Childhood trauma, depressive symptoms and rational /irrational beliefs: A moderated mediation model

Gene-Environment Interactions in Irrational Beliefs: The Roles of Childhood Adversity and Multiple Candidate Genes

Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the view that maladaptive thinking is the causal mechanism of mental disorders. While this view is supported by extensive evidence, very limited work has addressed the factors that contribute to the development of maladaptive thinking. The present study aimed to uncover interactions between childhood maltreatment and multiple genetic differences in irrational beliefs. Childhood maltreatment and irrational beliefs were assessed using multiple self-report instruments in a sample of healthy volunteers (N = 452). Eighteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in six candidate genes related to neurotransmitter function (COMT; SLC6A4; OXTR), neurotrophic factors (BDNF), and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (NR3C1; CRHR1). Gene-environment interactions (G×E) were first explored in models that employed one measure of childhood maltreatment and one measure of irrational beliefs. These effects were then followed up in models in which either the childhood maltreatment measure, the irrational belief measure, or both were substituted by parallel measures. Consistent results across models indicated that childhood maltreatment was positively associated with irrational beliefs, and these relations were significantly influenced by COMT rs165774 and OXTR rs53576. These results remain preliminary until independent replication, but they represent the best available evidence to date on G×E in a fundamental mechanism of psychopathology.

Negative Life Events Associated with COVID-19 and Psychological Distress: The Role of Irrational and Rational Beliefs

The current study examines possible mediating and moderating mechanisms in the relationship between negative life events associated with COVID-19 and psychological distress. A total of 450 adults (mean age = 22.11 years, SD = 3. 46 years) participated in this study. The participants completed measures of negative life events, psychological distress, and irrational/rational beliefs. The present findings indicated that adverse life events associated with COVID-19 predict psychological distress in adults. The findings also indicated that indirect predictive effect of adverse life events associated with COVID-19 on psychological distress via irrational beliefs varies depending on specific value of rational beliefs. The current study contributes to existing cognitive vulnerability model by documenting when and how adverse life events associated with COVID-19 influence psychological distress.