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Bertó C, Almansa-Tomás B, Ferrín M, Livianos L, Rojo L, Barberá M, García-Blanco A. Are Socially Relevant Scenes Abnormally Processed in Complex Trauma-Exposed Children? JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2023; 16:1031-1040. [PMID: 38045849 PMCID: PMC10689592 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-023-00549-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal attentional processes to socially relevant information may underlie behavioral dysfunctional symptoms in children exposed to a complex trauma. Attentional biases to social scenes close to real-world situations and their association with behavioral symptomatology were examined in complex trauma-exposed children. A visual dot-probe task involving neutral versus emotional (i.e., threatening, sad, or happy) scenes was applied to twenty-one maltreated children (mean age 10.43; 42.8% female; 61.1% White). These children were exposed to a complex trauma (i.e., severe, repeated, multiple, prolonged, and interpersonal) and were safeguarded in a juvenile welfare home after all parental responsibility was removed. Twenty-four comparable non-maltreated children (mean age 10.13; 29.2% female; 76% White), served as control group. All participants were at risk of social exclusion and every legal representative completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Complex trauma-exposed children showed an attentional bias toward threatening scenes, while the control group showed an attentional bias toward sad scenes. There were no differences for happy scenes between groups. Attentional bias toward threatening scenes was associated with withdrawn symptoms in complex trauma-exposed children. Children exposed to a complex trauma show an abnormal attention to threatening social situations, which can trigger maladaptive behaviors such as withdrawn. The understanding of how complex trauma-exposed children process affective environmental information may provide new targets in the social skills interventions such as diminishing maladaptive behaviors and improving coping strategies to face threatening situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bertó
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Francesc de Borja, Gandía, Spain
| | | | - Maite Ferrín
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- ReCognition Health, London, UK
| | - Lorenzo Livianos
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis Rojo
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Barberá
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana García-Blanco
- Neonatal Research Unit, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Ghosn F, Perea M, Sahuquillo-Leal R, Moreno-Giménez A, Almansa B, Navalón P, Vento M, García-Blanco A. The effects of reward and frustration on the task performance of autistic children and adolescents. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 140:104567. [PMID: 37467540 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autistic individuals often exhibit social communication and socio-emotional styles that may interfere with achieving social and academic outcomes. At a more specific level, they may perform differently in various social and academic tasks due to different modes of processing rewards or unpleasant experiences (e.g., frustrating events). AIM The present experiment examines how rewards and frustration affect the task performance of autistic children and adolescents METHODS AND PROCEDURES: An affective Posner task was applied to introduce rewards and induce frustration. Forty-four autistic children and adolescents and forty-four typically developing (TD) peers participated in this study OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Results showed that presenting social and non-social rewards resulted in shorter reaction times and lower error rates in autistic participants, but not in their TD peers. While frustration increased error rates in both autistic and TD individuals, the effect was more pronounced in the autistic group. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Social and non-social rewards help the performance of autistic children and adolescents, whereas frustration (induced through unpredictable feedback) significantly interferes with their task performance. Therefore, receiving two types of rewards and providing predictable feedback may help to improve interventions designed to optimize task performance for autistic children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ghosn
- Health Research Institute La Fe, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Perea
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Center of Cognitive Science, Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alba Moreno-Giménez
- Health Research Institute La Fe, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Belén Almansa
- Health Research Institute La Fe, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Navalón
- Health Research Institute La Fe, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Máximo Vento
- Health Research Institute La Fe, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana García-Blanco
- Health Research Institute La Fe, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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Kim K, Lee JH. The effect of feedback in virtual attention training on orienting attention in individuals with sluggish cognitive tempo. J Atten Disord 2022; 26:1640-1652. [PMID: 35491754 DOI: 10.1177/10870547221090664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of feedback in a virtual attention training program to improve the attentional characteristics of sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT). METHOD The SCT group (N = 60) and control group (N = 30) were identified, and the attention network test-revised (ANT-R) was performed to measure attention characteristics. Based on this result, a virtual reality (VR) feedback attention training program was developed to improve the efficiency of engagement and disengagement of attention in SCT. Sixty participants with SCT were recruited and grouped into two conditions: VR feedback (n = 30) and no-feedback (n = 30) conditions. RESULTS The results show that the VR attention training program with feedback significantly improves the attention-orienting network. CONCLUSION This suggests that it is necessary to provide immediate feedback for effective attention training for SCT and continuous intervention may be possible when feedback is provided together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyunghwa Kim
- College of Social Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jang-Han Lee
- College of Social Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
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The effects of reward and frustration in patients with bipolar disorder: Evidence from a computerized task with non-contingent feedback. J Affect Disord 2022; 298:69-79. [PMID: 34715178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by mood changes that implies alterations in reward sensitivity and frustration tolerance. This study examined the effects of monetary reward and frustration on attentional performance and on affective experience across mood states in BD. METHODS An Affective Posner Task in which the nature of contingencies are divided in the three successive blocks (baseline condition, monetary reward and non-contingent feedback) was applied to BD individuals in their different episodes: mania (n = 30), depression (n = 30), and euthymia (n = 30) as well as to a group of healthy controls (n = 30). RESULTS Monetary reward improved performance (in terms of faster response times) in the euthymic group and the control group, whereas it impaired performance in the manic group and has not significant effect in the depressed group. In addition, an increased interference of frustration on response accuracy was exhibited in the three groups of BD patients (including euthymia) compared with healthy controls. LIMITATIONS Participants' affective experience was self-informed by a Likert scale, so the reliability of this measure can be undermined in symptomatic patients in terms of stability and objectivity. Although it was statistically controlled, at the time of testing, all BD patients were medicated. CONCLUSIONS A dissociated effect of reward and frustration was found between symptomatic and euthymic states in BD: whereas the benefit from monetary reward is affected only during symptomatic episodes (i.e., a state), the notably increased interference of frustration is exhibited also during euthymia (i.e., a trait).
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Serrano-Lozano E, Navalón P, Moreno-Giménez A, Almansa B, Sahuquillo-Leal R, Benavent P, Lešnik M, Ghosn F, García-Blanco A. Manipulating feedback on schizophrenia: Evidence from a Posner task. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 142:25-32. [PMID: 34314991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with schizophrenia show difficulties in achieving vital objectives. Abnormal behavioral and emotional responses to environmental feedback may be some of the psychological mechanisms underlying this lack of goal attainment in schizophrenia. The present study aims to assess how different types of feedback may affect performance in a computerized affective Posner task (non-monetary vs. monetary rewards; contingent vs. non-contingent feedback). The sample was composed of 32 patients with schizophrenia and 35 controls. Reaction times and error rates were the behavioral measurements. The emotional experience was assessed through self-reported affective scales. The results indicated that: ii) the performance with monetary rewards was better than with non-monetary ones in all participants, especially in patients with schizophrenia when higher attentional resources are required (invalid trials). Second, all participants demonstrated faster reaction times, but higher error rates, with non-contingent feedback (frustration condition). Significantly, the schizophrenia group only equaled the controls performance in the non-contingent condition with monetary rewards. Additionally, the higher the negative symptoms were in patients, the worse performance they had under frustration. Third, discrepancies between performance and self-report affect were found in patients. Specifically, after the induction of frustration, the patients reported feeling better and having no arousal changes. Therefore, the findings suggest that, in schizophrenia: i) non-monetary rewards are relatively less important; ii) monetary rewards lessen the negative effects of frustration, iii) discrepancies in self-reported affective scales suggest an unrealistic self-evaluation made under frustration. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms of the lack of goal attainment in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Serrano-Lozano
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Navalón
- Neonatal Research Unit, La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Belén Almansa
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Neonatal Research Unit, La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa Sahuquillo-Leal
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pilar Benavent
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maja Lešnik
- FAMNIT, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia
| | - Farah Ghosn
- Neonatal Research Unit, La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana García-Blanco
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Neonatal Research Unit, La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
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Kim K, Lee Y, Lee JH. The Effect of Eye-Feedback Training on Orienting Attention in Young Adults With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:184. [PMID: 32256408 PMCID: PMC7090146 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is a kind of attentional symptoms characterized by symptoms of slowness in behavior or in thinking. The aim of the present study was to develop a preliminary attention training program based on real-time eye-gaze feedback using an eye-tracker. A total of 38 participants with SCT were randomly assigned to one of following two conditions: eye-feedback (N = 19; Mean Age = 21.21; range 18-26) or control (N = 19; Mean Age = 20.68; range 18-25). The participants in the eye-feedback condition received three repeated trainings on the modified version of the Posner's spatial cueing test; we also used real-time constant eye-gaze feedback designed to lead the participants to quickly and accurately engage and to disengage, with pre- and post- measurement of eye-movements (overt attention) and the revised attention network test (ANT-R; covert attention). The participants in the control condition received three repeated same trainings without any feedback, with pre- and post-measurement of eye-movements measure and ANT-R. The results revealed that the eye-feedback group showed a greater improvement in engaging and disengaging attention through the overt attention measure than the control group. The eye-feedback group also showed a greater increase only in the orienting network related to disengaging attention in the covert attention measure compared to the control group. These results suggested that the eye-feedback can be meaningfully used in attention training to enhance the efficiency of attention in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiho Kim
- Department of Psychology of Counseling, Sejong Cyber University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Youna Lee
- Department of Image Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jang-Han Lee
- Clinical Neuro-Psychology Lab., Department of Psychology, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
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Bertó C, Ferrin M, Barberá M, Livianos L, Rojo L, García-Blanco A. Abnormal emotional processing in maltreated children diagnosed of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2017; 73:42-50. [PMID: 28945995 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Maltreated children usually show a specific pattern of emotional and behavioral symptoms that exceed those relating to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These symptoms have been defined as Complex PTSD (CPTSD). The underlying attentional mechanisms of abnormal emotional processing and their relation to the clinical presentation of CPTSD are not well understood. A visual dot-probe paradigm involving pre-attentive (i.e., 500ms) and attentive (i.e., 1500ms) presentation rates of neutral versus emotional (i.e., angry, happy or sad) facial expressions was applied. Twenty-one maltreated CPTSD children were compared with twenty-six controls. The results are as follows: an attention bias away from threatening faces and an attentional bias towards sad faces were observed in maltreated CPTSD children during pre-attentive and attentive processing. Whereas the attentional bias away from angry faces was associated with social problems, the attentional bias towards sad faces was associated with depressive and withdrawn symptoms. Therefore, CPTSD children develop maladaptive negative cognitive styles, which may underlie not only social problems (by a cognitive avoidance of threatening stimuli) but also depressive symptoms (by a cognitive approach to sad stimuli). Attention processing abnormalities should be considered as therapeutic targets for new treatment approaches in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bertó
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maite Ferrin
- University of Southampton, UK; Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - María Barberá
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Livianos
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis Rojo
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana García-Blanco
- Neonatal Research Unit, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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