Singing under the impulsiveness: impulsivity in psychiatric disorders

Sentence-final completion norms for 2925 Mexican Spanish sentence contexts

Sentence-final completion tasks serve as valuable tools in studying language processing and the associated predictive mechanisms. There are several established sentence-completion norms for languages like English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish, each tailored to the language it was designed for and evaluated in. Yet, cultural variations among native speakers of the same language complicate the claim of a universal application of these norms. In this study, we developed a corpus of 2925 sentence-completion norms specifically for Mexican Spanish. This corpus is distinctive for several reasons: Firstly, it is the most comprehensive set of sentence-completion norms for Mexican Spanish to date. Secondly, it offers a substantial range of experimental stimuli with considerable variability in terms of the predictability of word sentence completion (cloze probability/surprisal) and the level of uncertainty inherent in the sentence context (entropy). Thirdly, the syntactic complexity of the sentences in the corpus is varied, as are the characteristics of the final word nouns (including aspects of concreteness/abstractness, length, and frequency). This paper details the generation of the sentence contexts, explains the methodology employed for data collection from a total of 1470 participants, and outlines the approach to data analysis for the establishment of sentence-completion norms. These norms provide a significant contribution to fields such as linguistics, cognitive science, and machine learning, among others, by enhancing our understanding of language, predictive mechanisms, knowledge representation, and context representation. The collected data is accessible through the Open Science Framework (OSF) at the following link: https://osf.io/js359/?view_only=bb1b328d37d643df903ed69bb2405ac0 .

Red blood cell omega-3 fatty acids and attention scores in healthy adolescents

Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for brain function. Adolescence is increasingly believed to entail brain vulnerability to dietary intake. In contrast to the abundant research on the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in cognition, research on DHA and attention in healthy adolescents is scarce. In addition, the role of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid, is unexplored. We examined associations between DHA and ALA and attention function among a healthy young population. In this cross-sectional study conducted in 372 adolescents (13.8 ± 0.9 years-old), we determined the red blood cell proportions of DHA and ALA by gas chromatography (objective biomarkers of their long-term dietary intake) and measured attention scores through the Attention Network Test. We constructed multivariable linear regression models to analyze associations, controlling for known confounders. Compared to participants at the lowest DHA tertile (reference), those at the highest DHA tertile showed significantly lower hit reaction time-standard error (higher attentiveness) (28.13 ms, 95% confidence interval [CI] =  - 52.30;  - 3.97), lower hit reaction time ( - 38.30 ms, 95% CI =  - 73.28;  - 3.33) and lower executive conflict response ( - 5.77 ms, 95% CI =  - 11.44;  - 0.09). In contrast, higher values were observed in those at the top tertile of ALA in hit reaction time compared to the lowest one (46.14 ms, 95% CI = 9.90; 82.34). However, a beneficial association was observed for ALA, with decreasing impulsivity index across tertiles. Overall, our results suggest that DHA (reflecting its dietary intake) is associated with attention performance in typically developing adolescents. The role of dietary ALA in attention is less clear, although higher blood levels of ALA appear to result in lower impulsivity. Future intervention studies are needed to determine the causality of these associations and to better shape dietary recommendations for brain health during the adolescence period.

The cognitive adaptability and resiliency employment screener (CARES): tool development and testing

Introduction

To decrease psychological risk for content moderators, the study initiated the first steps of developing a robust employment screening tool, namely, the Cognitive Adaptability and Resiliency Employment Screener.

Method

The study consisted of three phases with 4,839 total participants.

Results

In Phase 1, a set of 76 items were developed and tested via exploratory factor analysis, yielding three factors (i.e., Psychological Perseverance & Agility, Rumination & Emotional Lingering, and Expressiveness & Sociability) and also reducing the scale to 68 items. In Phase 2 through confirmatory factor analysis, the three-factor structure showed good fit (CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.05) and demonstrated sufficient overall reliability. In Phase 3, the convergent validity and divergent validity of the tool were established relative to constructs such as resilience, cognitive control and flexibility, emotion regulation, and optimism.

Discussion

Altogether, the findings revealed that the scale demonstrated good psychometric properties that, pending future studies, may serve as a promising employment screener for content moderators.

Efficacy of low carbohydrate and ketogenic diets in treating mood and anxiety disorders: systematic review and implications for clinical practice

BACKGROUND

There is mounting interest in the potential efficacy of low carbohydrate and very low carbohydrate ketogenic diets in various neurological and psychiatric disorders.

AIMS

To conduct a systematic review and narrative synthesis of low carbohydrate and ketogenic diets (LC/KD) in adults with mood and anxiety disorders.

METHOD

MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for articles from inception to 6 September 2022. Studies that included adults with any mood or anxiety disorder treated with a low carbohydrate or ketogenic intervention, reporting effects on mood or anxiety symptoms were eligible for inclusion. PROSPERO registration CRD42019116367.

RESULTS

The search yielded 1377 articles, of which 48 were assessed for full-text eligibility. Twelve heterogeneous studies (stated as ketogenic interventions, albeit with incomplete carbohydrate reporting and measurements of ketosis; diet duration: 2 weeks to 3 years; n = 389; age range 19 to 75 years) were included in the final analysis. This included nine case reports, two cohort studies and one observational study. Data quality was variable, with no high-quality evidence identified. Efficacy, adverse effects and discontinuation rates were not systematically reported. There was some evidence for efficacy of ketogenic diets in those with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and possibly unipolar depression/anxiety. Relapse after discontinuation of the diet was reported in some individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is no high-quality evidence of LC/KD efficacy in mood or anxiety disorders, several uncontrolled studies suggest possible beneficial effects. Robust studies are now needed to demonstrate efficacy, to identify clinical groups who may benefit and whether a ketogenic diet (beyond low carbohydrate) is required and to characterise adverse effects and the risk of relapse after diet discontinuation.

Examining associations between impulsivity, opioid use disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder: The additive relation between disorders

Impulsivity is a key feature of opioid use disorder (OUD) and other psychiatric conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The relationship between disorders and impulsivity may be additive, such that individuals with multiple disorders exhibit greater impulsivity than those with a single disorder. However, the association between impulsivity, OUD, and PTSD is unclear. Accordingly, this study compared individuals with concurrent OUD and PTSD (OUD + PTSD; n = 55), OUD without PTSD (OUD-PTSD; n = 34), PTSD without OUD (n = 32), and healthy controls (HCs; n = 55) on the Short Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation Seeking, Positive Urgency Impulsive Behavior Scale (SUPPS-P), and the 27-item Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ). With respect to the SUPPS-P, the OUD + PTSD, OUD-PTSD, and PTSD without OUD groups reported more impulsivity on the negative urgency, positive urgency, and lack of premeditation subscales compared to HCs (ps < .001). The OUD + PTSD group also reported greater negative urgency compared to the OUD-PTSD group (p = .001) and HCs (p < .001), but not the PTSD without OUD group (p = .07). Furthermore, participants with OUD + PTSD exhibited greater discounting of delayed rewards on the MCQ than those in the PTSD without OUD group and HCs (p's < .001). However, no significant differences were observed between the two OUD groups (p = .86). These results support impulsivity as a mechanism underlying both OUD and PTSD. Future research should examine whether interventions targeting impulsivity, emotion regulation, and delay discounting are associated with meaningful improvements in functioning among individuals with OUD and PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The effect of age on discrimination learning and self-control in a marshmallow test for pigs

Both humans and nonhuman animals need to show self-control and wait for a larger or better reward instead of a smaller or less preferred but instant reward on an everyday basis. We investigated whether this ability undergoes ontogenetic development in domestic pigs (similar to what is known in human infants) by testing if and for how long nine- and 16-week-old pigs wait for a larger amount of their preferred reward. In a delay-of-gratification task, animals first learned that a small reward was hidden under a white cup and a large reward under a black cup, and then the delay to deliver the large reward was gradually increased. The results show that older pigs could wait longer for a larger reward than younger pigs (10.6 ± 1.3 s vs. 5.2 ± 1.5 s), thereby confirming our hypothesis of ontogenetic development of self-control in pigs. This self-control is likely to be regulated by the behavioural inhibition system and associated systems. Self-control or, more specifically the lack of it may be involved in the development of abnormal behaviours, not only in humans but also in animals. Therefore, research on self-control in decision-making might provide a new perspective on abnormal behaviours in captive animals.

Impulsivity Scale-12 and its utilization in alcohol use disorder

INTRODUCTION

One of the core symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is impulsivity. The recently published study on the Impulsivity Scale 12 (IS-12) offers a promising tool to use in clinics working with clients with AUD due to its simplicity. IS-12 includes subscales related tocognitive impulsivity and behavioral impulsivity, which are related to different aspects of AUD symptomatology. The aim of the study was to adapt IS-12 to polish and test its utility in a sample of patients diagnosed with AUD.

METHODS

Using a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, we compared the two-factor model of the Polish adaptation of the BIS-11 and the IS-12 on a sample of 615 patients diagnosed with AUD. Additionally, we explored the association between the IS-12's cognitive impulsivity and behavioral impulsivity subscales and depressive symptoms, AUD severity, and suicidal ideation using Structural Equation Modeling on a subsample of 450 patients with AUD.

RESULTS

The IS-12 demonstrated a better model fit and good reliability compared to the BIS-11. Moreover, cognitive impulsivity predicted suicidal ideation, but not AUD severity, while behavioral impulsivity predicted AUD severity, but not suicidal ideation. Both subscales of IS-12 predicted depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Consistent with prior work, findings indicate that the second-order factor model of the BIS-11 had reliability issues and evidenced poor model fit. In contrast, the IS-12 demonstrated a satisfactory model fit and was predictive of clinical symptomatology. Thus, utilizing an easy tool, such as IS-12, might be beneficial for researchers and clinicians working with patients with AUD.

Which came first: Cannabis use or deficits in impulse control?

Impulse control deficits are often found to co-occur with substance use disorders (SUDs). On the one hand, it is well known that chronic intake of drugs of abuse remodels the brain with significant consequences for a range of cognitive behaviors. On the other hand, individual variation in impulse control may contribute to differences in susceptibility to SUDs. Both of these relationships have been described, thus leading to a "chicken or the egg" debate which remains to be fully resolved. Does impulsivity precede drug use or does it manifest as a function of problematic drug usage? The link between impulsivity and SUDs has been most strongly established for cocaine and alcohol use disorders using both preclinical models and clinical data. Much less is known about the potential link between impulsivity and cannabis use disorder (CUD) or the directionality of this relationship. The initiation of cannabis use occurs most often during adolescence prior to the brain's maturation, which is recognized as a critical period of development. The long-term effects of chronic cannabis use on the brain and behavior have started to be explored. In this review we will summarize these observations, especially as they pertain to the relationship between impulsivity and CUD, from both a psychological and biological perspective. We will discuss impulsivity as a multi-dimensional construct and attempt to reconcile the results obtained across modalities. Finally, we will discuss possible avenues for future research with emerging longitudinal data.

Changes in Loss Sensitivity During Treatment in Concurrent Disorders Inpatients: A Computational Model Approach to Assessing Risky Decision-Making

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have employed computational modeling to characterize deficits in aspects of decision-making not otherwise detected using traditional behavioral task outcomes. While prospect utility-based modeling has shown to differentiate decision-making patterns between users of different drugs, its relevance in the context of treatment has yet to be examined. This study investigated model-based decision-making as it relates to treatment outcome in inpatients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

METHODS

50 patients (Mage = 38.5, SD = 11.4; 16F) completed the Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT) within 2 weeks of admission (baseline) and 6 months into treatment (follow-up), and 50 controls (Mage = 31.9, SD = 10.0; 25F) completed CGT under a single outpatient session. We evaluated 4 traditional CGT outputs and 5 decisional processes derived from the Cumulative Model. Psychiatric diagnoses and discharge data were retrieved from patient health records.

RESULTS

Groups were similar in age, sex, and premorbid IQ. Differences in years of education were included as covariates across all group comparisons. All patients had ≥1 mental health diagnosis, with 80% having >1 substance use disorder. On the CGT, patients showed greater Deliberation Time and Delay Aversion than controls. Estimated model parameters revealed higher Delayed Reward Discounting, and lower Probability Distortion and Loss Sensitivity in patients relative to controls. From baseline to follow-up, patients (n = 24) showed a decrease in model-derived Loss Sensitivity and Color Choice Bias. Lastly, poorer Quality of Decision-Making and Choice Consistency, and greater Color Choice Bias independently predicted higher likelihood of treatment dropout, while none were significant in relation to treatment length of stay.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to assess a computational model of decision-making in the context of treatment for concurrent disorders. Patients were more impulsive and slower to deliberate choice than controls. While both traditional and computational outcomes predicted treatment adherence in patients, findings suggest computational methods are able to capture treatment-sensitive aspects of decision-making not accessible via traditional methods. Further research is needed to confirm findings as well as investigate the relationship between model-based decision-making and post-treatment outcomes.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Prisoners: Increased Substance Use Disorder Severity and Psychiatric Comorbidity

OBJECTIVES

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUD) are overrepresented among incarcerated populations. We examined whether ADHD was associated with increased severity of comorbid SUD and with increased psychiatric comorbidity among prisoners.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 500 randomly selected Latino male prisoners in the Puerto Rico Correctional System using validated diagnostic measures to assess Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) ADHD and SUD diagnosis, antisocial personality disorder (ASP) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). We defined SUD severity by symptom count and by presence of at least 2 current SUD diagnoses (polysubstance).

RESULTS

Participants with ADHD had increased risk for lifetime (p < 0.05) and current (p < 0.01) SUDs, all comorbid psychiatric disorders, and suicidality (p < 0.001). They had more severe SUD, both in number of symptoms and number of SUD (polysubstance) diagnoses (p < 0.01). ADHD was associated with increased psychiatric comorbidity, as participants with ADHD were more likely to have a second diagnosis, and a greater number of comorbid disorders (p < 0.001). ASP, BPD, major depression, and GAD, but not ADHD, were significant predictors of SUD severity in adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the complex mental health needs of incarcerated populations, where SUD, ADHD, and other psychiatric disorders are prevalent and interrelated.

Depression and Impulsivity Self-Assessment Tools to Identify Dopamine Agonist Side Effects in Patients With Pituitary Adenomas

Background: Dopamine agonists (DA) are the first line therapy for prolactinoma and symptomatic hyperprolactinemia; use as an adjuvant treatment for acromegaly and Cushing's disease is rare. Some patients develop de novo psychiatric symptoms or have exacerbation of pre-existing conditions during DA therapy. A practical, clinically sensitive depression and impulse control disorders (ICD; particularly hypersexuality and gambling disorders) detection tool is important for identifying at risk patients. The Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) are sensitive in identifying impulsivity and depression. Objective: Detail use of the BIS-11 and PHQ-9 as screening tools for depression and ICD in patients with pituitary disease at a high-volume academic pituitary center. Methods: DA-treated and naïve patients with pituitary disease were included. Patients with a known history of depression or psychiatric disorder were excluded. PHQ-9 standardized interpretation criteria were utilized to classify depression severity. For BIS-11, threshold was established based on previous studies. Statistical analysis was with SPSS version 25. Results: Seventy-six DA-treated and 27 naïve patients were included. Moderate and moderately severe depression were more prevalent in DA-treated patients; severe depression only found in DA-treated patients. A normal BIS-11 score was noted in 76.69%; higher scores (not significant) were noted in DA-treated patients. There was a positive correlation between higher BIS-11 and PHQ-9 scores; higher in DA-treated patients (r = 0.52, p < 0.001) than DA-naïve patients. Patients with BIS-11 scores ≥60 were younger and received lower cumulative DA doses compared to patients with BIS scores <60. There was no association between male sex and BIS-11 ≥60 and male sex did not increase the odds of increased scores (OR = 0.66, CI95% 0.25-1.76, p = 0.41). No significant difference was found for macroadenoma, prolactin levels, testosterone levels, hypogonadism, testosterone replacement in men, and increased impulsivity or depression scores. Conclusion: Use of PHQ-9 and BIS-11 is practical for routine screening of depression and ICD during outpatient pituitary clinic visits for patients with pituitary disease both naïve to treatment and during DA therapy. We recommend close follow-up after initiation of DA therapy for younger patients, regardless of dose.

Emotional stability is associated with the MAOA promoter uVNTR polymorphism in women

BACKGROUND

Neuroticism is associated with low emotional stability, and it is characterized by a tendency to perceive ordinary situations as threatening and difficult to manage. This personality trait has been associated with psychological distress and predicts some mental disorders. Previous studies have shown that women tend to be more neurotic than men and, in general, females have also a higher incidence of anxious and depressive disorders.

METHODS

We analyzed in a sample of 99 female university students (from 18 to 26 years old) if emotional stability, measured using the Big Five Questionnaire, was linked to polymorphic variants in candidate genes related to dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, and other personality variables.

RESULTS

We found that emotional stability and its subdimensions are genetically associated with MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism. Thus, women carriers of the 3-repeat allele (lower MAO-A expression) showed higher levels of emotional stability. No associations were found with other polymorphisms analyzed, including COMT Val¹⁵⁸ Met, 5-HTTLPR, and DAT 3'UTR VNTR. Furthermore, our results showed a negative correlation between emotional stability and depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. In fact, MAOA-uVNTR and trait anxiety also explained emotional stability and its subdimensions. We also found that other genetic characteristic, phenylthiocarbamide tasting, explained impulsivity, specifically tasters controlled impulses better than nontasters.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that neuroticism might be regulated by MAOA and could be a common factor between different phenotypes, such as aggressive behaviors or personality disorders, observed in women with higher activity genotype who had been exposed to negative environments during childhood. This study could lead to a better understanding of the basis of emotional stability and could lead to future projects for this purpose.

Chronic Testosterone Increases Impulsivity and Influences the Transcriptional Activity of the Alpha-2A Adrenergic Receptor Signaling Pathway in Rat Brain

Testosterone is an anabolic androgenic steroid hormone involved in brain development, reproduction, and social behavior. Several studies have shown that testosterone can cause impulsivity in humans, which in turn, is linked with mood-related psychiatric disorders and higher risk of death by suicide. The mechanisms by which testosterone abuse influences impulsivity are unclear. The present study aims to understand how testosterone influences impulsivity in a rodent model both at behavioral and molecular levels. In this study, rats were either only gonadectomized or gonadectomized and injected with supraphysiological doses of testosterone. Their relative impulsivity levels were assessed using the go/no-go task. Serum level of testosterone was measured using ELISA. Transcript levels of alpha-2A adrenergic receptor (Adra2a), G proteins (stimulatory subunit-G_αs [Gnas], inhibitory subunit-G_iα [Gnai1 and Gnai2]), and catalytic and regulatory subunits of protein kinase A (PKA) were examined using quantitative PCR (qPCR) in brain areas associated with limbic system (prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and amygdala). The testosterone-treated (T) group showed significantly higher level of serum testosterone and displayed a lower go/no-go ratio, indicating greater impulsivity compared to the gonadectomized (GDX) group. The transcript levels Adra2a and G_αs genes and PKA subunits encoded by Prkar1a, Prkar1b, Prkar2a, and Prkaca genes were significantly upregulated in PFC of testosterone treated rats. The expression levels of these genes were not significantly altered in hippocampus. On the other hand, amygdala showed changes only in Gnas and Prkar2a. These results suggest that chronic testosterone influences impulsivity possibly via hyperactive alpha-2A adrenergic receptor-PKA signaling axis, specifically in the PFC.