophizing are implicated in a cycle that leads to heightened fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). However, these relationships have not been empirically examined. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between anxiety symptoms, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and FCR in childhood cancer survivors and their parents and to examine whether pain catastrophizing predicts increased FCR beyond anxiety symptoms and pain intensity.

METHODS

The participants were 54 survivors of various childhood cancers (Mage=13.1 y, range=8.4 to 17.9 y, 50% female) and their parents (94% mothers). Children reported on their pain intensity in the past 7 days. Children and parents separately completed measures of anxiety symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and FCR.

RESULTS

Higher anxiety symptoms were associated with increased pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and FCR in childhood cancer survivors. Higher anxiety symptoms and pain catastrophizing, but not child pain intensity, were associated with FCR in parents. Hierarchical linear regression models revealed that pain catastrophizing explained unique variance in both parent (ΔR2=0.11, P<0.01) and child (ΔR2=0.07, P<0.05) FCR over and above the effects of their own anxiety symptoms and child pain.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study provides novel data on the association between pain and FCR and suggests that a catastrophic style of thinking about pain is more closely related to heightened FCR than one's anxiety symptoms or the sensory pain experience in both childhood cancer survivors and their parents. Pain catastrophizing may be a novel intervention target for survivors and parents struggling with fears of recurrence.